Cropping Systems In Bangladesh Research Articles

Conservation tillage and residue management improve soil health and crop productivity—Evidence from a rice-maize cropping system in Bangladesh

The rice-maize (R-M) system is rapidly expanding in Bangladesh due to its greater suitability for diverse soil types and environments. The present conventional method of cultivating puddled transplanted rice and maize is input-intensive, decreases soil health through intense ploughing, and ultimately reduces farm profitability. There is a need to investigate alternatives. Accordingly, we conducted a replicated 2-year (2020–2021) field study to investigate the effects of conservation agriculture (CA) based tillage and crop establishment (TCE) techniques and residue management practices on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil along with crop productivity and the profitability of rice-maize systems in the sandy loam soil of Northwest Bangladesh. Two TCE techniques Puddled transplanted rice (PTR) followed by Conventional tillage maize (CTM) and strip tillage direct-seeded rice (STDSR) followed by strip-tilled maize (STM) were assigned to the main plots and different percentages of crop residue retention (0, 25, and 50% by height) were allocated to the subplots. Results showed that a reduction in bulk density (BD), soil penetration resistance (SPR), and increased soil porosity were associated with STDSR/STM-based scenarios (strip tillage coupled with 25 and 50% residue retention). The soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions, such as dissolved organic C (DOC), light and heavy particulate organic matter C (POM-C), MAOM, and microbial biomass C (MBC) levels in the 0–10 cm layer under ST based treatments were 95, 8, 6, 2 and 45% greater, respectively, compared to CT with no residue treatment. When compared to the CT treatment, the DOC, light POM-C, heavy POM-C, and MAOM in the 10–20 cm layer with ST treatment were 8, 34, 25, 4 and 37% higher, respectively. Residue retention in ST increased average rice, maize, and system yields by 9.2, 14.0, and 14.12%, respectively, when compared to CT. The system gross margin and benefit-cost ratio (BCR) were $1,515 ha−1 and 1.90 under conventional tillage to $1,696 ha−1 and 2.15 under strip-tillage practices. Thus, our study suggests that CA could be an appropriate practice for sustaining soil fertility and crop yield under R-M systems in light-textured soils or other similar soils in Bangladesh.

‘BARI Masur‐9’: An extra‐early lentil cultivar for a rice‐based cropping system in Bangladesh

AbstractLentil (Lens culinaris Medik) is the third‐most important grain legume in the world. In Bangladesh, it is important for human food and nutrition, animal feed, and sustainable rice‐based cropping systems. However, lentil area is declining due to competition with other winter and spring crops, particularly irrigated spring rice (boro rice; Oryza sativa L.). To increase lentil production, the extra‐early (<95 d) lentil line LRIL‐22‐70 was selected to grow in the short fallow period between monsoon and spring rice under a proposed new cropping pattern. LRIL‐22‐70 was identified from a recombinant inbred line population through rigorously evaluated in diverse agro‐ecological conditions of Bangladesh and released for commercial cultivation by Pulses Research Centre, BARI, as ‘BARI Masur‐9’ (Reg. no. CV‐36, PI 700307) in 2018. BARI Masur‐9 is a transgressive segregant for earliness (matures in <93 d) and fits well in the new monsoon rice–lentil–spring rice cropping pattern. It is a medium‐seeded (2.38 g 100–1 seed) cultivar with high tolerance to Stemphylium blight. The average seed yield of BARI Masur‐9 was 1,201 kg ha–1, with higher concentrations of Fe (73 mg kg−1) and Zn (61 mg kg−1) compared with other genotypes; thus, BARI Masur‐9 contributes to combatting micronutrient malnutrition in Bangladesh. BARI Masur‐9, the first extra‐early lentil cultivar, can successfully be grown to replace fallow between rice as a new cropping pattern monsoon rice–lentil (BARI Masur‐9)–spring rice in about 8 million ha in Bangladesh, eastern Indian states, and eastern Nepal.

