Production potential and economics of different vegetable-based crop sequences

Abstract

Crop diversification in the form of including different cereal
and horticultural crops in the cropping sequence can provide
farmers with better income realization & profitability, resource
use efficiency and productivity. Hence, a field experiment
was conducted to diversify and select suitable vegetable
based cropping system/sequence in Indo-Gangetic plain of
Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Adequate intercultural operations,
soil amendment and soil treatment along with proper fertilizer
management produced higher crop yields. The vegetable
yield during rabi season in the system where wheat was
replaced by vegetable after rice ranged from 92.35 q/ha (Pea)
to 407.1 q/ha (tomato). Rice equivalent yield (REY) in the
cropping sequence where two vegetable crops were taken
was 177% (Rice-broccoli-cowpea) and 115% (rice-pea-okra)
higher than the rice wheat cropping sequence. Under upper
midland situation the highest gross return (Rs 463736/ha)
was recorded under okra -tomato- cowpea sequence
however, the highest net return of Rs 261802 /ha and benefit
cost ratio 2.43 was obtained in maize pea-pumpkin cropping
sequence. Under low midland situation the highest gross
return (Rs 459505/ha) and net returns (Rs 249955/ha) and
benefit cost ratio (2.20) was obtained in rice-broccoli-cowpea
cropping sequence. Hence, it is suggested and
recommended that intensive vegetable-based cropping
patterns are suitable for small & medium farmers. Growing
of three seasonal vegetables in a year and inclusion of
vegetables into the rice-wheat cropping pattern could
increase the cropping intensity and productivity and
economic returns.