Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) in the dry season (Boro) followed by rice in the wet season (Aman) is the major cereal cropping system in Bangladesh. The average productivity (7 Mg·ha ﹣1 ) of this system is far below attainable yields (14 Mg·ha ﹣1 ) in farmers’ fields, resulting in a large yield gap mainly due to farmers’ traditional management practices. Narrowing yield gap is a vital complementary strategy in improving rice yield and consequently enhancing food security. We evaluated BRRI recommended management practices, BRRI recommended management practices along with two N management options (leaf color chart and Urea Super Granule) and farmers’ crop management practices integrated with quality seed, leaf color chart (LCC) and Urea Super Granule (USG) in farmers’ fields of Kapasia, Gazipur over 6 contiguous seasons during 2009-2012. Across years, all the management options increased grain yields compared with the farmers’ practice (FP) by 1.12 Mg·ha ﹣1 in Aman and 0.84 Mg·ha ﹣1 in Boro season. The higher yield response (43%) occurred with BRRI recommended management practices followed by BRRI recommended management practices in combination with Urea Super Granule (42%) as N source (BRRI-USG). Yield advantage of 41% could be attained by BRRI recommended management practices with leaf color chart (LCC) aided N management (BRRI-LCC) while this was 22%, 13% and 13% higher than FP (farmer’s practice) when only quality seeds, USG and LCC were used with farmers’ management practice. BRRI Rec., BRRI-LCC and BRRI-USG·management options reduce the yield gap of FP by 41%, with an average of 2.87 Mg·ha ﹣1 . When farmers adopted FP-QS, FP-USG and FP-LCC management options, they reduced the yield gap of FP by 21%, 13% and 12%, with an average of 1.49, 0.88 and 0.81 Mg·ha ﹣1 , respectively. The average added net returns with BRRI Rec., BRRI-LCC and BRRI-USG·management options were US$175 to US$362 ha ﹣1 in the wet season and US $158 to US $263 ha ﹣1 in the dry season. BRRI management practices and BRRI management practices integrated with two N management options, either LCC or USG has the potential to boost rice yield and consequently total rice production in Bangladesh.
About half of the world’s cereal production and 89% of the world’s harvested rice are from Asia [
Bangladesh produced about 50.1 million tons of rough rice from 11.7 m ha of land in 2010 with a productivity of 4.3 t∙ha−1 [
Minimizing the yield gap and increasing profit and product quality are becoming increasingly difficult to achieve by using a single-technology-centric approach. The use of a component technology in isolation also has limited widespread adoption. Combining and simultaneously applying a number of the best compatible individual or component technologies are crucial for maximizing overall benefits to farmers [
On-farm trials were conducted in a continuous rice-rice cropping system for six consecutive seasons during 2009-2012 at Moison village in Kapasia Upazila (24˚12'N and 90˚36'E) of Gazipur District. The farmers which represent common cropping systems, management practices, land types and soil types were selected (
Moison village in Gazipur District belong to Agro-Ecological Zone (AEZ) 28 (Madhupur Tract). The soils are well drained friable clay loam to clay or heavy clay, strongly acidic, mainly phosphate fixing, low in P, K, S, and B in AEZ-28 [
The trials were established in farmers’ fields in a randomized complete block design with a set of seven treatments in each farmer’s field. Farmers’ fields were considered as replications. The number of replicate farmers was twenty. There were seven treatments, viz. farmers’ management practices (FP), farmers’ management prac-
tices with quality seed (FP-QS), farmers’ management practices with USG (FP-USG), farmers’ management practices with LCC based N management (FP-LCC), Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) recommended management practices coupled with leaf color chart (LCC)-aided fertilizer N management (BRRI-LCC), BRRI recommended management practices coupled with urea super granules (USG) as source of fertilizer N (BRRI- USG) and BRRI recommended management practices (BRRI Rec.).
