IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i11p6288-d567488.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Crop Diversification in Rice—Based Cropping Systems Improves the System Productivity, Profitability and Sustainability

Author

Listed:
  • Md Jahangir Alam

    (On-Farm Research Division (OFRD), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gaibandha 5700, Bangladesh)

  • Abdullah- Al-Mahmud

    (On-Farm Research Division (OFRD), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gaibandha 5700, Bangladesh)

  • Md Aminul Islam

    (OFRD, BARI, Bogra 5800, Bangladesh)

  • Md Faruque Hossain

    (OFRD, BARI, Joydebpur 1701, Bangladesh)

  • Md Akkas Ali

    (OFRD, BARI, Joydebpur 1701, Bangladesh)

  • Eldessoky S. Dessoky

    (Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia)

  • Ehab I. El-Hallous

    (Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia)

  • Mohamed M. Hassan

    (Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia)

  • Nasrin Begum

    (Bangladesh Betar, Ministry of Information Bangladesh, Rajshahi 6200, Bangladesh)

  • Akbar Hossain

    (Department of Agronomy, Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh)

Abstract

Cropping systems in the Level Barind Tract (LBT) of Bangladesh are highly diverse, as Transplanted (T.) Aman and Boro (T. Boro) rice are a common practice in the area. Although. T. Aman is generally cultivated in the rainy (monsoon) season, but the T. Boro rice is the intensive irrigation-based winter rice with high establishment costs as a result of exhaustive tillage and high labours for transplanting of seedlings. Furthermore, pumping of a large amount of irrigation during T. Boro cultivation declines the level of groundwater, which is not environmentally friendly nor cost-effective. Therefore, the replacement of the T. Boro rice from the cropping pattern in the LBT area is the major concern of policymakers. In this context, a replicated three to four crop-based cropping systems (CS) field trial was conducted in LBT of Gaibandha, Bangladesh for consecutive three years (2018–2020) to evaluate productivity, profitability and sustainability of the multiple crop-based cropping systems. Among these CS, existing three crops based CS, CS1: T. Aman–Potato–T. Boro (introduction of the local potato in the existing cropping system) were compared with four crops based CS2: T. Aman–Potato–Cucumber–T. Aus (Introduction of high yielding potato, cucumber and T. Aus as an improved cropping system). After two years of observations, significantly higher system productivity (rice equivalent yield; REY) was found in the improved CS2 than that of existing CS1 in both years (two years’ average 49% or 11.1 t ha −1 ). As a result of the introduction of the high yielding potato, cucumber and T. Aus rice instead of the T. Boro rice. The CS2 was also found profitable as compared to the CS1 in terms of higher gross margin (by 74%), net return (double) and benefit-cost ratio (BCR) (1.69 vs. 1.44) due to higher gross return with slightly higher (by 28%) production cost. It is due to farmers received higher prices for potato, cucumber and two rice crops in the improved CS2 than the existing CS1. On the other hand, protein and energy output was lower (by 17% and 9%, respectively) in the CS2 than the existing CS1, due to the less content of protein and energy value in the vegetable cucumber. The results of the study revealed that crops diversification in the existing T. Boro based CS with high yielding potato, cucumber, and T. Aus rice, improved the system productivity, profitability and sustainability; which lead to improve the food security of the increasing population and also reduce the adverse effect on the environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Md Jahangir Alam & Abdullah- Al-Mahmud & Md Aminul Islam & Md Faruque Hossain & Md Akkas Ali & Eldessoky S. Dessoky & Ehab I. El-Hallous & Mohamed M. Hassan & Nasrin Begum & Akbar Hossain, 2021. "Crop Diversification in Rice—Based Cropping Systems Improves the System Productivity, Profitability and Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:6288-:d:567488
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/11/6288/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/11/6288/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Subhasis Mandal & B. Maji & S. K. Sarangi & K. K. Mahanta & U. K. Mandal & D. Burman & S. Digar & M. Mainuddin & P. C. Sharma, 2020. "Economics of cropping system intensification for small-holder farmers in coastal salt-affected areas in West Bengal: options, challenges and determinants," DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Springer;Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, vol. 47(1), pages 19-33, March.
    2. Ganesh-Kumar, A. & Prasad, Sanjay K. & Pullabhotla, Hemant, 2012. "Supply and Demand for Cereals in Bangladesh: 2010–2030:," IFPRI discussion papers 1186, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    3. Kijne, J. W. & Barker, R. & Molden. D., 2003. "Water productivity in agriculture: limits and opportunities for improvement," IWMI Books, Reports H032631, International Water Management Institute.
    4. Tuong, T. P. & Bouman, B. A. M., 2003. "Rice production in water-scarce environments," IWMI Books, Reports H032635, International Water Management Institute.
    5. Kijne, Jacob W. & Barker, Randolph & Molden, David J. (ed.), 2003. "Water productivity in agriculture: limits and opportunities for improvement," IWMI Books, International Water Management Institute, number 138054.
