Abstract
Seven field experiments on bed planting in rice-wheat cropping systems were carried out at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute experimental farm, Gazipur and farmers' field in Chuadanga during November 2001 to November 2003 to find out the effect of different agronomic aspects of bed planting on the growth and yield of wheat and aman rice and to evaluate the agro- economic productivity and crop diversity of rice-wheat cropping systems under bed planting through inclusion of mungbean in the system. The results indicated that the 70 cm width beds with both two and three plant-rows per bed produced significantly higher grain yield of wheat, direct seeded and transplant aman rice than conventional method. Bed planting with 70 cm beds increased the grain yields of wheat, direct seeded and transplant aman rice about 17-20 %, 6-16 % and 9-17 %, respectively, over conventional method. Bed planting increased the grains panicle and 1000-grain weight of wheat and the grains panicle of rice. Bed planting saved 25- 50% seeds and 20-40% N fertilizer for wheat and rice without decreasing the grain yield. It also saved 41-48% irrigation water for wheat and supplemental irrigation water for direct seeded (76- 79%) and transplant (49-57 %) aman rice. About 50% irrigation water and time for application could be saved through bed planting in rice-wheat cropping system. Weeds were less prevalent in bed planting for all the crops. The inclusion of mungbean in the cropping pattern greatly increased the total rice equivalent yield of the system. The cost of cultivation was lower in bed planting and it was much lower when beds were used as permanent. Ciross return, gross margin and benefit-cost ratio were higher in bed planting than conventional method. The economic benefit was much higher in permanent beds as compared to new beds.