Productivity and Land Use of Different Cropping Systems under Conventional and Natural Farming in Mid Hills of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

A field experiment was carried during Rabi and Kharif season of 2019-20 to evaluate the productivity and profitability of different cropping systems under conventional and natural farming in mid- hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh at AICRP-IFS Research Farm (Bhadiarkhar) of CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur. The soil of the test site was silty clay loam in texture, acidic in reaction, medium in organic carbon, low in available nitrogen, high in available phosphorus and medium in available potassium. Fourteen different cropping systems were eveluated for rice grain equivalent yield and land use efficiency to meet out the objectives of the study. Results revealed that under both conventional and natural farming, vegetable-based cropping systems proved superior to rest of cropping systems for productivity as well as profitability. Okra-radish-garlic cropping system resulted in highest rice grain equivalent yield. Similarly, higher rotational intensity was obtained under vegetable-based cropping systems owing to three crops in a rotation. Land use efficiency and cultivated land utilization index was also highest under okra-radish-garlic which was followed by okra-potato-frenchbean cropping system. Rice-wheat cropping system resulted in lowest land use efficiency and cultivated land utilization index.