Productivity and profitability assessment of organically grown vegetables embedded in rice based cropping sequences in Sikkim Himalayas, North East India

Abstract

Aim: The objective of the present study was to identify economically viable, profitable and resource efficient vegetables embedded rice-based cropping sequences under organic management for marginal and small farmers of Sikkim Himalayas, India. Methodology : Three-year fixed plot study was conducted to evaluate seven rice-based cropping sequences viz., rice-fallow (farmers' practice), rice-fenugreek (leafy vegetable), rice-coriander (leaves), rice-radish, rice-broccoli, rice-potato' and rice-vegetable pea were replicated four-times in a completely randomized block design. Results : Among the various rice - based cropping sequences, cultivation of rice-coriander (leaves) recorded higher production (67.3 kg ha"1 day"1), system productivity (24.6 t ha"1), relative economic efficiency (1040%) and net returns (376.1x103). However, rice-broccoli and rice-vegetable pea^equences recorded 8.6 and 4.4% higher B: C ratio, respectively, over the rice-coriander system. With regards to soil health, rice-vegetable pea cropping sequences resulted in maximum improvement in soil organic carbon (SOC) (1.26%), available soil N (415.2 kg ha"1), P j (22.8 kg ha"1) and K (411.5 kg ha"1), soil microbial biomass carbon ' (SMBC) (344.7 |jg MBC g"1 soil), dehydrogenase activity (DHA) (24.0 |jg TPFg"1 soil h"1) and fluorescin di acetate (FDA) (38.8 |jg FDAg"1 soil h"1) among the cropping sequences. Interpretation: Induction of vegetables in rice-fallow system under assured irrigation condition of Sikkim Himalayas, India not only enhances the farm productivity and profitability but also sustain the soil health on long term basis. Thus, rice-vegetable pea/coriander/broccoli based production systems under organic management hold great promises for sustaining livelihood of organic growers in Sikkim Himalayas over conventional rice- fallow system.