Millet-Jute-T. Aman Cropping Pattern for Increasing System Productivity in the Active Brahmaputra-Jamuna Floodplain Chars

Abstract

Increasing system productivity in a planned way is an important base for attaining food security, where bringing marginal land like Charland under intensive crop cultivation is highly desirable. The field trial was conducted in the Charland of the Jamuna River under Saghataupazilla of Gaibandha during 2017- 18 & 2018-19 to increase the productivity and profitability through the development of three crops-based improved cropping patterns instead of the local practice (double-crop). Three crops based improved cropping pattern namely Millet (BARI Kaon-2)-Jute (O-9897)-T. Aman (Gainja) was compared with the existing cropping pattern of Millet (Local)-Fallow-T. Aman (Gainja). The experiment was laid out in six dispersed replications maintaining RCB design. The introduced improved cropping pattern produced the higher system productivity based on rice equivalent yield, REY (12.95 t ha-1), than the existing cropping pattern (4.20 t ha-1), which is three times higher than the existing pattern. Total field duration and turnaround time were 323 and 42 days, respectively in improved pattern and 215 and 150 days, respectively in the existing pattern, which revealed that 108 days more could be made productive through the introduction of improved cropping pattern. The alternate pattern increased production efficiency and land-use efficiency by 35% and 30%, respectively than that of the existing cropping system. The gross margin was also three times higher in the improved cropping pattern (1, 41,600 Tk ha-1 yr-1) compared to the farmers’ existing cropping pattern (38,350 Tk ha-1 yr-1). The marginal benefit-cost ratio (MBCR) was calculated 2.44 in an improved cropping pattern over the existing cropping pattern. The inclusion of an extra one crop (Jute) in the existing cropping pattern and replacement of the local millet variety by high yielding variety (BARI Kaon-2) could play a significant role to increase the system productivity as well as profitability in the Charland of Saghata, Gaibandha. The Agriculturists 2020; 18(1) 129-136