Diversification of rice (Oryza sativa L.)-based cropping systems for higher productivity, resource-use efficiency and economic returns in south Gujarat, India

The continuous growing of rice has led to a deterioration in soil quality, resulting in a serious threat to agricultural sustainability in the high rainfall zone of south Gujarat, India. Therefore, crop diversification with a wider choice in the production of crop varieties is being promoted to restore the soil quality. A field experiment was conducted in Navsari, India during 2003–2007 on a Vertisol to evaluate the productivity, sustainability, resource-use efficiency and economics of 10 rice-based cropping systems. The results showed that system productivity for rice–fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)–okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) was highest (25.73 t ha71), followed by rice–onion (Allium cepa)–cowpea (Vigna sinensis L.) (24.15 t ha71); and the lowest system productivity was observed with the rice–wheat (Triticum aestivum)–fallow system (7.85 t ha71). The sustainable yield index (0.97), production efficiency (102.94 kg ha71 day71) and field water use efficiency (15.98 kg ha71 mm71) were maximum with the rice–fenugreek– okra system. Similarly, net return (96,286 Rs ha71), net return per rupee invested (2.83 Rs), monetary production efficiency (385.14 Rs ha71 day71) and water use efficiency (59.80 Rs ha71 mm71) were maximum with the rice–fenugreek–okra cropping sequence. There were significant effects of various cropping sequences on available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic carbon content in the soil. Overall, the rice–fenugreek–okra system was found to be the most productive, sustainable, resource-use efficient and remunerative cropping system, followed by the rice–onion–cowpea system