Fodder Cowpea Research Articles

Evaluation of Genetic Variability in Fodder Cowpea for Enhancing Yield and its Contributing Traits

Thirty fodder cowpea genotypes (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) were analyzed for different genetic parameters for yield and its contributing traits using Randomized Block Design at Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Trivandrum. Significant differences among genotypes were observed for the eleven biometric traits studied. High phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation were observed for traits such as the number of primary branches, number of leaves per plant, dry matter yield, green fodder yield, leaf and stem dry weights and leaf area index. Traits like days to first flowering and days to 50% flowering exhibited high heritability with moderate genetic advance as a percentage of the mean, indicating that selection for these traits would be effective due to additive gene effects. Moderate heritability and high genetic advance as a percentage of the mean were observed for traits such as plant height, number of primary branches and leaves, dry matter yield, green fodder yield, leaf and stem dry weights, leaf area index and leaf-to-stem ratio, suggesting that additive gene action governs these traits to a great extent and offers a good potential for improvement through selection than traits with low heritability. Thus, the information on genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance as a percentage of the mean for yield-related traits provides a valuable foundation for improving traits and developing fodder cowpea genotypes with enhanced fodder yield potential.

Changes in root nodules dynamics under mixed cropping with varying nutrient management of berseem crop and succeeding fodder cowpea

Intercropping is a sustainable way to achieve the growing demands for food and fodder of expanding population of tropical areas. Combined application of nutrient sources along with inclusion of fodder crops in cropping system will influence soil as well as plant characteristics above ground as well as below it. These sustainable approaches may increase nutrient use efficiency by rhizosphere management at soil and plant level giving better understanding of soil plant atmosphere continuum (SPAC). The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of nutrient management and seed ratios on dynamics of root nodules of berseem as well as succeeding crop cowpea at Agronomy Research farm, National Dairy Research Institute, Haryana, India. Intensive root studies had been done regarding root parameters in berseem as well as residual succeeding crop cowpea in this research. The study revealed that 100%RDF(Recommended dose of Fertilizer)+PGPR (Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria) had given maximum number of nodules (118.60) and other traits for three cuttings in terms of nutrient management and sole berseem in terms of seed ratios number of nodules (112.92), whereas 50%RDF (Recommended dose of Fertilizer) +50% FYM (Farm Yard Manure)-(62.5) and sole berseem (54.30) at harvest had shown better results in terms of residual activity on roots nodules of succeeding crop cowpea where number of nodules (62.5) and fresh wt. of root nodules (622.1 mg) at harvest in 50%RDF + 50% FYM. This research revealed that employing organic sources of nutrients like FYM (Farm Yard Manure) and biofertilizers like PGPR (Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria) along with inorganics in correct proportions enhances the root traits of leguminous fodder crops and reduce sole dependency on harmful agricultural inputs. Hence, this would fulfill the long-term nutritional requirement of crop and preserve crop status in terms of quality and quantity.

Effect of different nitrogen sources on yield and economics of fodder cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.)

Effect of different nitrogen sources on yield and economics of fodder cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.)

Assessment of Leaf Area Index and its Relationship with Growth and Yield of Fodder Cowpea as Influenced by Sources of Irrigation and Nutrients

Background: Fodder cowpea is an important leguminous, short duration, warm season crop widely cultivated. Though India ranks first in livestock population, the productivity is found lesser than the world average due to deficiency in availability of green fodders. As fresh water application usage is increasing for the cultivation of field crops and high value crops, fodder crops are found negligible crops but responds well to water and nutrients. Leaf area index is one of the determinative parameters for the increased yield, an attempt was made to determine the relationship between the growth and yield of fodder cowpea with the application of domestic sewage water and nutrients. Methods: studies were conducted during 2019 and 2020 to study the relationship between different sources of irrigation water and nutrients on the growth and yield of fodder cowpea. Treatments in main plot consists of irrigation with water using well water (I1), domestic sewage water (I2) and well water and domestic sewage water alternatively (I3). Treatments in sub plot consists of no nutrient (N1), Farm Yard manure alone (N2), Farm Yard manure + NPK (N3) and NPK alone (N4), in split plot design and replicated thrice. The leaf constant was determined graphically plotted in regression and used for calculation of leaf area. The relationship between leaf area index and the growth and yield parameters of fodder cowpea were determined. Result: Our investigation concluded that the application of domestic sewage water along with farmyard manure + NPK significantly increased plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area and leaf area index of fodder cowpea. The data also reveals that leaf area index correlated positively with plant height, number of leaves per plant, biomass per plant and yield of fodder cowpea.

