Cropping System Intensification for Increasing Crop Productivity in Salt-Affected Coastal Zones of Bangladesh

In Global Climate Risk Index 2019, Bangladesh has been ranked seventh among the countries most affected by extreme weather events. The salinity intrusion has increased by 27% from 1973 to 2009 in coastal areas of Bangladesh due to impacts of climate change. The cropping intensities of the coastal zones are below than the country’s average intensity (195%), which causes severe food insecurity. In southern coastal zone, soil and water (river/canal) salinity remain the minimum (<4 dS/m) during in July/August but attain the maximum (upto 11 and 25 dS/m, respectively) in March/April. Farmers grow single T.aman rice a year. Therefore, five cropping patterns were tested under ACIAR funded project in Amtali (Barguna district) and Dacope (Khulna) upazilas during 2016–2017 and 2017–2018 irrigating with low salinity surface water (canal/pond) to increase crop productivity. In Amtali, T.aman-Potato-Mungbean-T.aus cropping pattern gave the highest (20.18 t/ha) rice equivalent yield (REY), which increased 360% REY over the farmers’ practice (T.aman-fallow-fallow). However, in Dacope, T.aman-spinach-fallow showed the highest REY (13.99 t/ha) that increased 211% REY compared to farmers’ practice. The improved cropping patterns can be practiced within the polder (embankment for water control) for increasing crop productivity and profitability in salt-affected coastal zones of Bangladesh.