System productivity, profitability and resource use efficiency of jute (Corchorus olitorius) based cropping systems in the eastern Indo-gangetic plain

The study was conducted to investigate productivity, profitability and energy use of different jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) based cropping systems in the eastern India on farmers' fields during 2009-12. Nine cropping systems, viz. jute-ricewheat; jute-rice-potato; jute-rice-garden pea; jute-rice-lentil; jute-rice-mustard; jute-rice-French bean; jute-rice-rice; ricerice-mustard and fallow-rice-rice were tested in randomised block design. Jute-rice-potato system recorded significantly higher system productivity in terms of jute equivalent yield(JEY) than all other cropping systems. The JEY of jute-ricegarden pea and jute-rice-French bean cropping systems were comparable, but recorded significantly higher JEY than that of rice-rice-mustard and rice-rice cropping systems. The highest energy input (61.2 GJ)/ha) was required for jute-ricepotato and lowest (34.3 GJ/ha) for jute-rice-lentil cropping systems. The highest energy productivity was recorded in juterice-potato but the highest energy use efficiency was recorded in jute-rice-garden pea and jute-rice-lentil cropping systems. The jute-rice-potato cropping system recorded the highest net return (`134 868/ha),benefit-cost ratio (2.0) and economic efficiency (`369.5/ha/day). Thus among the nine cropping systems of Indo-gangetic plain jute-rice-potato system had the highest system productivity, energy productivity and profitability whereas jute-rice-garden pea cropping system recorded the highest energy use efficiency.