Performance of Basmati rice based cropping systems for productivity, profitability and soil health

A field experiment with 8 cropping systems was conducted at Ludhiana during 2001 to 2004 to evaluate the production potential, system productivity, production efficiency, land-use efficiency, economic analysis, nutrient uptake and changes in available nutrients of soil. Basmati rice (Oryza saliva L.) - mentha (Mentha arvensis L.) cropping system was found to be the most productive than all other cropping systems, with mean basmati rice equivalent yield of, 95.1 q/ha, system productivity of, 36.58 kg/ha, production efficiency of, 236.8 Rs/ha/day and net returns of Rs 61591/ha. The next two best crop sequences were basmati rice-berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) for fodder & seed and basmati rice-celery (Apium graveolens)-bajra fodder (Pennisetum glaucum L.), which were distinctly better than others with regard to all the economic parameters. Net returns obtained from basmati rice-mentha, basmati rice-berseem (fodder & seed) and basmati rice-celery-bajra fodder cropping systems were, 51.2, 31.6 and, 25.6% higher than the basmati rice-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system, respectively. Highest land use efficiency (87.67%) was observed in Basmati rice-African mustard (Brassica carinata)-summer moong (Phaseolus radiatus) crop sequence. Maximum NPK uptake (513 kg/ha) was obtained in basmati rice-gobhi sarson (Brassica napus)-sammer moong cropping system whereas minimum uptake (401 kg/ha) was recorded in basmati rice-mentha system. After three crop cycles the organic carbon content of the soil increased than its initial value under all the crop sequences but the magnitude of the increase was maximum in basmati rice-mentha cropping system. Changes in available Pcontent of soil remained statistically non-significant, whereas the available K content of the soil was significantly reduced than its initial values under almost all the crop sequences.