    6. Ladha, J.K. & Yadvinder-Singh & Erenstein, O. & Hardy, B. (ed.), 2009. "Integrated Crop and Resource Management in the Rice-Wheat System of South Asia," IRRI Books, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), number 164458.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Aman Ullah & Ahmad Nawaz & Muhammad Farooq & Kadambot H. M. Siddique, 2021. "Agricultural Innovation and Sustainable Development: A Case Study of Rice–Wheat Cropping Systems in South Asia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Zwart, Sander J. & Bastiaanssen, Wim G. M., 2004. "Review of measured crop water productivity values for irrigated wheat, rice, cotton and maize," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 115-133, September.
    3. T. Fowe & I. Nouiri & B. Ibrahim & H. Karambiri & J. Paturel, 2015. "OPTIWAM: An Intelligent Tool for Optimizing Irrigation Water Management in Coupled Reservoir–Groundwater Systems," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 29(10), pages 3841-3861, August.
    4. Manel Ben Hassen & Federica Monaco & Arianna Facchi & Marco Romani & Giampiero Valè & Guido Sali, 2017. "Economic Performance of Traditional and Modern Rice Varieties under Different Water Management Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-10, February.
    5. Bouman, B.A.M. & Peng, S. & Castaneda, A.R. & Visperas, R.M., 2005. "Yield and water use of irrigated tropical aerobic rice systems," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 74(2), pages 87-105, June.
    6. Hafeez, Mohsin & Bundschuh, Jochen & Mushtaq, Shahbaz, 2014. "Exploring synergies and tradeoffs: Energy, water, and economic implications of water reuse in rice-based irrigation systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 889-900.
    7. Ahmadzadeh, Hojat & Morid, Saeed & Delavar, Majid & Srinivasan, Raghavan, 2016. "Using the SWAT model to assess the impacts of changing irrigation from surface to pressurized systems on water productivity and water saving in the Zarrineh Rud catchment," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 15-28.
    8. Belder, P. & Bouman, B. A.M. & Spiertz, J.H.J., 2007. "Exploring options for water savings in lowland rice using a modelling approach," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 92(1-3), pages 91-114, January.
    9. Li, Sen & Zuo, Qiang & Jin, Xinxin & Ma, Wenwen & Shi, Jianchu & Ben-Gal, Alon, 2018. "The physiological processes and mechanisms for superior water productivity of a popular ground cover rice production system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 201(C), pages 11-20.
    10. Mushtaq, Shahbaz & Maraseni, Tek Narayan & Maroulis, Jerry & Hafeez, Mohsin, 2009. "Energy and water tradeoffs in enhancing food security: A selective international assessment," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(9), pages 3635-3644, September.
    11. Cai, X.L. & Sharma, B.R., 2010. "Integrating remote sensing, census and weather data for an assessment of rice yield, water consumption and water productivity in the Indo-Gangetic river basin," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(2), pages 309-316, February.
    12. Thakur, Amod K. & Mohanty, Rajeeb K. & Singh, Rajbir & Patil, Dhiraj U., 2015. "Enhancing water and cropping productivity through Integrated System of Rice Intensification (ISRI) with aquaculture and horticulture under rainfed conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 65-76.
    13. Garg, Kaushal K. & Das, Bhabani S. & Safeeq, Mohammad & Bhadoria, Pratap B.S., 2009. "Measurement and modeling of soil water regime in a lowland paddy field showing preferential transport," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(12), pages 1705-1714, December.
    14. Bouman, B. A.M., 2007. "A conceptual framework for the improvement of crop water productivity at different spatial scales," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 93(1-3), pages 43-60, March.
    15. Hui Li & Shan Zeng & Xiwen Luo & Longyu Fang & Zhanhao Liang & Wenwu Yang, 2021. "Design, DEM Simulation, and Field Experiments of a Novel Precision Seeder for Dry Direct-Seeded Rice with Film Mulching," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-15, April.
    16. Charlotte Fraiture, 2007. "Integrated water and food analysis at the global and basin level. An application of WATERSIM," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 21(1), pages 185-198, January.
    17. Jensen, J. R. & Tuan, D. D. & Phong, D. T., 2006. "Water balancing at system and field scale: two approaches for estimating irrigation in puts," Conference Papers h038715, International Water Management Institute.
    18. Alauddin, Mohammad & Rashid Sarker, Md. Abdur & Islam, Zeenatul & Tisdell, Clement, 2020. "Adoption of alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation as a water-saving technology in Bangladesh: Economic and environmental considerations," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    19. Kumar, Amalendu & Singh, K.M., 2017. "A Study on Maize Production in Samastipur (Bihar): An Empirical Analysis," MPRA Paper 80262, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 23 Jan 2017.
    20. Bessembinder, J.J.E. & Leffelaar, P.A. & Dhindwal, A.S. & Ponsioen, T.C., 2005. "Which crop and which drop, and the scope for improvement of water productivity," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 73(2), pages 113-130, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:6288-:d:567488. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.