Assessment of productivity, profitability and energy efficiency indices of Rice based vegetable crop sequences under mid-hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted during 2017-18 at Bhadiarkhar farm, Department of Agronomy, Forages and Grassland Management, CSKHPKV, Palampur to evaluate production potential, economic feasibility, energy relations and effects on soil fertility of eight rice-based cropping sequences. Study of one year of crop cycle revealed that rice-palak-cucumber crop sequence resulted in significantly higher rice grain equivalent yield (16477 kg/ha), profitability (Rs 848.76/ha/day), productivity (63.62 kg/ha/day), net return (Rs 219828/ha) and benefit cost ratio than other crop sequences. Rice-wheat crop sequence was superior over all crop sequences in terms of carbohydrate yield (5146 kg/ha), protein yield (640.6 kg/ha) and energy equivalents (23919 kg/ha). Maximum energy output (280.42×103 MJ/ha) and energy efficiency (10.58) were observed in rice-palak-cucumber sequence. Rice-wheat sequence resulted in highest nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake. Nutrient mining (N, P and K) was recorded after completion of crop cycle. Overall, rice–palak-cucumber system was found to be the most productive, profitable, resource-use efficient and remunerative cropping system under mid-hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh.