Evaluation of rice (Oryza sativa)- based cropping sequences under rainfed medium land situation of Bihar plateau

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during 1992-95 to evaluate the production potential and economics of different rice
(Oryza sativa L.) - based cropping sequences on rainfed, medium land of eastern plateau. Three rice cultivars, viz
'MW 10', 'Pusa Jaldi Dhan 5' and 'RR 167-982' were followed by 4 winter crops, viz toria [Brassica rapa (L.) Thell emend.
Metzger var napus L., syn B. campestris L. spp oleifera (Metzger) Sinsk var loria], niger (Guizatia abyssinica
Coss.), horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum Lam.) and linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) in a split-plot design. 'RR
167-982' rice gave the maximum grain yield (1.44 tonnes/ha). Among the different sequences 'RR 167-982' rice-linseed
recorded the maximum rice equivalent yield of 3.27 tonnes/ha followed by 'RR 167-982' rice-toria. 'MW 10'
rice-linseed gave the highest land-use efficiency value (61.09%), whereas the highest production efficiency was recorded
in 'RR 167-982' rice-toria (15.39 kg/ha/day). Thus 'RR 167-982' rice-linseed sequence may be recommended for this area as it
gave the maximum gross returns (Rs 9 606/ha) and net return (Rs 5 516/ha).