A five years study on the selection of rice based cropping systems in Goa, for west coast region of India

Abstract

Aim: Field experiments were conducted for five years during 2010-11 to 2014-15 to select productive and profitable rice based cropping systems for West coast region of India at ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa. Methodology: Cropping systems viz. rice-cowpea, rice-groundnut, rice-brinjal and rice-sweet corn were tested for their production potential, economic feasibility, nutrient balance and energy budgeting along with rice-fallow as control. Results: The data indicated significantly higher rice equivalent yield (23.5 t ha) with rice-sweet corn followed by rice-brinjal (14.1 t ha) as compared to a predominant rice-fallow system of the region (5.50 t ha). Higher potential usable residue was also found higher with rice- sweet corn system (36.9 t ha). Results of the energy ratio (46.5), specific energy (0.65 MJ kg) and energy productivity (1.52 kg MJ) indicate that the rice-sweet corn is most energy efficient system among all the evaluated systems. Although, rice-brinjal system depicted higher onfarm employment potential (217 man days ha year) with an increase of 317 % over monocropping, while the economic analysis indicted higher net return (. 95350) and benefit cost ratio (2.57) in rice-sweet corn system. The nutrient balance were positive for N and P, while in all the cropping systems the K balance was found negative. Interpretation: The rice-sweet corn system was found to be the most productive, economical and energy efficient cropping system for the West coast region of India under protective irrigated conditions.