Profitability Analysis of a Four Crop Based Cropping Pattern in Bogura Region of Bangladesh

Farmers in the Bogura region benefit significantly from the systematic use of crop rotation. The experiment was performed at the Shibganj, Bogura, in 2015-16 and 2016-17 to create a potato-Boro-radish-T. Aman rice crop sequence that would compete with the potato-Boro-T. Aman rice crop sequence. Primary objectives of the experiment were to determine the cost of producing enhanced Potato-Boro-Radish-T. Aman rice and compare it to current potato-boro-t. aman rice. There were two patterns: Current Cropping Pattern Potato (BARI Alu-8)-Boro (BRRI dhan 28)-T. Aman (BRRI dhan-49) and Alternative Cropping Pattern Potato (BARI Alu-25)-Boro (BRRI dhan 28) -Radish (Rocky)-T. Aman (BRRI dhan-57). The research revealed that an alternative cropping pattern required average crop duration of 315 days to complete one cycle in a year, implying that a four multiple cropping sequence was economically viable to replace the current cropping pattern. In terms of mean REY, the total grain/tuber yield was 42.80 t/ha/year, which was 66% greater than the current pattern (25.76 t/ha/year). The overall production efficiency (185.14 kg/ha/day), usage of land (86.16%), and engagement in the population (660 man-days/ha/year) of the alternative cropping pattern were 45, 7, and 41% higher, respectively, than the current cropping pattern. Alternative cropping patterns had the gross benefit of 274911 Tk./ha/year, indicating that they were sparingly sustainable. The alternative crop sequence also improved crop strength, growers' real understanding, technique, profits, and engagement. Furthermore, by trying to incorporate T. aman straw into soil with an alternative cropping pattern, it promotes soil health. As a result, farmers in Bangladesh's Bogura region may employ a different planting pattern on their variable land in order to boost production and profitability while also creating jobs.

​Effect of Different Crop Sequences on Soil Nutrient Status, Nutrient Uptake and Crop Yield in Western Himalayas of India

Background: The field experiment was conducted during 2018-19 experimental farm of Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, CSK HPKV, Palampur (H.P.), India. The experiment comprised of ten treatments (maize-wheat, maize-wheat + gobhi sarson, dhaincha-cabbage-frenchbean, sunhemp-vegetable pea-frenchbean, maize + soybean chickpea + linseed, rice-wheat + gram, hybrid sorghum + hybrid bajra-oats + sarson (hybrid), hybrid sorghum + hybrid bajra-ryegrass + berseem, babycorn-broccoli-frenchbean and okra-turnip-tomato) which was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. Methods: The present investigation was conducted during October 2018-October 2019 (Kharif and Rabi seasons) at an elevation of 1100 m amsl at a latitude of 32°04’N and longitude of 76°35’ E at Bhadiarkar Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, CSK HPKV, Palampur, Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. The soil of the experimental area falls in the order of Alfisols with Paleudalf as the great group as per the Udic Moisture Regime. During kharif and rabi season the crop varieties were applied with the recommended dose of N, P2O5 and K2O (kg ha-1). The source of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were urea, single super phosphate and muriate of potash. Result: In terms of food for human consumption, highest yield was obtained under the okra-turnip-tomato cropping sequence followed by dhaincha-cabbage-frenchbean and sunhemp-vegetable pea-frenchbean. While in terms of fodder yield, highest was obtained under hybrid sorghum + hybrid bajra-oats + sarson (hybrid) cropping sequence followed by hybrid sorghum + hybrid bajra-ryegrass + berseem. Highest maize grain equivalent yield was obtained with okra-turnip-tomato crop sequence. All other treatments remained superior in comparison to the maize-wheat crop sequence. Maize + soybean-chickpea + linseed emerged to be the best treatment with the highest benefit cost ratio. The treatment comprising okra-turnip-tomato sequence also proved to be the second-best treatment followed by hybrid sorghum + hybrid bajra-oats + sarson (hybrid). Sunhemp-vegetable pea-frenchbean recorded the highest uptake of the available nutrients from soil which was followed by babycorn-broccoli-frenchbean. There was net loss of available nutrients although the loss was less in the sequences with multiple crops during the year. The treatments had no significant effect on the pH and organic carbon content of the soil.

Combining crop diversification practices can benefit cereal production in temperate climates

