Abstract

Dry direct seeding is an alternative rice establishment system that saves 60% irrigation water, reduces greenhouse gas emission and increases farm income. An experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to study the agro-economic performance of transplanted (T.) aman rice – Rabi crops – dry direct seeded (DDS) boro rice patterns. Nine cropping patterns namely, i. T. aman rice - Mustard - DDS boro rice, ii. T. aman rice - Potato - DDS boro rice, iii. T. aman rice - Field pea - DDS boro rice, iv. T. aman rice - French bean - DDS boro rice, v. T. aman rice - Spinach - DDS boro rice, vi. T. aman rice - Garden pea - DDS boro rice, vii. T. aman rice – Tomato - DDS boro rice, viii. T. aman rice- Broccoli - DDS boro rice and ix. T. aman rice – Cabbage - DDS boro rice were used in the study using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed that cropping pattern did not have any significant effect on the yield and related attributes of the DDS boro rice. The highest rice equivalent yield (19.69 t ha-1) was obtained with T. aman rice –cabbage – DDS boro rice pattern while the lowest (13.17 t ha-1) with T. aman rice-garden pea – DDS boro rice pattern. In respect to benefit cost ratio (BCR), the highest value (1.71) was found with T. aman rice – Cabbage – DDS boro rice pattern while the lowest (1.46) with T. aman rice – Field pea – DDS boro rice pattern. It may be concluded that the yield of boro rice is similar in different T. aman rice – Rabi crops – DDS boro rice patterns and T. aman rice – Cabbage – DDS boro rice appeared as the best pattern for obtaining highest crop productivity and economic return.

Key words: dry direct seeded rice, crop productivity, economic return, water saving, rabi crops