Feasibility of Introducing Four Crops Based Cropping Patterns in Kushtia Area of Bangladesh

The trial was conducted at Multi Location Testing (MLT) site under On-Farm Research Division, BARI, Kushtia during the last week of February, 2015 to second week of February, 2017 at farmers’ field condition to find out the productivity and profitability of three alternate cropping patterns, i.e. ACP1=Mustard (var: BARI Sarisha-15) - Mungbean (var: BARI Mung-6) - T. Aus rice (var: BRRI dhan48) - T. Aman rice (var: Binadhan-7), ACP2=Lentil (var: BARI Masur-6) - Mungbean (var: BARI Mung-6) - T. Aus rice (var: BRRI dhan48) - T. Aman rice (var:Binadhan-7), ACP3=Wheat (var: BARI Gom-28) - Mungbean (var: BARI Mung-6) - T. Aus rice (var: BRRI dhan48) - T. Aman rice (var:Binadhan-7) against the existing cropping pattern, i.e. ECP= Lentil (var: BARI Mashur-6) – Sesame (BARI Teel-3) - T. Aman (var: Binadhan-7). Findings revealed that the required mean crop durations ranged 340-356 days for one cycle in a year in four crops based cropping patterns against 293 days in existing cropping pattern. Total seed/grain yields in terms of REY of ACP1, ACP2, and ACP3 were 14.85, 16.06 and 14.92 t ha-1 year-1, respectively which were 44%, 56% and 45%, respectively higher than that of existing pattern (10.30 t ha-1 year-1). Mean production efficiency (32.53-40.43 kg ha-1day-1), land use efficiency (93.15-97.53%) and mean gross margin ( Tk. 109393 - Tk. 127834 ha-1) of all alternate cropping patterns were higher than that of existing cropping pattern (PE: 23.63 kg ha-1day-1, LUE: 80.28% and gross margin Tk. 94929 ha-1). As a result, all alternate cropping patterns were agronomically feasible and economically profitable. Among the alternate cropping patterns, ACP2=Lentil (var: BARI Masur-6) - Mungbean (var: BARI Mung-6) - T. Aus rice (var: BRRI dhan48) - T. Aman rice (var: Binadhan-7) performed the best. Therefore, farmers in Kushtia area of Bangladesh might follow the alternate cropping patterns in high and medium high land for higher crop productivity and profitability over existing cropping pattern. The Agriculturists 2020; 18(1) 94-102