Alternatives to rice-wheat cropping system under partially reclaimed sodic soils

A field experiment was conducted during 2013-14 to 2015-16 at Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Regional Station, Lucknow find out the alternate rice (Oryza sativa L.)- wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system under partially reclaimed sodic soils. Four systems, viz. L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)-berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum), sweet basil (tulsi) (Ocimum basilicum L.)-matricaria (Matricaria chamomilla) and chilli (Capsicum spp.)-garlic (Allium sativum) were evaluated in light of sustainability, potentiality profitability. Maximum equivalent yield (14.21 t/ha) production efficiency (61.25 kg/ha/day) recorded with basil-matricaria whereas, highest land use (78.35%) observed sorghum-berseem fodder based system. Highest water (150.72 kg/ha cm) chilli-garlic followed by basil-matricaria, but total amount used more (125.65 rice-wheat The requirements sorghum-berseem, basilmatricaria -garlic systems 8.0, 19.8 31.8% less than Among evaluated, maximum energy input (27.50 MJ/ ha) output (314.46 MJ/ha) analyzed Whereas, (11.99) found basil- matricaria (11.91) systems. soil ameliorative potential established -matricaria rest net return (₹ 63222/ha) benefit: cost ratio 2.74 deliberated medicinal aromatic crop