Modification of Nutrient Requirements for a Four Crop-Based Cropping System to Increase System Productivity, Maintain Soil Fertility, and Achieve Sustainable Intensification

Sustainable and resilient cropping intensity is now a global focus to address the food demand and nutrition security of the growing population. For sustainable intensification, maintaining soil fertility is a key concern. The nutrient management for the recently developed four crop-based cropping system in Bangladesh has not yet been studied. Hence, field experiments were conducted on the nutrient management of the four crop-based cropping system [Aus (pre-monsoon rice), Aman (monsoon rice), lentil, and mungbean] in calcareous soil in Bangladesh during the years of 2016/17 and 2017/18 to determine the appropriate fertilizer management package to improve crop productivity and sustain soil fertility. The experiment had six treatments assigned in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments included T1 = control (without synthetic fertilizer), T2 = 50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), T3 = 75% RDF, T4 = 100% RDF, T5 = 125% RDF, and T6 = farmers’ practice (FP). The results revealed that the 125% RDF significantly contributed to higher yields of all four crops. The rice equivalent yield (REY) was the highest for the fertilizer management of 125% RDF, which was 45.5%, 9.4%, and 12.2% higher than the control (T1), 100% RDF (T4), and FP, respectively. Considering the uptake of nutrients (N, P, K, S, Zn, and B) by the crops in the cropping system, the 125% RDF was superior to the other treatments. The nutrient management practices had a positive influence on the apparent nutrient recovery (ANR) efficiency of the cropping system. The fertilizer management of 125% RDF was also economically more profitable due to the increment in the cost–benefit ratio of 26.8%, 4.4%, and 4.9% over the control, 100% RDF, and FP, respectively. The results indicate that the current fertilizer recommendations and FP for aus, aman, lentil, and mungbean are not adequate for the change from the three crop to the four crop-based pattern, and an increased dose of fertilizer is required to increase the yield of each individual crop as well as the total system’s productivity. The fertilizer use efficiency is also higher for 125% RDF than the 100% RDF and FP indicating that to sustain the soil fertility in the four crop-based system, the current RDF and FP are not sufficient. This finding will help intensive cropping areas in preventing nutrient deficiencies that would lead to a reduction in the crop yield.

MINIMUM TILLAGE NON-PUDDLED TRANSPLANTED RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.): WEED CONTROL AND ECONOMICS UNDER CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE PRACTICE IN BANGLADESH

Crisis of agricultural laborers in South Asia’s rural zones is pushing to pursue a labor-saving conservation agriculture strategy for crop production and weed control. Non-puddled transplanting and mulching residues of the previous crop are being developed for rice-based cropping systems in Bangladesh to address this issue. Hence, the present study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of strip tillage vs. conventional tillage combined with previous rice residues relative to herbicides and hand weeding on weed control and grain yield of winter rice during January-May in 2015 and 2016. Rice cv. BRRI dhan28 was transplanted with a combination of six treatments: puddled conventional tillage (CT)+3 hand weeding (HW) (Control); Preplant (PRE) herbicide (glyphosate)+non-puddled strip tillage (ST)+1HW; PRE+ST+pre-emergence (PE) herbicide (pendimethalin); PRE+ST+post-emergence (PO) herbicide (ethoxysulfuron-ethyl); PRE+ST+PE+PO; PRE+ST+weed-free (WF); and two levels of rice residues: no-residue (R0) vs. 50% standing residue (R50). The CT had done using a two-wheel tractor (2WT) by four ploughings and cross ploughings followed by levelling. A Versatile Multi-Crop Planter (VMP) was used for ST in a single pass operation. Over the two years, PRE+ST+PE+PO reduced weed density by 40% in the first year and 50% in the second year and weed biomass by 70% than CT+3HW in both years. Retention of 50% residue reduced weed density by 20% and biomass by 34%. The highest grain yield (12% higher than CT+3HW without residue) was obtained from PRE+ST+WF with 50% residue, while the highest BCR (47% higher over CT+3HW without residue) was obtained from PRE+ST+PE+PO with 50% residue.

Temporal Variations of Soil Organic Carbon and pH at Landscape Scale and the Implications for Cropping Intensity in Rice-Based Cropping Systems

