Abstract
A study was conducted at the Jute Research Regional Station, Kishoreganj of Bangladesh Jute Research Institute during April 2000 to March 2003 to evaluate the agronomic performance and economic benefit of various jute based cropping patterns and their impacts on soil fertility.
Results showed that jute based cropping pattern: Jute-T. aman rice-Wheat had the longest field duration (321-327 days) and the shortest turn around period (38-44 days). The shortest field duration (206-217 days) and the longest turn around period (154-159 days) were recorded over three years by Fallow-T. aman rice-Wheat. The highest land use efficiency was found in Jute-T. aman rice-Wheat and the highest production efficiency in Jute-T. aman rice- Potato cropping pattern. The sustainable yield index value was highest in Jute-T. aman rice- Potato (91-92%), which was followed by Jute-T. aman rice-Lentil (88%) and the value was lowest in T. aus rice-T. aman rice-Lentil pattern (72%). The highest equivalent yield of main product was obtained from Jute-T. aman rice-Potato (16.03-16.30 t ha1) and the lowest from Fallow-T. aman rice-Wheat pattern (6.5 t ha1). The highest equivalent yield of by-product was obtained from Jute (oli.)-T. aman rice-Wheat and the lowest from Dhaincha-T. aman rice-Potato cropping pattern. The highest energy input was required for potato containing olitorius jute based pattern and the lowest for capsularis jute based pattern. The highest energy output was obtained from potato containing jute-based pattern, which was followed by T. aus rice based potato containing pattern. The highest gross return was obtained from Jute-T. aman rice-Potato pattern followed by T. aus rice-T. aman rice-Potato and Dhaincha-T. aman rice- Potato cropping pattern. The lowest gross return was recorded in Jute-Fallow-Wheat. The gross margin was also highest in Jute-T. aman rice-Potato, which was followed by Jute-T. aman rice-Lentil and Jute-T. aman rice-Wheat. Unlike the gross return and gross margin, the benefit-cost ratio was highest in Jute-T. aman rice-Lentil patterns. Marginal analysis revealed that the Jute (oli.)-T. aman rice-Potato pattern achieved highest marginal rate of return. The study also revealed that the highest grain yield of T. aman rice was recorded when it was preceded by dhaincha followed by jute as a preceding crops. There is no significant effect of kharif-I crops on the third crops of the pattern. Soil analysis after three years of cropping showed that the soil pH slightly decreased, organic matter content increased in dhaincha and jute based patterns and slightly decreased in T. aus rice based patterns. The total N and available P in soil slightly increased, and the exchangeable K and available S remained unchanged or slightly decreased.