Rescheduling of wet season (T. Aman) rice planting for cropping intensification in coastal Bangladesh

About 1.0 million ha coastal lands in Bangladesh are mono-cropped suffer from varying degree of soil salinity, waterlogging and climate vulnerability. Low yielding, traditional T. Aman rice is grown only in wet season. Growing non-rice crop after late harvested T. Aman rice is not profitable. This study was aimed to introduce high yielding, short duration T. Aman rice varieties for advancing its harvesting time and to make the avenue for timely establishment of dry season crops. Varietal trials were made at Dacope and Amtali under ACIAR funded project during 2016-2018 and compared with local cultivars. Among tested varieties BRRI dhan76 followed by BRRI dhan77 and BRRI dhan54 in Dacope and BRRI dhan77 followed by BRRI dhan76 and BRRI dhan54 in Amtali were preferred for 0.5–1.0 tha−1 yield advantage and 15–25 days earliness compared to traditional varieties. Early harvesting of T. Aman created the avenue of timely establishment of rice and non-rice crops depending on availability of fresh water and thus crop intensification and land productivity was improved. The new cropping system increased annual rice yield and farmers’ profits by 1.5- to 2-folds compared with traditional system without environmental degradation. This technique can be replicated in similar coastal zones of Bangladesh

FACTORS CONTRIBUTION TO THE ADOPTION OF PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES BY POTATO GROWERS IN NORTHWEST BANGLADESH

The present study was undertaken to determine the factors which contribute to the adoption of potato production technologies by the growers. The adoption of potato production technologies by the growers was measured by computing of scores of proper land preparation, cultivation of modern variety, fertilizer dose, fertilizer application method, irrigation, plant protection measures, seed quality, intercultural operations, planting time, seed size and planting space. Data were collected from randomly selected 232 potato growers by using interview schedule in three Upazilla of Rajshahi district in Bangladesh during July 2010 to February 2011. Out of 11 technologies relating to the adoption of potato production, recommended irrigation was at the top of highest ranking by the adoption index and plant spacing was the lowest. Majority (46.55%) of the growers had medium adoption compared to high (29.74%) and low (23.71%) adoption. Pearson correlation test depicted that out of 22 variables, 16 had significant positive relationship with the adoption of potato production technologies. Results of stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that seven variables namely: innovativeness, potato production knowledge, aspiration, potato problem awareness, group contact, peer relationship and attitude contributed significantly which altogether explained to the extent of 65.30% of the total variation to the adoption of potato production technologies. Path analysis indicated that these variables had both direct and indirect effects to the adoption behaviour. Potato growers who had more innovativeness, better knowledge in connection to potato production, more aspiration, more contact with group members, more peer relation and more favourable attitude were found to better adopt the potato production technologies

FACTORS CONTRIBUTION TO THE ADOPTION OF PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES BY POTATO GROWERS IN NORTHWEST BANGLADESH

The present study was undertaken to determine the factors which contribute to the adoption of potato production technologies by the growers. The adoption of potato production technologies by the growers was measured by computing of scores of proper land preparation, cultivation of modern variety, fertilizer dose, fertilizer application method, irrigation, plant protection measures, seed quality, intercultural operations, planting time, seed size and planting space. Data were collected from randomly selected 232 potato growers by using interview schedule in three Upazilla of Rajshahi district in Bangladesh during July 2010 to February 2011. Out of 11 technologies relating to the adoption of potato production, recommended irrigation was at the top of highest ranking by the adoption index and plant spacing was the lowest. Majority (46.55%) of the growers had medium adoption compared to high (29.74%) and low (23.71%) adoption. Pearson correlation test depicted that out of 22 variables, 16 had significant positive relationship with the adoption of potato production technologies. Results of stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that seven variables namely: innovativeness, potato production knowledge, aspiration, potato problem awareness, group contact, peer relationship and attitude contributed significantly which altogether explained to the extent of 65.30% of the total variation to the adoption of potato production technologies. Path analysis indicated that these variables had both direct and indirect effects to the adoption behaviour. Potato growers who had more innovativeness, better knowledge in connection to potato production, more aspiration, more contact with group members, more peer relation and more favourable attitude were found to better adopt the potato production technologies

Selection of suitable sowing window for boro rice in coastal regions of Bangladesh

Suitable adaptation strategies for dry season boro rice cultivation in coastal regions are important for future food security in Bangladesh. This study assessed the effect of sowing date of dry season boro rice as an adaptation strategy, with a focus on maximum utilization of water. The study was conducted at Dacope, Khulna and Amtali, Barguna during the dry seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18. The experiment comprised six sowing dates between 15th October to 30th December including three varieties BRRI dhan28, BRRI dhan67 and BINA dhan10 in split plot randomized design with three replications. In Dacope and Amtali, salt tolerant varieties BRRI dhan67 and BINA dhan10 produced the highest yield (about 6 t ha-1) when sown in November. Irrespective of locations, the highest irrigation water productivity (1.08 kg m-3) and highest total water productivity (0.80 kg m-3) was found when rice was sown in November. Among the two test locations, the lowest irrigation water was used at Amtali and the highest amount of irrigation was required for Dacope due to comparatively high land and low amount of rainfall. This indicated that boro rice can be grown where the fresh water resources are available during the crop growing season. Early sowing is difficult, because most of the land occupied by T. aman rice and late sowing is facing the problem of soil and water salinity. From the perspectives of growth duration, yield performance, water use and water productivity, the best sowing window for boro rice was found in between 15th November to 15th December. The data generated during this experiment can now also be used to set-up the APSIM cropping-systems model for subsequent investigations into long-term system performance variability (risk), and also on how these sowing dates and varieties compare under projected future climate change scenarios at these locations

Adjustment in wet season rice planting for cropping intensification in coastal Bangladesh

Major constraints to cropping systems intensification in coastal Bangladesh include the lack of fresh water for irrigation, soil salinity, excess moisture in the soils at planting time for dry season (DS) crops and the dominance of long duration wet season (WS) rice cultivars including low yield potential of local cultivars (LCs). This study aimed to find out suitable high yielding, short duration potential wet season rice cultivars to fit into the cropping system to enhance system productivity through timely planting DS non-rice and rice crops in the coastal zone. Thus, varietal trials on seven WS rice cultivars released by BRRI that have high yield potential were conducted at Dacope, Khulna and Amtali, Barguna over three years (2016-2018) to compare the performance of those cultivars with local cultivars. From these trials, BRRI dhan76 was the most preferred variety of farmers in Dacope while BRRI dhan77 was rated second in Amtali because of better performance (0.5-1 t ha-1 yield advantage) and environmental suitability at planting and harvesting time. However, BRRI dhan54 was the most preferred variety of farmers in Amtali due to higher yield potential and shorter lifecycle (about 25-30 days) than that of LCs. The key drivers of farmer preference are (i) the cultivar performance in its own right, as well as (ii) how well they facilitate the timely planting of DS crops (Boro rice, sunflower, maize and vegetables). DS crops performed better with early sowing by escaping salinity and moisture stress. Thus, large scale dissemination of the WS transplanted aman (T. aman) cultivars may create an opportunity for enhancing total system productivity, largely through cropping system intensification. As a result, rice grain self-sufficiency and farm income will be increased notably without adverse impacts on the environment. Thus, there is potential for this approach to be replicated in other areas for cropping intensification in the coastal zone of Bangladesh