Abstract

A study was conducted at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, with different farming system models in a lowland ecosystem to find the most effective one. The goal was to see how combining various agricultural activities and resources impacts rice-based farming. The integrated farming system (IFS) with cropping alone (FS4), rice-based cropping system + desi poultry + fish + azolla + milch cow + goat + vermicompost + nutritional garden + fodder crop (FS1), rice-based cropping system + duck + fish + azolla + milch cow + goat + vermicompost + nutritional garden + fodder crop (FS2), rice-based cropping system + turkey + fish + azolla + milch cow + goat + vermicompost + nutritional garden + fodder crop (FS3) was carried out for 2 years during 2018–19 and 2019–2020 in non-replicated trial. Within the IFS, 0.90 hectares were dedicated to the following crop rotation: rice, followed by blackgram, and then maize. The remaining 0.10 hectares were allocated to various other agricultural activities. This 0.10 hectare was further divided as follows: fish pond unit 0.04 ha, dairy unit 0.012 ha, goat unit 0.008 ha, azolla 0.004 ha, vermicompost unit 0.004 ha, nutritional garden 0.004 ha and fodder crops 0.028 ha. The study evaluated the effectiveness of integrating various components into a rice-based cropping system. This integrated system significantly increased overall productivity, as measured by the rice grain equivalent yield. The IFS that combined cropping with ducks, fish, azolla, a milch cow, goat, vermicompost, a nutrition garden, and fodder crops (FS2) achieved the higher rice grain equivalent yield of 40,332 kg/ha, which is more than double the yield (18,569 kg/ha) achieved by the rice cropping system alone, highest net return reaching Rs. 434,554 per hectare. Additionally, the integrated FS2 system generated the highest daily return, reaching Rs. 1,191, the highest employment opportunity, offering 789 workdays per hectare per year and diverse elements led to the greatest overall energy output, energy efficiency, and improved nutritional value of the produce compared to other farming systems. For lowland farmers with 1 ha farms, research suggests that a combination of cropping systems and integrated components can significantly augment and sustain yield, monetary profits, employment generation, and soil health.

Key words: Crop rotation, Employment opportunity, Energy efficiency, Integrated farming system, Rice grain equivalent yield