Genotypic Variation in Excised Leaf Culture Ability of Fodder Cowpea: A New Direction for Germplasm Evaluation

Genotypic Variation in Excised Leaf Culture Ability of Fodder Cowpea: A New Direction for Germplasm Evaluation

Diversified cropping systems for reducing soil erosion and nutrient loss and for increasing crop productivity and profitability in rainfed environments

CONTEXTGlobally, rainfed regions encounter several constraints that limit crop production. Poor and degraded soils resulting from soil erosion are one among them. We hypothesized that a diversified cropping system in rainfed drylands can reduce soil erosion and improve soil health and crop productivity and meet the food security needs of rainfed farmers. OBJECTIVEThe study aimed to assess potential diversified cropping systems in terms of reducing soil erosion and water and nutrient losses, and increasing crop and systems productivity and profitability. METHODSThe study was carried out at the Gungal Research Farm of ICAR Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (17o05’ N, 78o39’E) from 2015 to 16 to 2020–21. The study investigated seven diversified cropping systems (treatments): sorghum + pigeon pea- hedge lucerne, sorghum + pigeonpea- guinea grass, castor- hedge lucerne, castor- guinea grass, sorghum- fodder clusterbean- fodder cowpea- fodder horsegram, sole sorghum, and sole pigeonpea. Multi-criteria assessments were conducted to understand trade-offs related to soil nutrients and their losses, and productivity and profitability of various annual and perennial based systems. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSAmong the various systems evaluated, sole sorghum was the most sensitive to soil erosion, leading to highest amount of nutrient loss in all years (87.5, 47.3, and 9.8 kg N, P and K ha−1 in 2019–20, 102.4, 58.2, 14.2 kg N, P and K ha−1 in 2020–21, and 78.6, 39.2, 6.16 kg N, P and K ha−1 in 2021–22). The perennial based cropping systems with more diverse crops and greater land cover that included sorghum + pigeonpea - guinea grass and sorghum + pigeon pea - hedge lucerne had the lowest amount of nutrient loss. The least cumulative monetary value of nutrient loss was in sorghum + pigeon pea - hedge lucerne (137.11 US$) followed by sorghum + pigeonpea - guinea grass (145.33 US$). The systems with diverse crops reduced runoff and soil erosion, improved soil health, and increased crop and systems productivity and profitability. The trade-offs analysis using the radar graphs also showed lower soil loss and improved soil heath in diversified perennial based cropping systems, resulting in increase in net income to US$1981 for sorghum + pigeonpea - hedge lucerne compared to US$909 for sole sorghum. SIGNIFICANCEPerennial based cropping systems with diverse crops can be an effective strategy to reduce soil erosion and improve soil health, and increase crop and systems productivity in rainfed areas of south India. These results have implications to other countries globally with rainfed climate and dryland farming.

Screening and evaluation of bacterial endophytes of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] for plant growth promotion and biocontrol potential

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp], is a popular leguminous vegetable crop grown in the wetland fallows of Kerala, India. Web blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani has turned out to be a problem in cowpeas, leading to substantial yield loss. We isolated 22 endophytic bacteria from fodder cowpea var. Aiswarya and 16 from bush cowpea var. Bhagyalakshmi, and evaluated their plant growth promotion ability and potential for web blight pathogen suppression. Initially, the isolates were screened in vitro for their plant growth promotional traits and antagonism against R. solani. The potential isolates were identified as Bacillus subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens and B. velezensis through 16S rDNA cataloguing. Plant growth-promoting traits like the production of IAA (Indole acetic acid), ammonia, phosphorus, and siderophore by the promising isolates were also investigated. B. amyloliquefaciens CBSE5 recorded the highest IAA (3.54 microgram/mL) and siderophore production. B. velezensis CBRE5 showed the highest ammonia (177.29 micro moles/mL) production and phosphate solubilization. In the in vivo assay, seed biopriming along with foliar application on 20 and 40 days after sowing, of a consortium of B. amyloliquefaciens CBSE5 and B. velezensis CBRE5 recorded maximum values for all growth parameters viz. shoot length, root length, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, pod yield and number of pods per plant. The present study reports for the first time the use of endophytic Bacillus spp. isolated from cowpeas as plant growth-promoting bacteria, with biocontrol potential against the web blight pathogen R. solani.

