Production Potential, Economics, Energetics and GHG Emission Potentials of Paddy based Cropping System in a Micro-watershed under Damodar Catchment, West Bengal under Hot, Moist, Sub-Humid Agro-Ecological Zone

Abstract

Abstract

The Damodar catchment area in West Bengal is primarily dominated by rice-rice mono-cropping system. The present study was conducted in three villages through Naopara, Kantia and Syamsundarpur in the Barddhaman district of West Bengal; to explore the potentials of integrating other field crops in the existing rice based cropping system towards improving the monetary productivity and farmers’ livelihood. Field experiments were conducted taking different cropping systems through rice–rice, rice–potato–black gram, rice–potato–sesame and rice–mustard–black gram in four soil series i.e., Syamsundarpur I, Syamsundarpur II, Naopara and Kantia as developed on gently sloping alluvial plan. Soils varied in texture (loamy to clay), organic carbon content (4.4 to 9.8 gkg^-1), cation exchange capacity (10.0 to 22.4 cmol (p+)kg^-1) and pH (5.3 to 6.4). Soil fertility status indicates low to medium N (245 to 345 kgha^-1), medium to high P₂O₅ (70 to 110 kgha^-1) and medium to high K₂O (162 to 385 kgha^-1). Lowest investment (Rs.30042 to Rs.30475) was incurred under rice-mustard-black gram sequence under the different soil series with an average return of Rs.43690 to Rs.5084. At the same time cultivation of rice-potato-black gram enabled highest monetary productivity (Rs.261.2 to 268.8/ha/day) in Syamsundarpur I, Syamsundarpur II and Naopara soil series, but with a high investment of Rs.58,020 to Rs.58,560. Kantia soil series was found to be suitable for the traditional rice–rice crop rotation. Energy use efficiency was highest in case of the rice-rice cropping sequence, though net energy output was highest under rice- potato- sesame cropping sequence. On the other hand energy use efficiency was highest in Naopara soil series irrespective of crop sequence, which might be due to better crop suitability, higher soil fertility and higher crop productivity. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission potential was highest in the case of rice-potato- black gram (15884 kg CO₂ eq./ha) cropping sequence, while GHG emission potential per kg rice equivalent yield was highest in the case of rice-mustard-black gram (1.09 kg CO₂ eq/kg) and lowest in case of rice-rice (0.61 kg CO₂ eq/kg) cropping sequence.

Keywords: Rice based cropping system, soil series, rice equivalent yield, monetary productivity

Cite this Article

R. Bera, A. Seal, T.H. Das et al. Production Potential, Economics, Energetics and GHG Emission Potentials of Paddy based Cropping System in a Micro-watershed under Damodar Catchment, West Bengal under Hot, Moist, Sub-Humid Agro-Ecological Zone. Research & Reviews: Journal of Crop Science and Technology. 2018; 7(1): 35–46p.