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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp5 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Crop diversification and intensification improve productivity, profitability and nutrient recycling in rice-based cropping systems

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.16171
Submitted
18 June 2026
Published
28-09-2026

Abstract

Crop diversification is a key component of sustainable agriculture, as it improves system resilience, enhances resource-use efficiency and minimises the risk of crop failure. A three-year field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Kattuthottam, Thanjavur, India, under randomised block design (RBD) to evaluate the effects of diversified rice-based cropping systems on productivity, profitability and soil fertility. About 10 different cropping systems were evaluated in the study, incorporating a range of crops such as legumes, vegetables, oilseeds, millets, green manures and fodder crops. Among these systems, the maize-rice (Seeraga samba)-bhendi + black gram (5 : 1) system significantly increased (p ≤ 0.05) rice equivalent yield (REY) (23.04 t ha-1 yr -1), system productivity (58.5 kg ha-1 day-1), net returns (Rs 399206 ha-1 yr -1) and benefit–cost ratio (3.13), indicating enhanced productivity and economic return. Also, this system recorded an 83 % higher net return when compared with the conventional rice–rice–black gram cropping sequence and achieved the highest sustainable yield index (0.880) and sustainable value index (0.874). In terms of nutrient recycling potential, the highest soil organic carbon (SOC) content (0.60 %) and available nitrogen (270 kg ha-1) were observed in green manure (GM) sunnhemp - rice + daincha (10 : 1) - green gram system. Ragi - rice (Navara) - cluster bean + black gram (5 : 1) system significantly improved (p < 0.05) field water use efficiency of 11.62 kg ha-1 mm-1 and nutrient use efficiency of 50.09 kg kg-1. Overall, the findings indicated that rice-based systems diversified with high-value crops such as maize and vegetables outperform existing rice monocropping or rice-pulses system in terms of productivity and income enhancement. Furthermore, the inclusion of legumes and green manure crops were more effective in terms of soil restoration.

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