The farmers’ management practice of seed and seedling raising, planting∙method, and fertilization varied considerably among farmers and seasons (
Across seasons and years, all farmers applied N fertilizer at early tillering, late tillering and panicle initiation stage. Farmers applied on an average 70% - 76% of N fertilizer between early tillering and late tillering (
Parametera | Aman 2009 | Aman 2010 | Aman 2011 | Boro 2009-10 | Boro 2010-11 | Boro 2011-12 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seed rate on seed bed, range (g∙m−2) | 142 - 160 | 140 - 155 | 145 - 157 | 158 - 167 | 160 - 168 | 155-164 |
Seed rate to transplant 1 ha main field (kg) | 55 ± 5 | 45 ± 7 | 50 ± 5 | 58 ± 4 | 49 ± 7 | 46 ± 6 |
Seedling age, range (days) | 35 - 44 | 32 - 40 | 36 - 39 | 49 - 60 | 48 - 55 | 50 - 59 |
Hill spacing at transplanting (cm) | Random | Random | Random | Random | Random | Random |
Seedling number (hill−1) | 5 - 8 | 5 - 9 | 5 - 8 | 5 - 7 | 5 - 8 | 5-8 |
Fertilizer management | ||||||
N applied at basal | ||||||
Farmer (%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Amount ± S.D. (kg∙ha−1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
N applied at early tillering | ||||||
Farmer (%) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Time ± S.D. (DAT) | 15 ± 2 | 14 ± 2 | 18 ± 3 | 15 ± 4 | 16 ± 3 | 13 ± 4 |
Amount ± S.D. (kg∙ha−1) | 34 ± 9 | 33 ± 7 | 24 ± 6 | 39 ± 6 | 40 ± 4 | 43 ± 3 |
N applied at late tillering | ||||||
Farmer (%) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Time ± S.D. (DAT) | 25 ± 3 | 30 ± 3 | 28 ± 4 | 30 ± 3 | 32 ± 5 | 37 ± 4 |
Amount ± S.D. (kg∙ha−1) | 37 ± 5 | 45 ± 5 | 39 ± 8 | 42 ± 4 | 36 ± 3 | 40 ± 4 |
N applied at panicle initiation | ||||||
Farmer (%) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Time ± S.D. (DAT) | 40 ± 4 | 43 ± 2 | 39 ± 3 | 46 ± 3 | 41 ± 5 | 45 ± 4 |
Amount ± S.D. (kg∙ha−1) | 28 ± 6 | 24 ± 3 | 21 ± 3 | 34 ± 7 | 33 ± 4 | 33 ± 4 |
Fraction of total N applied | ||||||
At basal (%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
At early tillering (%) | 34 | 32 | 29 | 34 | 37 | 37 |
At late tillering (%) | 37 | 44 | 46 | 36 | 33 | 35 |
At panicle initiation (%) | 28 | 24 | 25 | 30 | 30 | 28 |
P applied | ||||||
Farmer (%) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Amount ± S.D. (kg∙ha−1) | 7 ± 2 | 7 ± 2 | 7 ± 1 | 19 ± 4 | 14 ± 2 | 19 ± 4 |
K applied | ||||||
Farmer (%) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Amount ± S.D. (kg∙ha−1) | 14 ± 6 | 12 ± 3 | 16 ± 4 | 36 ± 3 | 40 ± 10 | 37 ± 5 |
S applied | ||||||
Farmer (%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 100 | 100 |
Amount ± S.D. (kg∙ha−1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 ± 3 | 5 ± 3 | 6 ± 1 |
Zn applied | ||||||
Farmer (%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 60 | 40 |
Amount ± S.D. (kg∙ha−1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 ± 1 | 1 ± 1 | 1 ± 1 |
aMean ± standard deviation (S.D.). All reported means for timing and amount of fertilizers are based on farmers applying fertilizers.
The management practices in FP-QS were same as FP except seed source. Certified seed from BRRI having 92-95% germination capacity was used.
The management practices in FP-USG were same as FP except N fertilizer management. Nitrogen as USG was deep-placed within 7 - 10 DAT at 7 - 10 cm soil depth at the rate of one USG (1.8 g) in Aman and one USG (2.7 g) in Boro in the middle of 4 hills. The total N dose was 54 kg∙ha−1 in Aman and 79 kg∙ha−1 in Boro.
The management practices in FP-LCC were same as FP except N fertilizer management. Nitrogen as urea was applied by using the LCC in a real-time N management approach [
A set of five BRRI recommended management practices integrated with existing farmers’ practices were i) certified seeds, ii) healthy young seedlings, iii) hill spacing of 20 cm × 20 cm at transplanting with 3 - 4 seedlings per hill, iv) AEZ-based recommended P, K, S, and Zn fertilization, and v) N application by using the LCC in a real-time N management approach. The management practices recommended by BRRI were used for raising healthy seedlings (
The management practices in BRRI-USG were same as BRRI-LCC except N fertilizer management. Nitrogen as USG was deep-placed within 7 - 10 DAT at 7 - 10-cm soil depth at the rate of one USG (1.8 g) in Aman and one USG (2.7 g) in Boro in the middle of 4 hills. The total N dose was 54 kg∙ha−1 in Aman and 79 kg∙ha−1 in Boro.