Landscape scale assessment of temporal variations in soil organic carbon (SOC) contents and soil pH and the implications for long-term agricultural sustainability was determined using legacy datasets collected over two periods separated by 20 years: the 1990s and 2010s. Soil data on SOC and pH were categorized according to the prevailing land types (based on inundation as highland (HL), medium highland (MHL), and medium lowland (MLL)), and physiographic types (i.e., Himalayan Piedmont plain, Tista Floodplain and Barind tract/Terrace) to determine which variable or combination of variables was more influential in spatial and temporal changes of these properties. SOC contents in the physiographic types were generally found to be low, varying between 8 to 12 g/kg. While, SOC contents were significantly higher in MHL and MLL compared with HL that experienced less inundation. The change in SOC contents over 20 years was significant with a 14.5% increase of SOC. There was a greater influence of land type compared with physiography on SOC contents over time. Inundation land types and associated cropping intensity were considered likely to influence SOC of soils under rice-based cropping systems. Furthermore, the levels of soil pH decreased by 0.5 units over 20 years with an approximately 50% increase in soils within a pH category of 4.6–5.5. The majority of soil pH results shift from slightly acidic to strongly acidic in the intervening 20-year period between samplings. Soil acidification is potentially a combination of inefficient and excess use of ammonium-based fertilizers with higher application rates and low input from residues. We conclude that acidification may continue with more intensive land use. However, trends in SOC contents over time under certain combinations of physiography and land type either increased slightly or showed a significant loss and in the latter, specifically, the role of land management is not clear. The legacy datasets would be useful for monitoring spatial and temporal soil quality trends at a regional scale, but has limited capacity to capture field level variations in soil properties as data on smallholder cropping practice and management were not collected. Therefore, future research examining the role of management in SOC and pH dynamics at the field-scale would guide the use of fertilizers, crop residue management, and amelioration of acidic soil, to improve the sustainability of rice-based cropping systems in Bangladesh.

Improved management practices vis-à-vis farmers’ practices for rice-based cropping systems in Bangladesh: yield gaps and gross margins

ABSTRACT Rising global food demand attributable to ever-increasing population and income growth requires a substantial increase in food production, but there are limits to yield growth. Therefore, this study was carried out to assess potential yield, yield gap, and gross margins under improved management practices (IMP) and farmers’ practices (FP) in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)-boro rice (Oryza sativa L.), and transplant aman rice-cropping patterns. The two representative subdistricts selected in Bangladesh were Mithapukur (Rangpur district) and Ulipur (Kurigram district), which are located in Tista Meander Floodplain Agroecological Zone. Fifteen farmers were selected from each location. Each farmer cultivated an area of 1,200 m2 and divided it into two plots – one received IMP, the other FP. Management practices included the use of modern varieties, fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation. The study findings revealed that IMP provided higher yields than FP at both locations for all three crops. The yield gap between IMP and FP was 42–60% at Mithapukur and 45–51% at Ulipur for potato, 23–28% and 19–21% at Mithapukur and Ulipur, respectively, for boro rice, and 16–23% at Mithapukur and 20–26% at Ulipur for transplant aman rice. The findings showed that IMP provided substantially higher yields across crops and study locations. Gross margins of the crops under IMP were higher compared with FP at both locations. Therefore, greater yield can be obtained by following the IMP. To materialize this, regular and close collaboration between research and extension wings of the government and farmers is extremely essential.

Malta-based agroforestry system: an emerging option for improving productivity, profitability and land use efficiency

The fruit tree-based agroforestry system (FAFS) is an important component of Bangladesh's highland cropping systems that provides multiple benefits, including offering solutions to declining agricultural land and countering the effects of climate change. The present research involved the transformation of an early stage of malta (Citrus sinensis) orchard into AFS, where the performance of winter vegetables (broccoli and pea) and year-round spices (ginger and turmeric) were investigated in a distant-dependent manner, and afterward compared with the corresponding crops grown in open-field condition (control). The results demonstrate that the growth and yield-related attributes of vegetables and spices were less impeded in AFS as contrasted with the performances of corresponding open-field crops. These findings strongly suggest that the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), which is indispensable for crop growth, was less interfered in FAFS by the less dense canopy of young malta trees. Nonetheless, spices and crops that were grown closer to the base of the malta tree and either from ginger or turmeric raised bed, respectively, often produce less yield, which could be attributable to the competition of below-ground resources between trees and crops. Among different combinations of agroforestry systems, the highest benefit–cost ratio (2.92) was noted in the malta-broccoli-turmeric combination, while the highest land equivalent ratio was reported in the malta-broccoli-ginger amalgamation (2.01), which coincided with judicious use of supplied inputs (fertilizers, irrigation) as well as augmented soil fertility. Concisely, the current study concluded that AFS focused on malta, spices and vegetables, could be an excellent alternative to the highland cropping system in Bangladesh to ensure higher economic returns, optimize land use and soil fertility, and promote food and nutrition security.