Growth and yield of fodder cowpea as influenced by nutrient management in sandy loams of Onattukara in Kerala

Growth and yield of fodder cowpea as influenced by nutrient management in sandy loams of Onattukara in Kerala

Yield and quality improvement of fodder cowpea through zinc foliar nutrition

Yield and quality improvement of fodder cowpea through zinc foliar nutrition

Assessment of Annual Leguminous Forage Varieties in Cotton Inter cropping: Evaluating Green Fodder Yield and Dry Matter Production

Intercropping is an agronomic technique and is considered to be an effective and potential mean of increasing crop production per unit area and time (Ahmad and Anwar 2001). Legume intercrops are included in cropping system due to their ability to reduce soil erosion, improving land productivity through soil amelioration, suppress weeds and fix nitrogen. Intercropping cotton is significant because of higher profit and stabilized yield advantage, especially under adverse climatic conditions (Aladakatti et al., 2011). In this aspect, intercropping of short duration legumes in cotton has no adverse effect on cotton performance but an additional yield of legume makes the system more profitable. Rochester et al. (2001) studied the contribution of legume crops such as faba bean (Vicia faba), field pea (Pisum sativaum) and lab-lab (Lablab purpureus) on nitrogen fertility of cotton cropping system. The present study was undertaken in order to develop a compatible, short duration legume fodder and to assess the feasibility of different annual legume fodders for higher green fodder production. The field experiments were conducted in Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Veterinary College and Research Institute Campus, Namakkal, under irrigated condition, during July-August of 2021-22 and 2022-23. Experimental procedures were adopted to analyze the effects of various fertilizer levels on green fodder yield of various leguminous fodder crops viz., fodder cowpea (var. CO (FC)-8), mothbean (var. TMV (mb)-1), horse gram (var. Paiyur-2) and pillipesera. The results indicated that green fodder yield recorded at harvest stage (55 Days After Sowing (DAS)) was influenced by various fertilizer levels of Bt cotton. With respect to green fodder yield fodder cowpea (17407 and 14431 kg ha-1), horse gram (4439 and 4662 kg ha-1), moth bean (10041 and 10010 kg ha-1) and pillipesera (3066 and 2720 kg ha-1) recorded higher yield with application of 150% RDF and it was followed by 125% RDF and 100 RDF during first- and second -year study. Similarly, application of 150% RDF (F3) recorded more dry matter production (DMP) value, for all leguminous fodder crops during first (184.8, 305.6 and 452.7 kg ha-1) and second year study (169.9, 291.2, 450.2 kg ha-1) at all growth stages viz., 20, 40 DAS and at harvest stage, respectively.

Effect of Organic Nutrient Management on Quality Parameters and Yield of Fodder Cowpea Varieties

The field experiment was conducted during Rabi season of, 2022–2023 on sandy clay loam soils at a dry land farm in the S.V. Agricultural College in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. To study the Effect of organic nutrient management on quality parameters and yield of fodder cowpea The Split-plot design of the study included three replications. The treatments consisted of four varieties viz., V1: Vijaya, V2: MFC-09-01, V3: MFC-09-03, and V4: MFC-08-14 assigned to main plots, four organic nutrient management practices viz., F1: Control, F2 : 100 % organic source through (FYM) F3: 75 % organic source through (FYM) + Rhizobium + PSB + KSB and F4: 50 % organic source through (FYM) + Rhizobium + PSB + KSB allotted to sub plots. The soil was neutral in reaction (6.8 pH) low in available nitrogen (176 kg ha-1) and medium in available phosphorus (27 kg ha-1) and low in available potassium (219 kg ha-1) status.). The results revealed that among the varieties tested, higher quality parameters i.e., (Crude protein content , Total ash content and dry fodder yield) was recorded with MFC-09-01 (V2) and dry fodder yield (5.8 t ha-1) as well as crude protein (15.1 %), ash content (12.5 % ) were obtained with the application of 75 % organic source through (FYM) + Rhizobium + PSB + KSB. Furthermore, compared to all other treatments.