The management practices in BRRI were same as BRRI-LCC except N fertilizer management. The total N dose was 54 kg∙ha−1 in Aman and 79 kg∙ha−1 in Boro. Nitrogen was applied as urea in three equal splits: 7 - 10, 25 - 30 and 35 - 40 days after transplanting (DAT) in Aman and at 15 - 20, 30 - 35 and 40 - 45 DAT in Boro.
Grain yields (rough rice) were obtained from two central 6 m2 harvest areas in each plot at∙harvestable maturity and reported at 0.14 g H2O g−1 fresh weight of grain. Human labor used for seedling raising, transplanting, and fertilizer application and wage rate were recorded. The time required to complete each field operation was expressed as person-days ha−1, considering 8 h to be equivalent to 1 person-day. The farm-gate price of rough rice and prices of seed, fertilizers, and seed-treating chemicals were also recorded.
Crop production factora | FP-LCC |
---|---|
N fertilizer management, mean ± S.D. | The N rates (kg∙ha−1) for the LCC option given below: Aman 2009: 83 ± 12 in 3 - 4 splits; Aman 2010: 88 ± 14 in 3 - 4 splits; Aman 2011: 88 ± 14 in 3 - 4 splits; Boro 2009-10: 105 ± 17 in 3 - 4 splits; Boro 2010-11: 105 ± 17 in 3 - 4 splits; Boro 2011-12: 99 ± 14 in 3 - 4 splits |
aS.D., standard deviation of the mean.
Crop production factors and parametera | BRRI-LCC |
---|---|
Seed and seedlings | |
Seed source | Certified seeds from BRRI |
Seed germination (%) | 92 - 95 |
Seed treatment | Seeds treated with bavistine at 3 g per kg seeds. Seeds were soaked in water mixed with bavistine for 24 h |
Seed rate (kg∙ha−1) | 30 kg seeds used to transplant 1 ha main field |
Land for seedbed preparation | Land having loamy or clay loam soils, sufficient sunlight, irrigation, and drainage facility was selected for seedbed preparation |
Seedbed preparation | ・ Decomposed cowdung at 2.0 kg∙m−2 was spread uniformly on the surface of the seedbed before or at land preparation ・ Land plowed 2 - 3 times by power tiller followed by laddering and allowed to decompose for 7 - 10 days to make the soil soft and muddy ・ When soils became sufficiently soft and muddy, 1.0-m-wide raised beds (length as long as the length of the land) were made surrounded by a 25-cm-wide and 10 - 15-cm deep canal. The soils from the canal were put on the bed. The number of beds made depended on the land size and requirement ・ Surface of the raised bed was leveled by a plane and flat wood ・ Soils at the surface of the raised bed were allowed to settle for 3 - 4 h before seed sowing |
Seed rate sown on seedbed, range (g∙m−2) | 80 - 100 |
Water management | Canals surrounding the raised beds always kept full with water to prevent soil cracking at the surface of the raised bed. Soil surface of the raised bed was not allowed to crack |
Seedling age, range (days) | 28 - 34 in Aman and 40 - 48 in Boro |
Plant population at planting | |
Hill spacing at transplanting (cm) | 20 × 20 |
Number of seedlings per hill (no.) | 3 - 4 |
P, K, S, and Zn fertilizer management | Total amounts of P as triple superphosphate, S as gypsum, Zn as zinc sulfate, and K as KCl were applied basally immediately before transplanting rice in both Boro and Aman seasons. The fertilizer rates (kg∙ha−1) were: Boro season: 17 P, 62 K, 10 S, and 2 Zn; Aman season: 12 P, 42 K, 10 S, and 2 Zn |
N fertilizer management, mean ± S.D. | The N rates (kg∙ha−1) for the LCC option given below: Aman 2009: 88 ± 14 in 3 - 4 splits; Aman 2010: 93 ± 11 in 3 - 4 splits; Aman 2011: 83 ± 12 in 3 - 4 splits; Boro 2009-10: 117 ± 14 in 3 - 4 splits; Boro 2010-11: 111 ± 17 in 3 - 4 splits; Boro 2011-12: 117 ± 14 in 3 - 4 splits |
aS.D., standard deviation of the mean.
Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the treatment means were compared using Least Significant Difference (LSD) at the 5% level of probability [
Treatments were evaluated based on added net return relative to the farmers’ practice, which is the difference between added gross return and added cost for a treatment as compared with FP. Added gross return equaled additional yield as rough rice (yield of treatment−yield of FP) multiplied by the price of yield. Added cost equaled the sum of costs for differences in labor determined as [(labor for seedling raising, transplanting, and fertilizer application of the treatment-labor for seedling raising, transplanting, and fertilizer application of FP) × wage rate] and costs for differences in fertilizer and seed-treating chemicals determined as (fertilizer and seed-treating chemical costs of treatment-fertilizer and seed-treating chemical costs of FP). The prices of seeds, cowdung, fertilizer, seed-treating chemical, rough rice, and labor wage were as follows: seed = US $0.45 kg−1, cowdung = US $12.86 to 19.29 Mg−1, P fertilizer = US $0.28 to 0.51 kg−1 P, K fertilizer = US $0.19 to 0.45 kg−1 K, S fertilizer = US $0.06 to 0.08 kg−1 S, Zn fertilizer = US $1.29 to 1.54 kg−1 Zn, urea = US $0.15 to 0.26 kg−1
N, USG = US $0.21 to 0.29 kg−1 N, seed-treating chemical = US $34.07 to 35.48 kg−1, rough rice = US $0.22 to 0.26 kg−1, and labor wage = US $1.93 to 2.57 person-day−1 (US $1 = Bangladesh Taka 77.78).
BRRI management practices and BRRI management practices along with two N management options, either LCC or USG, had a significant response in rice grain yield in both Aman and Boro seasons in all three years (
BRRI-LCC, BRRI-USG and BRRI recommended practices turned out about 41% - 62% in wet and 27% - 38% higher grain yield in dry season, respectively. The results of the study also implies that yield advantage of 13% - 35% in wet season and 1% - 21% in dry season could be attained when only quality seeds, USG and LCC were used with farmers’ management practice. On average, the yields in Boro were 18% higher than the yields in Aman, with the highest yield of 5.50 Mg∙ha−1 in Boro and 4.84 Mg∙ha−1 in Aman.
Irrespective of years, the average yield for the system (combined yield of Aman and Boro seasons within a cropping year) for FP was 7.04 Mg∙ha−1. The system productivity of FP-QS, FP-USG and FP-LCC, BRRI-LCC, BRRI-USG and BRRI Recommended management options was 8.53, 7.92, 7.85, 9.84, 9.91and 9.99 Mg∙ha−1. BRRI-reported that average attainable yield for this system is 14 Mg∙ha−1 [
Treatments | Grain yield (Mg∙ha−1) | ||
---|---|---|---|
2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |
FP | 3.09 | 2.99 | 3.05 |
FP-QS | 4.16 (35) | 3.76 (26) | 3.77 (24) |
FP-USG | 3.83 (24) | 3.74 (25) | 3.44 (13) |
FP-LCC | 3.77 (22) | 3.67 (23) | 3.49 (14) |
BRRI-LCC | 4.69 (52) | 4.67 (56) | 4.29 (41) |
BRRI-USG | 4.55 (47) | 4.84 (62) | 4.39 (44) |
BRRI Rec. | 4.71 (52) | 4.73 (58) | 4.48 (47) |
F values for treat | ** | ||
F values for year | * | ||
F values for treat x year | NS | ||
LSD0.05 for treat | 0.34 | ||
LSD0.05 for year | 0.22 | ||
LSD0.05 for treat x year | - | ||
CV (%) | 11.6 |
NS, *, ** for not significant, significant at 5 and 1% level, respectively.
Treatments | Grain yield (Mg∙ha−1) | ||
---|---|---|---|
2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
FP | 3.96 | 3.99 | 4.04 |
FP-QS | 4.54 (15) | 4.47 (12) | 4.88 (21) |
FP-USG | 4.45 (12) | 4.04 (1) | 4.26 (5) |
FP-LCC | 4.22 (7) | 4.19 (5) | 4.20 (4) |
BRRI-LCC | 5.31 (34) | 5.45 (37) | 5.12 (27) |
BRRI-USG | 5.21 (32) | 5.50 (38) | 5.23 (29) |
BRRI Rec. | 5.27 (33) | 5.42 (36) | 5.37 (33) |
F values for treat | ** | ||
F values for year | NS | ||
F values for treat x year | * | ||
LSD0.05 for treat | 0.14 | ||
LSD0.05 for year | - | ||
LSD0.05 for treat x year | 0.23 | ||
CV (%) | 5.9 |
NS, *, ** for not significant, significant at 5 and 1% level, respectively.