Integration of maize between rice and wheat with soil and nutrient management to improve productivity of rice-wheat cropping system in Bangladesh

The necessity of more food production from limited land enforced cropping intensification over-exploring the natural resources in Bangladesh. This field experiment was initiated to achieve improve and sustainable productivity of an intensive wheat-maize-rice cropping system with improved management of natural resources. Four levels of nutrient managements were tested under four soil management treatments starting with wheat crop sown in November 2009 and ending with the harvest of 8th wheat crop in the system during March 2017. Yield and yield contributing characters of component crops and soil properties were studied following standard methods. Soil management treatment of rice straw mulch application in reduced till-bed or well-till flat soil upon wheat sowing was equally effective in conserving soil moisture, enhancing wheat root development, reducing weed growth and thereby positively influenced spikes/m2 and finally wheat yield. Similarly, wheat straw mulch application contributed to ears/m2 and grain yield of maize. Nutrient levels of recommended fertilizers plus 5.0 t/ha cowdung resulted in yield improvement of wheat and maize throughout the years. However, neither nutrient management nor soil management alone but the combination of recommended fertilizers with 5 t/ha cowdung couple with rice straw mulching in wheat and wheat straw mulching in maize resulted in maximum wheat and maize yield over the years. Rice yield was similar for different treatment combinations until the 4th cropping cycle and thereafter rice yield was also improved by the residual effect of straw mulches. Crop residue mulching along with addition of organic and inorganic fertilizers was found to be a promising soil management technology for achieving sustainable increased productivity of wheat-maize-rice system.
 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 44(2): 203-221, June 2019

System Yields, Nutrient Uptake and Balance of Mustard-Mungbean-T. Aman Rice Cropping Systems in Terrace Soils of Bangladesh

Conducted experiments on mustard-mungbean-T. aman rice cropping system to measure the system yield, nutrient uptake and apparent balance in terrace soils of Gazipur. Four fertilizer treatments were considered viz. absolute nutrient control (T1); farmer’s practice (T2); AEZ basis fertilizer application (T3) and soil test basis fertlizer application (T4). The treatments were compared in a randomized completely block design with three replications over two consecutive years. The average yields of mustard, mungbean and T. aman rice ranged from 798 to 1543 kg ha-1, 995 to 1489 kg ha-1 and 3270 to 4521 kg ha-1, respectively showing T4 as the best treatment. Soil test basis fertilizer application (T4) exhibited the highest nutrients uptake by all tested crops. The apparent balance of N and K was negative; however it was less negative for T4 treatment. The apparent P balance was positive in T2, T3 and T4 but negative in T1. Positive S balance observed in T4 but negative in T1, T2 and T3. Zinc and B balance in the system was positive in case of T3 and T4. Highest yield, gross margin and soil fertility have been recommended that the soil test basis fertilizer application is profitable for mustard-mungbean-T. aman rice cropping system in terrace soils. The study indicate clearly an opportunity for the re-adjustment of the N, P, K, S and miconutrients (Zn & B) fertilizer doses for the different rice-based cropping systems in Bangladesh.

Conservation agriculture options for a Rice-Maize cropping systems in Bangladesh

Over the last two decades, Rice (Oryza sativa L.)-Maize (Zea mays L.) cropping systems have become one of the most dominant cropping systems in Bangladesh. This has coincided with the expansion in use of two-wheel tractors, which has facilitated options for minimum tillage. A three-year trial examined the prospects of conservation agriculture practices for Rice-Maize cropping in Bangladesh, with respect to minimum tillage and residue retention. Main plot tillage treatments of conventional full tillage, single pass wet tillage in rice (rotated with zero tillage in maize), bed planting and strip tillage were combined with residue retention treatments of 0, 50 and 100% in sub-plots. Compared to conventional tillage, minimum tillage saved 60-66% of fuel and 70-74% of labour required for land preparation. Although minimum tillage reduced the land preparation cost significantly through saving fuel and labour, weed infestation was higher compared to conventional tillage, which influenced the cost of production. Rice seedlings transplanted under unpuddled strip tillage required more time than in conventional or single pass wet tillage due to poor visibility of strips and the hard surface of untilled soil. Bed planting incurred the lowest production cost. Tillage methods and residue treatment produced no significant grain yield differences. Rice grown with single pass wet tillage and maize grown with strip tillage gave the highest gross margin over time. Despite lack of treatment effects on yields, the results suggest that profitability of Rice-Maize cropping could be increased with minimum tillage, provided there is adequate control of weeds by herbicides.Bangladesh Rice j. 2014, 18(1&2): 44-53