Evaluating growth attributes and soil heath under long term implementation of organic farming in fodder cowpea

A study was conducted to evaluate the impact of organic and conventional production system on fodder cowpea growth and soil health. This study was conducted in a farmers field of Erode, Tamil Nadu in a randomized block design with three replications. For the study, six farmers' fields involving organic (ORG) practices and one conventional (CON) production system were selected. Soil and plant samples were collected at the time of harvest and analyzed for growth, and soil health parameters. The results revealed that significant differences were found in the growth parameters of fodder cowpea among the organic and conventional production system. The analyzed chemical properties ., soil reaction, electrical conductivity viz(EC), macro nutrients, and biological indicators ., soil organic carbon (SOC), organic matter (SOM), vizmicrobial biomass carbon (MBC), culturable microbes, and yield were found to be higher in organically managed soils than the conventional farming method

Impact of Cropping Systems on Soil Organic Carbon Levels and Enzyme Activity

Monocropping makes agriculture more susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change. Resilient agriculture systems that can buffer crops against various agricultural vulnerabilities is the need of the hour. In this context, a study was conducted to assess the impact of various rice based cropping systems on soil health.
 Aims: To study the effect of different rice based cropping systems on soil enzyme activity and organic carbon.
 Study Design: Randomized block design, Replications – 3.
 Place and Duration of Study: Integrated Farming System Research Station (IFSRS) of Kerala Agricultural University located at Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, during kharif, rabi and summer seasons of 2019-2020.
 Methodology: The experiment consists of eleven cropping systems (T1 : rice - fallow - fallow, T2 : rice - rice - fallow, T3 : rice - daincha - cowpea, T4 : (rice + daincha) - rice - green gram, T5 : rice - cassava - amaranthus, T6 : rice - cassava - cowpea, T7 : rice - para grass - fodder cowpea, T8 : rice - fodder cowpea - fodder maize, T9 : rice - okra - culinary melon, T10 : rice - okra - yard long bean and T11 : rice - rice – amaranthus).
 Results: Soil organic carbon and enzyme activities were found highest in the cropping system (rice+daincha) – rice – green gram during kharif. During rabi, soil organic carbon and activity of urease and acid phosphatase were highest in rice- daincha- cowpea while dehydrogenase activity was highest in rice- fodder cowpea – fodder maize. During summer, rice- okra – yard long bean, rice- cassava- amaranthus and rice- cassava – cowpea recorded the highest urease, acid phosphatase and dehydrogenase activity, respectively. The organic carbon was highest for the sequence rice – okra –culinary melon. The soil organic carbon and enzyme activities were least in rice- fallow-fallow cropping sequence during all the three cropping seasons.
 Conclusion: Brown manuring, use of leguminous crops and cover crops in the crop sequence instead of leaving the land fallow and addition of organic sources of nutrition increase the soil organic carbon and enzymatic activity of microbes. The increase in soil organic carbon and activity of enzymes in soil owing to crop rotation of rice with arable crops relies on the crop species which are cultivated.

Humic Acid as Combined with Different Levels of N-P-K Fertilizer and Farmyard Manure to Enhance a Fodder Maize-Cowpea Intercropping System

In the summer season of 2021, a research study was conducted at the Department of Agronomy, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Killikulam. The primary objective was to assess how varying doses of humic acid, in addition with the recommended fertilizer dose, affected the growth and physiological characteristics of African Tall fodder maize and CO 9 fodder cowpea under intercropping system. The study was laid down by using randomized block design with 12 treatment combinations, each replicated three times to reduce the experimental error. The study's results highlighted that applying 125% of the recommended fertilizer dose, supplemented with enriched farmyard manure at a rate of 750 kg/ha, and applying 20 kg/ha of humic acid with addition of foliar spray treatments comprising 1.0% Urea and 0.5% CaCl2 (Treatment 8) were found to yield the highest plant height, number of leaves per plant, branches per plant, and increased dry matter production. Furthermore, this approach demonstrated superior physiological attributes, including agronomic growth rate, relative growth rate, and net assimilation rate at various crop growth stages. Notably, this treatment also exhibited the largest leaf area when compared to control treatments (Treatment 12).