management options reduced the yield gap of the farmers’ practice by 2.87 Mg∙ha−1. Results also revealed that famers can able to trim down the existing gap by 1.49, 0.88 and 0.81 Mg∙ha−1 when only quality seeds, USG and LCC were used with farmers’ management practice. The higher positive response of BRRI-LCC, BRRI-USG and BRRI recommended practices was due to the combined effects of certified seeds with seed treatment, healthy seedlings, optimum planting density, balanced fertilization, and better synchronization of N fertilization with plant needs. These findings suggest potential to increase farmers’ rice yields through BRRI recommended practices in an integrated way. Other studies in India and Bangladesh rice fields also reported comparatively higher yields in the range 0.8 - 2.0 Mg∙ha−1 with the use of improved methods of more than one crop production factor in an integrated way [
Box and whisker plots showed higher mean and median yield of wet and dry season rice on BRRI-LCC, BRRI-USG and BRRI Rec. treatments, with the lowest under farmers’ practice (
In wet season, Box and whisker plots for grain yields under BRRI-LCC, BRRI-USG and BRRI Rec. treatments showed higher variability than the other treatments. High variation in rainfall and maximum temperature during the study period may have the contribution in higher grain yield variability (
Added costs and added net returns for different management options relative to the FP were used to assess profitability for the use of different management practices (
added costs associated with BRRI management practices involved treatments in at least 75% of the farmers’ fields were ≥$94 - 123 ha−1 in Aman and ≥$77 - 114 ha−1 in Boro. These added costs for BRRI Rec., BRRI- LCC and BRRI-USG∙management options were mainly because of the additional application of P, K, Zn and additional labor requirement with these management options. The large ranges in added costs suggest substantial variation in the amounts of additional P, K, Zn and labor use.
The average added costs for FP-QS in Aman and Boro across years was $13ha−1. The average added costs for FP-USG in Aman and Boro across years ranged from $31 to 49 ha−1 and from $33 to 49 ha−1, respectively. The added costs associated with FP-USG in at least 75% of the farmers’ fields were ≥$33 - 46 ha−1 in Aman and ≥ $35 - 49 ha−1 in Boro. This cost for FP-USG was mainly because of the additional labor requirement with USG placement. FP-LCC management option did not impose any additional cost both in Boro and Aman across years except in Aman, 2011.
The average added net returns with BRRI recommended management option and BRRI recommended management practices along with two N management options were always positive, ranging from US $175 to 362 ha−1 in Aman and from US$159 to 265 ha−1 in Boro across years. The added net returns associated with BRRI- LCC, BRRI-USG and BRRI recommended practices in at least 75% of the farmers’ fields were ≥$305 to 440 ha−1 in Aman and ≥$196 to 324 ha−1 in Boro (
In Aman season, on an average per dollar net return (added net return divided by added cost) was highest in BRRI recommended management practices ($ 2.84) followed by BRRI-LCC ($ 2.70). But in Boro season, it was highest in BRRI-LCC ($ 2.54) followed by BRRI recommended management practices ($2.40). The results suggested that BRRI recommended management practices and BRRI-LCC were more profitable option compared to others.