Diversifying cropping systems by increasing the number of cash and cover crops in crop rotation plays an important role in improving resource use efficiency and in promoting synergy between ecosystem processes. The objective of this study was to understand how the combination of crop diversification practices influences the performance of arable crop sequences in terms of crop grain yield, crop and weed biomass, and nitrogen acquisition in a temperate climate. Two field experiments were carried out. The first was a 3-year crop sequence with cereal or grain legume as the first crops, with and without undersown forage legumes and forage legume-grass crops, followed by a cereal crop. The second experiment was a 2-year crop sequence with cereal or legume as the first crops, a legume cover crop, and a subsequent cereal crop. For the first time, crop diversification practices were combined to identify plant-plant interactions in spatial and temporal scales. The results partly confirm the positive effect of diversifying cereal-based cropping systems by including grain legumes and cover crops in the crop sequence. Legume cover crops had a positive effect on subsequent cereal grain yield in one of the experiments. Using faba beans as the first crop in the crop sequence had both a positive and no effect on crop biomass and N acquisition of the subsequent cereal. In cover crops composed of a forage legume-grass mixture, the grass biomass and N acquisition were consistently increased after the grain legume, compared to the cereal-preceding crop. However, differences in the proportion of legume to grass in mixture did not influence crop yield or N acquisition in the subsequent cereal. In conclusion, these results support that increased crop diversity across spatial and temporal scales can contribute to resource-efficient production and enhance the delivery of services, contributing to more sustainable cropping systems.

Identification of Biological Efficient and Profitable Cropping Systems in Central Plain Zone of Uttar Pradesh

A field experiment was executed with ten crop sequences during 2016-17 at C.S.Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. All these sequences were evaluated for their system productivity, production efficiency, land use efficiency and economic analysis. Highest system productivity 320.43 q REY /ha was obtained through maize + black gram – potato – onion crop sequence followed by maize – garlic – green gram (291.1 q REY /ha). Highest land use efficiency (90.1%) measured through Scented rice – wheat –okra crop sequence while maximum production efficiency 121.83 kg/ha/ day was achieved by maize + black gram – potato – onion crop sequence. The highest net return of Rs.282799.0 /ha, crop profitability of Rs. 1075.28 /ha / day and system profitability of Rs. 774.79 /ha/day was obtained through maize + black gram – potato – onion followed by maize – garlic – green gram (G+R) crop sequence, while highest return per rupee investment (1:3.24) was computed on hybrid rice- wheat cropping system followed by maize – mustard- onion crop sequence (1: 3.21). Electrochemical properties were also evaluated in each cropping sequence. On the basis of different biological indices and economical analysis maize + black gram – potato – onion crop sequence observed as biological efficient followed by maize – garlic – green gram (G+R) crop sequence over all other cropping systems.

Effect of sulphur and zinc management on yield, quality and nutrient uptake in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) – lentil (Lens culinaris) crop sequence

A field experiment was conducted at Panwari village of Agra district during Kharif and rabi season of 2015-16 and 2016-17 to study the effect of sulphur and zinc management on yield, nutrient uptake and residual soil fertility under pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) – lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) crop sequence. Four levels each of sulphur and zinc were evaluated under randomized block design with three replications. Both the nutrients were applied to pearl millet and their direct and residual response was ascertained to pearl millet and lentil in sequence. Pooled results indicated that grain and stover yield of pearl millet improved significantly with increasing levels of S up to 20 kg S ha-1 over control. An increase of 17.0 and 16.5 % in grain and stover yield was recorded with 20 kg S ha-1 over control. Similarly, grain and stover yield of pearl millet increased significantly with Zn and maximum grain (3.46 t ha-1 ) and stover (8.19 t ha-1 ) yields were recorded with 4 kg Zn ha-1 . The content and yield of protein in both the crops increased significantly with the addition of S and Zn over control. The residual effect of S in lentil was significant at 40 kg S ha-1 and grain and straw yield increments were to the extent of 18.6 and 15.8 per cent, respectively. The residual effect of 6 kg Zn ha-1 on succeeding lentil crop produced 16.7 and 14.0 % higher grain and straw yield over control, respectively. Application of S and Zn showed significantly beneficial effect on S and Zn uptake by pearl millet and succeeding lentil crop over control. Nitrogen and P uptake by both the crops also improved significantly with these elements over control

Microbial Community Dynamics of Soybean (Glycine max) Is Affected by Cropping Sequence

The microbial composition of the rhizosphere soil could be an important determinant of crop yield, pathogen resistance, and other beneficial attributes in plants. However, little is known about the impact of cropping sequences on microbial community dynamics, especially in economically important species like soybean. Using 2-year crop sequences of corn-soybean, canola-soybean, and soybean-soybean, we investigated how crops from the previous growing season influenced the structure of the microbiome in both the bulk soil and soybean rhizosphere. A combination of marker-based Illumina sequencing and bioinformatics analyses was used to show that bacterial species richness and evenness in the soybean rhizosphere soil were similar following canola and soybean compared to a previous corn sequence. However, fungal species richness and evenness remained unaffected by crop sequence. In addition, bacterial and fungal species diversity in both the bulk and soybean rhizosphere soil were not influenced by crop sequence. Lastly, the corn-soybean sequence significantly differed in the relative abundance of certain bacterial and fungal classes in both the soybean rhizosphere and bulk soil. While canola-soybean and a continuous soybean sequence did not, suggesting that a preceding corn sequence may reduce the occurrence of overall bacterial and fungal community members. For the present study, crop sequence impacts bacterial diversity and richness in both the bulk soil and soybean rhizosphere soil whereas fungal diversity and richness are resilient to crop sequence practices. Together, these findings could help drive decision making for annual crop and soil management practices.