Rice Yield Gap Minimization in Central Bangladesh: Using and Adapting Existing Technologies

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the dry season (Boro) followed by rice in the wet season (Aman) is the major cereal cropping system in Bangladesh. The average productivity (7 Mg·ha﹣1) of this system is far below attainable yields (14 Mg·ha﹣1) in farmers’ fields, resulting in a large yield gap mainly due to farmers’ traditional management practices. Narrowing yield gap is a vital complementary strategy in improving rice yield and consequently enhancing food security. We evaluated BRRI recommended management practices, BRRI recommended management practices along with two N management options (leaf color chart and Urea Super Granule) and farmers’ crop management practices integrated with quality seed, leaf color chart (LCC) and Urea Super Granule (USG) in farmers’ fields of Kapasia, Gazipur over 6 contiguous seasons during 2009-2012. Across years, all the management options increased grain yields compared with the farmers’ practice (FP) by 1.12 Mg·ha﹣1 in Aman and 0.84 Mg·ha﹣1 in Boro season. The higher yield response (43%) occurred with BRRI recommended management practices followed by BRRI recommended management practices in combination with Urea Super Granule (42%) as N source (BRRI-USG). Yield advantage of 41% could be attained by BRRI recommended management practices with leaf color chart (LCC) aided N management (BRRI-LCC) while this was 22%, 13% and 13% higher than FP (farmer’s practice) when only quality seeds, USG and LCC were used with farmers’ management practice. BRRI Rec., BRRI-LCC and BRRI-USG·management options reduce the yield gap of FP by 41%, with an average of 2.87 Mg·ha﹣1. When farmers adopted FP-QS, FP-USG and FP-LCC management options, they reduced the yield gap of FP by 21%, 13% and 12%, with an average of 1.49, 0.88 and 0.81 Mg·ha﹣1, respectively. The average added net returns with BRRI Rec., BRRI-LCC and BRRI-USG·management options were US$175 to US$362 ha﹣1 in the wet season and US $158 to US $263 ha﹣1 in the dry season. BRRI management practices and BRRI management practices integrated with two N management options, either LCC or USG has the potential to boost rice yield and consequently total rice production in Bangladesh.

Utilization Pattern of Crop Residues at Farm Level: Evidence from Diversified Rice-Based Cropping Systems in Bangladesh

The study aims to examine the utilization of crop residues of 458 farm households covering four districts in Bangladesh. Primary data were collected during October to December 2012 through field survey following purposive sampling. The evidence showed that the average age of the respondents were 40.23 years with an average family size of 4.84. About 37.12% respondents had above primary level of education and 81% respondents were engaged primarily in agriculture. The average farm size was found to be 2.61 acre. The annual household income was found BDT 215,584 of which 75 and 25% came from agriculture and non-agriculture sources, respectively. The study areas were mostly dominated by rice based cropping systems. Among the crop, rice alone contributed 83.14% of the total cultivated land followed by vegetables (41.76%), pulses (39.08%) and jute with cropping intensities ranges from 153.16 to 282.12%. The whole retention of boro rice was found higher than aman rice and oilseeds and maize were found higher than all crops. No retention of crop residues was found in case of jute and pulses. It was indicated that the retention rate varied crop to crop as well as location to location. The distance had also another major factor on the retention of crop residues. The households were benefited from retention of crop residues by improving soil health, add soil nutrients, improving soil structure and increasing water conservation to the field. The crop residues were mostly used for animal feed followed by cooking fuel and add organic matter to the field. The used cooking fuel come from their own fuel wood (about 14-53%), own crop residues (about 10-25%) and from cowdung (about 4-22%), respectively. The sources of animal feed was found from own crops (about 3- 52%), own crop residues (about 16-18%) and from green grass (about 6-24%), respectively. The constraints to retention crop residues and uses were the lack of proper method of harvesting, transporting them to the house, deficit labor and uneconomic. Finally, the study suggests for conducting training on appropriate methods of harvesting, processing of retention crop residues and improvement of transportation of harvested crop at home properly.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v23i1-2.16575Progress. Agric. 23(1 & 2): 111 – 122, 2012