Endophytic Bacillus spp. suppress Rhizoctonia solani web blight of bush cowpea

Web blight disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kühn, has become a serious problem in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) leading to drastic yield loss in the tropics. Endophytic bacteria isolated from healthy fodder cowpea and bush cowpea were evaluated for their effects on web blight disease incidence. The isolates were first screened for their in vitro antagonism against R. solani. Out of the 38 isolates screened, three promising isolates were selected and identified as Bacillus subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens and B. velezensis. Under in vivo conditions, seed biopriming with B. velezensis CBRE5 along with its foliar application twice was found to be the best treatment for the management of web blight of cowpea with the minimum percent disease index of 32%. The present study indicated that endophytic Bacillus spp. isolated from the host plant could be used as potential biocontrol agent against web blight disease of cowpea caused by R. solani. This is the first report on management of any disease of cowpea with endophytic microbes isolated from the host plant.

EFFICACY OF NEEM COATED UREA THROUGH NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY METHODS IN BT COTTON UNDER RAINFED VERTISOLS

A scientific field experiment was conducted during 2017, 2018 and 2019 in kharif season at R.A.R.S, Nandyal, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University to study Efficacy of Neem coated urea through nitrogen use efficiency methods in Bt cotton. The experiment consisting of seven nitrogen use efficiency treatments with combination of three nitrogen doses viz: No nitrogen, 75% recommended dose of nitrogen, 100% recommended dose of nitrogen, 2 methods of nitrogen application viz: band application and split application and 4 stages of nitrogen top dressing viz: basal, squaring, flowering and boll development stages along with foliar application of 1% urea at squaring, flowering, boll development stage with RBD design and replicated thrice. The results indicated that pooled seed cotton yield (2813 kg/ha), nutrient uptake and cotton economics were higher with spot application 75% recommended dose of nitrogen with 4 split doses of nitrogen along with foliar application of 1% urea at squaring, flowering and boll developmental stage and was on par with spot application of 75% recommended dose of nitrogen with 4 split doses of nitrogen, foliar application of 1% urea at squaring, flowering and boll developmental stage along with incorporation of fodder cowpea before flowering (2681 kg/ ha). Lower seed cotton yield (1637 kg/ ha) was recorded with no nitrogen treatment.

Productivity and Quality of Fodder Crops under Late-sown Conditions in Semi-arid Tropics of India

Background: In India, agriculture and animal husbandry are inextricably linked and are essential for livelihood security. Despite the fact that India has the world’s largest livestock population, feed and fodder supply is under huge strain, especially as area accessible for fodder cultivation has been shrinking. During the months of March-May and November-February are known as lean periods of fodder production, the supply of green fodder is limited throughout the year in a rainfed condition. Fodder crops develop swiftly and cover the ground surface quickly, even in low-rainfall conditions, producing a significant amount of green fodder while also providing vegetative cover over the land, resulting in resource conserving as well as increased productivity. In this context, the current study was conducted to evaluate various fodder crops, assess their productivity and quality and make appropriate recommendations for semi-arid tropics of India. Methods: Field experiments were carried out for three years from 2015-16 to 2017-18 at the Agricultural Research Station, Ananthapuramu andhra Pradesh, India, which is located between 14°41'N Latitude and 77°40'E Longitude and an altitude of 350 m. above mean sea level, which falls under the Semi-Arid Tropics. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with nine treatments (fodder crops) and three replications. The treatments comprised of different fodder crops viz., fodder sorghum, fodder maize, fodder bajra, clusterbean, fodder cowpea, field bean, brown top millet, horse gram and sunhemp. Result: The current study concludes that fodder bajra, fodder sorghum and fodder maize are potential forage cereals because they can produce more quantity and quality fodder while also ensuring net monetary returns and fodder cowpea and sunhemp are the next best suitable forage legumes under late-sown conditions in the semi-arid tropics of India.

