Lathyrism Lathyrus Newsletter 3 (2003)
Rainfed rice-based 3-crop systems with paira/utera crops in West Bengal, India
N.R. Das
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Bidhan Chandra Agricultural University P.O. Mohanpur 741 252, Nadia, West Bengal, India Email: [e-mail] Summary only, full paper published in Advances in Agricultural Research in India (2000) 13, 163-195 Summary Taking advantage of climatic conditions, land situation, soil type and different seasons (rabi, prekharif and kharif) of West Bengal, different paira/utera (no tillage relay) crops were studied under rainfed conditions with other crops in the seasons. The purpose was to improve yield production, maintenance of soil fertility and production economics. Studies were conducted at University Farms, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (B.C. Agricultural University), Kalyani (2239'N and 8854'E) in West Bengal, India and commenced in 1989. Although other systems might be utilised according to different situations of West Bengal, out of many rainfed rice-based 3-crop systems studied with paira crops eight have shown to be important:
(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
Transplanted kharif rice- paira grasspea- jute Transplanted kharif rice- paira lentil- jute Transplanted kharif rice- paira oat- mungbean Transplanted kharif rice- paira grasspeamungbean (v) Transplanted kharif rice- paira grasspeagroundnut (vi) Transplanted kharif rice- paira sunhemp (for seed)- mungbean (vii) Transplanted kharif rice- sunhemp- paira mesta (viii) Transplanted kharif rice- paira mesta (for seed)grasspea
Table 1. Direct, residual and cumulative effect of rainfed rabi/paira (no-tillage relay) crops (grasspea, linseed, mustard, lentil and oat) and tillage number on benefit/cost ratio of each crop in rainfed rice-based 3-crop systems in West Bengal, India. Rabi/ paira crops Direct effect on rabi/paira crops Tillage (number of passes) 0 2 4 Mean 6.5 1.1 0.7 2.8 3.1 0.6 0.1 1.3 4.9 0.0 0.0 1.6 5.6 1.5 1.4 2.6 5.1 2.5 1.4 3.0 5.0 1.2 0.7 2.3 Residual effect on prekharif groundnut Tillage (number of passes) 0 2 4 Mean 3.8 2.6 2.6 3.0 3.3 2.3 2.4 2.7 3.7 2.8 2.7 2.9 3.4 2.7 3.1 3.1 4.0 2.5 2.8 3.1 3.6 2.6 2.7 3.0 Cumulative effect on kharif transplanted rice Tillage (number of passes) 0 2 4 Mean 0.5 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.7 0.4 0.3 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3
Grasspea Linseed Mustard Lentil Oat Mean
Notes: 1. Rabi crops were grown with varying amounts of tillage from 4 passes to paira (0 passes) crops, whereas in pre-kharif (groundnut) and kharif (transplanted rice) season the land was tilled.
2.
In the rabi season, paira crops of grasspea (Lathyrus sativus cv Nirmal 1), linseed (Linum usitattisimum cv Neelam), mustard (Brassica juncea cv B-85), lentil (Lens culinaris cv B77) and oat (Avena sativa cv Kent) were grown. In pre-kharif season, groundnut (Arachis hypogea cv ICGV 86124) and in kharif season transplanted rice (Oryza sativa cv Khitish) were grown.
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