Evaluation of food and fodder based cropping systems for sustaining productivity, resource use efficiency and profitability in western plain zone of Uttar Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted during 2015–16 to 2018–19 at the research farm of ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, Uttar Pradesh to assess the potential yield (PY), sustainability and resource use efficiency (RUE) of 7 cropping systems (CS), viz. maize + blackgram–pea–sorghum; cluster beanwheat-teosinte; stylo-berseem-maize + cowpea; clitoria-mustard–greengram; rice–chickpea–okra; rice–wheat and sugarcane–wheat system. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with 3 replications. Among the different cropping systems, rice (Oryza sativa L.)–chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)–okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) was found to be most superior in terms of wheat equivalent yield (WEY) (19.77 t/ha/year) and sustainable yield index (SYI=0.894). The highest land use efficiency (LUE) was recorded with cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–teosinte (Zea spp.) cropping system (95.16%) with 347 days of ground cover. Production efficiency was registered maximum with maize (Zea mays L.) + blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper]–pea (Pisum sativum L.)–sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] system (66.91 kg/ha/ day), followed by rice–chickpea–okra system (62.25 kg/ha/day). Nevertheless, the highest net return (` 300.8×103 / year) was realized with rice–chickpea–okra system. Total soil organic carbon (SOC) content was highest (1.34%) under stylo-berseem- maize + cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] cropping system in comparison to other cropping systems. Thus, it can be concluded that rice–chickpea–okra system proved more productive, remunerative (` 824/ha/day) and sustainable cropping system than the existing sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.)–wheat/ rice–wheat cropping system in the western plain zone of Uttar Pradesh, India.