Effect of crop establishment methods on growth, productivity and soil fertility of rice (Oryza sativa)-based cropping systems

A field study was undertaken during 2003–04 to 2005–06 at Modipuram to develop appropriate establishment technique of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and to improve the growth, yield, profitability and soil fertility of rice-based cropping systems. The mean yield of hybrid rice was higher (8.52 t/ha) with drum seeding and remained on a par with that of direct seeding and mechanical transplanting (puddled) compared with manual transplanting (puddled) and mechanical transplanting (unpuddled). Direct seeding (dry bed, unpuddled) adopted in the previous rice crop gave higher mean yield of the succeeding wheat (5.70 t/ha), chickpea (2.20 t/ha) and Indian mustard (1.86 t/ha). Drum seeding recorded the highest mean net returns (Rs 47,040/ha) in rice-wheat system, followed by rice-chickpea (Rs 42,336/ha) and rice-Indian mustard system (Rs. 39,774/ha), and benefit: cast ratio (1.24) in rice-chickpea followed by rice-wheat (1.21) and rice-Indian mustard system (1.12). The system-wise soil analysis undertaken after three crop cycles indicated that organic carbon increased positively over initial status in rice-chickpea system; however, the magnitude of increase was largest under mechanical transplanting (puddled), and negative balances were found in rice-wheat system. Available P and K balance was generally positive in rice-wheat, rice-chickpea and rice-Indian mustard crop sequences except for P in rice-wheat and rice-mustard crop sequences under direct seeding. The drum or direct-seeded rice-based cropping system not only produced higher grain yield of hybrid rice but also resulted in greater productivity of the subsequent crops.