Integrating best management practices for rice with farmers’ crop management techniques: A potential option for minimizing rice yield gap

The major cereal cropping system in Bangladesh is rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the dry season (Boro) – rice in the wet season (Aman). The average productivity (7tha−1) of this system is far below attainable yields (14tha−1) in farmers’ fields, resulting in a large yield gap mainly due to farmers’ traditional management practices. We evaluated a set of selected best management practices (BMP) along with two N management options in the farmers’ crop management practices for rice in numerous farmers’ fields across 24 villages over 5 contiguous seasons during 2006–2008. Across years, BMP and two N management options increased grain yields compared with the farmers’ practice (FP) by 0.73tha−1 in both Aman and Boro seasons. The higher yield response (24.6% in Aman and 8.6% in Boro season) occurred with BMP in combination with leaf color chart (LCC) aided N management (BMP–LCC) than BMP with Urea Super Granule as N source (BMP–USG). Best management practices and two N management options reduced the yield gap of FP by 45%, with an average of 1.5Mgha−1. The average added net returns with BMP were US$22 to US$120ha−1 in the wet season and US$93 to US$115ha−1 in the dry season. Our study shows that the integration of BMP and either LCC-aided N management or USG as an N source with the farmers’ management techniques and its adoption has the potential to boost rice yield and profit and total rice production in Bangladesh.

Nutrient management for increased productivity of rice–wheat cropping system in Bangladesh

The rice ( Oryza sativa L.)–wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) system in the Indo-Gangetic Plain often experiences low N use efficiency due to inefficient management of fertilizer N. We evaluated the leaf color chart (LCC) as a simple tool for improving fertilizer N use in rice and wheat in farmers’ fields of southwestern Bangladesh. Use of the LCC for N management consistently increased grain yields and added net returns for rice and wheat as compared to the farmers’ fertilizer practice across two rice and two wheat seasons, which each involved two to five villages and a total of 20–33 farmers. In rice, use of the LCC for N management without any other change in farmers’ fertilizer and crop management increased mean grain yield by 0.3–0.4 Mg ha −1 across villages and seasons. This yield increase corresponded to a median added net return of US$ 40 ha −1. Combined use of the LCC with recommended P, K, S, and Zn fertilization further increased mean yield by 0.3–0.4 Mg ha −1 and median added net return by US$ 25–53 ha −1. Wheat was strongly limited by nutrients in addition to N. Mean wheat grain yield increased by 0.8 Mg ha −1 when application of 20 kg N ha −1 at maximum tillering with use of the LCC was combined with recommended N, P, K, S, and Zn fertilizer use. This yield increase corresponded to median added net return of US$ 36–45 ha −1. The added net return from use of the LCC with the farmers’ P, K, S, and Zn fertilization was only US$ 10–16 ha −1. Results suggest farmers should apply a larger proportion of their annual fertilizer P use to wheat. Deficiencies in K, S, and Zn must be overcome in order for farmers to achieve the full benefits of improved N management with the LCC.

Chemical Control of Soil Environment by Lime and Nutrients to Improve the Productivity of Acidic Alluvial Soils under Rice-Wheat Cropping System in Bangladesh

The productivity of rice-wheat cropping has declined in acidic alluvial soils widespread in Bangladesh. Field experiments were conducted for three years at two locations to investigate the effects of 3 levels of lime (0, 1.2 and 2.4 t ha-1) and six combinations of fertilizer treatments on soil pH, nutrient availability, and yields of rice and wheat. Soil pH, available P, exchangeable Ca, and hot-water-extractable B were increased by liming. The levels of Fe and Al content in soil were significantly decreased with lime levels whereas the level of Zn was not affected by lime levels. Boron availability enhanced by liming could have significant effect in preventing spikesterility and thereby increased the yield of wheat. The yield response of crops revealed that combination of full dose of liming (2.4 t ha-1) with N, P, K and S applications at the rates of 100, 40, 40 and 20 kg ha-1 in both the crops and 5 kg ha-1 of Zn only in rice are preferable to obtain higher yield in acidic alluvial soil. Mg and B were not required to apply as fertilizer at least for 3 years in such a soil treated with full dose of lime.

Suitable Cultivars for Intensive Rice-Based Cropping Systems in Bangladesh

Suitable Cultivars for Intensive Rice-Based Cropping Systems in Bangladesh