Effect of Sowing Window and Phosphorus Levels on Growth and Yield of Summer Fodder Cowpea

Background: Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] has emerged out as a potential crop for meeting the requirement of high quality fodder to fast expanding cattle population. There is a large gap between the demand and supply of green fodder during the lean period which can be narrowed down through the agronomic approaches. Among them, time of sowing and fertilizer application are considered to be the most important factors determining the production potential of the crop. Keeping this in view, the present investigation was taken up in order to find out the optimum time of sowing along with the optimum dose of phosphorus for the production of fodder cowpea. Methods: The present experiment was undertaken during summer, 2019 on sandy loam soils of dryland farm, S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati. Three time of sowing viz., I fortnight (FN) of January, II FN of January and I FN of February assigned to main plots and four levels of phosphorus viz., 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P2O5 allotted to subplots with three replications were maintained under split plot design. Result: The plant height, number of leaves plant-1, number of branches plant-1, dry-matter production and number of nodules plant-1, leaf to stem ratio and green fodder yield were higher with early sown crop i.e. I FN of January. Application of 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 resulted in significant improvement in the growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of fodder cowpea, while the lowest were recorded under control conditions (0 kg P2O5 ha-1). The interaction between time of sowing and phosphorus levels influencing the above parameters was found to be non-significant. In conclusion, the present investigation revealed that fodder cowpea gives optimum green fodder yield with high nutritional quality on sown during I FN of January with 60 kg P2O5 ha-1.

Analysis of genetic parameters, trait association and genetic diversity in fodder cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.

Fodder cowpea (Vigna ungiculata (L.) Walp.) is regarded as one of the most important leguminous fodders due to its high biomass yield, high protein content and rapid growing nature. A study to analyze different genetic parameters, trait association and diversity was carried out with 79 fodder cowpea genotypes. The mean performances of the genotypes showed wide variation for all the traits studied. Plant height, the number of primary branches, the number of leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf area index and dry matter yield were found to have a substantial and positive relationship with green fodder yield. Path coefficient analysis revealed that the leaf area index needs to be given due weightage for improving green fodder yield in cowpea. The 79 fodder cowpea genotypes were grouped into 10 clusters of which three were solitary which confirmed the presence of wide genetic diversity among the fodder cowpea germplasm lines. The maximum intra cluster distance was exhibited by cluster ІІІ followed by clusters ІX, ІІ, І, ІV, V and VІІ, whereas the cluster II and cluster IX recorded the greatest inter-cluster distance. Based on mean performance for green fodder production, the genotypes GETC 54, GETC 46, TNFC 0926, and GETC 53 were observed to be better prospects for exploitation in future breeding programs. Keywords: Fodder cowpea, genetic parameters, trait association, path analysis, genetic diversity

Productive and Profitable Rice Based Cropping Systems for Coastal Plains of Kerala

The production potential and economics of rice-based cropping sequences for coastal plains of Kerala were investigated as part of the ongoing All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Integrated Farming Systems (ICAR) being implemented in the Integrated Farming System Research Station (IFSRS) of Kerala Agricultural University located at Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, during Kharif, Rabi and summer seasons of 2019-2020. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with eleven treatments i.e., CS1 : rice - fallow - fallow, CS2 : rice - rice - fallow, CS3 : rice - dhaincha - cowpea, CS4 : (rice + dhaincha) - rice - green gram, CS5 : rice - cassava - amaranthus, CS6 : rice - cassava - cowpea, CS7 : rice - para grass - fodder cowpea, CS8 : rice - fodder cowpea - fodder maize, CS9 : rice - okra - culinary melon, CS10 : rice - okra - yard long bean and CS11 : rice - rice - amaranthus, all replicated thrice. Among the cropping sequences, the productivity in terms of rice equivalent yield (28.93 t ha-1) and system productivity (0.079 t ha-1 day-1) was highest for CS10 : rice - okra - yard long bean. The maximum gross returns (`Rs. 901865 ha-1) and net returns (`Rs. 545705 ha-1) were also found to be highest for CS10 : rice - okra - yard long bean. However, B: C ratio was highest for CS9 : rice - okra - culinary melon (2.64) followed by CS10 : rice - okra - yard long bean (2.53).