Alternatives to rice-wheat cropping system under partially reclaimed sodic soils

A field experiment was conducted during 2013-14 to 2015-16 at Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Lucknow to find out the alternate to rice (Oryza sativa L.)- wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system under partially reclaimed sodic soils. Four cropping systems, viz. rice (Oryza sativa L.)- wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)-berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum), sweet basil (tulsi) (Ocimum basilicum L.)-matricaria (Matricaria chamomilla) and chilli (Capsicum spp.)-garlic (Allium sativum) were evaluated in the light of sustainability, potentiality and profitability. Maximum rice equivalent yield (14.21 t/ha) and production efficiency (61.25 kg/ha/day) were recorded with sweet basil-matricaria cropping system whereas, highest land use efficiency (78.35%) was observed under sorghum-berseem fodder based cropping system. Highest water use efficiency (150.72 kg/ha cm) was recorded with chilli-garlic cropping system followed by sweet basil-matricaria, but the total amount of water used was more (125.65 cm) in rice-wheat system. The water requirements of sorghum-berseem, sweet basil-matricaria and chilli -garlic cropping systems were 8.0, 19.8 and 31.8% less than the rice-wheat cropping system. Among the cropping systems evaluated, maximum energy input (27.50 MJ/ha) and output (314.46 MJ/ha) were analyzed in rice-wheat system. Whereas, maximum energy use efficiency (11.99) was found with sweet basil- matricaria followed by sorghum-berseem (11.91) cropping systems. Highest soil ameliorative potential was established with sweet basil -matricaria cropping system than rest of the cropping systems. Highest net return ((SIC) 63222/ha) and benefit: cost ratio of 2.74 was deliberated with medicinal and aromatic crop based sweet basil-matricaria cropping system.