Management practices | Added cost (US $ ha−1) | Added net return (US $ ha−1) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean | Range | 25% quartile | 75% quartile | Mean | Range | 25% quartile | 75% quartile | |
Aman 2009 | ||||||||
FP-QS | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 233 | 94 to 456 | 156 | 267 |
FP-USG | 34 | 31 to 37 | 34 | 35 | 137 | 103 to 217 | 104 | 146 |
FP-LCC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 154 | 65 to 243 | 111 | 198 |
BRRI-LCC | 101 | 100 to 102 | 100 | 102 | 270 | 69 to 482 | 124 | 409 |
BRRI-USG | 121 | 119 to 124 | 119 | 122 | 215 | −32 to 425 | 82 | 365 |
BRRI Rec. | 101 | 100 to 102 | 100 | 102 | 273 | 91 to 444 | 126 | 426 |
Aman 2010 | ||||||||
FP-QS | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 184 | 20 to 443 | 91 | 209 |
FP-USG | 32 | 31 to 35 | 31 | 33 | 159 | −38 to 412 | 5 | 262 |
FP-LCC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 173 | 28 to 420 | 39 | 224 |
BRRI-LCC | 93 | 92 to 94 | 92 | 94 | 338 | 155 to 662 | 173 | 386 |
BRRI-USG | 112 | 107 to 115 | 109 | 113 | 362 | 142 to 630 | 268 | 440 |
BRRI Rec. | 93 | 92 to 94 | 92 | 94 | 353 | 135 to 626 | 222 | 394 |
Aman 2011 | ||||||||
FP-QS | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 146 | 4 to 237 | 138 | 187 |
FP-USG | 44 | 39 to 49 | 41 | 46 | 42 | −12 to 126 | −4 | 60 |
FP-LCC | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 96 | 19 to 223 | 36 | 147 |
BRRI-LCC | 97 | 95 to 98 | 98 | 98 | 177 | −37 to 328 | 92 | 305 |
BRRI-USG | 120 | 118 to 123 | 118 | 123 | 175 | −88 to 349 | 109 | 346 |
BRRI Rec. | 101 | 100 to 102 | 100 | 102 | 213 | −42 to 375 | 150 | 361 |
Boro 2009-10 | ||||||||
FP-QS | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 118 | 63 to 166 | 119 | 121 |
FP-USG | 35 | 33 to 39 | 33 | 37 | 76 | 41 to 107 | 54 | 89 |
FP-LCC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 29 to 79 | 58 | 67 |
BRRI-LCC | 82 | 81 to 83 | 81 | 83 | 222 | 164 to 299 | 175 | 238 |
BRRI-USG | 96 | 92 to 99 | 92 | 97 | 185 | 139 to 210 | 184 | 200 |
BRRI Rec. | 77 | 75 to 79 | 75 | 77 | 218 | 163 to 274 | 190 | 238 |
Boro 2010-11 | ||||||||
FP-QS | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 101 | −3 to 221 | 35 | 137 |
FP-USG | 34 | 33 to 37 | 33 | 35 | −24 | −115 to 42 | −69 | 35 |
FP-LCC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | −13 to 132 | 31 | 51 |
BRRI-LCC | 86 | 84 to 86 | 84 | 86 | 265 | 132 to 344 | 243 | 324 |
BRRI-USG | 99 | 99 to 100 | 99 | 100 | 263 | 128 to 374 | 203 | 320 |
BRRI Rec. | 103 | 100 to 107 | 101 | 105 | 241 | 80 to 414 | 221 | 245 |
Boro 2011-12 | ||||||||
FP-QS | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 177 | 65 to 276 | 132 | 231 |
FP-USG | 46 | 44 to 49 | 44 | 49 | 3 | −19 to 24 | −4 | 8 |
FP-LCC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | −12 to 98 | 17 | 62 |
BRRI-LCC | 86 | 83 to 86 | 86 | 86 | 159 | 66 to 232 | 91 | 219 |
BRRI-USG | 111 | 106 to 114 | 109 | 114 | 158 | 48 to 272 | 115 | 196 |
BRRI Rec. | 96 | 94 to 97 | 94 | 97 | 204 | 102 to 279 | 185 | 234 |
The higher positive added net returns with the use of BRRI-LCC, BRRI-USG and BRRI recommended management practices in the majority of farmers’ fields confirmed that they are ready for wide-scale evaluation and promotion in Bangladesh. Our results suggest that BRRI recommended management practices and BRRI recommended management practices along with either LCC or USG can be promoted through integration with the farmers’ own portfolio of practices for increased profitability. The markedly increased yield and profit for rice in Bangladesh reported in another study [
Efficient and judicious integration of improved crop management practices along with the farmers’ management practices has scope to increase rice production in Bangladesh. About 27% - 62% grain yield increases with BRRI-LCC, BRRI-USG and BRRI recommended management practices resulting in farmers’ net profit increase of US $158 to 362 ha−1. Adoption of BRRI-LCC, BRRI-USG and BRRI recommended management practices in an integrated way can be a measure to attain productivity through minimizing yield gap. A massive and effective program for wider demonstration, refinement, and dissemination of BRRI-LCC, BRRI-USG and BRRI recommended management practices in an integrated way throughout the country may be taken to improve the productivity and profit from rice farming.
Although the selected fields were in same ecosystem, soil physical and chemical properties analysis might assist in better interpretation of the findings.
Md. Khairul Quais,Md. Mahbubur Rahman Dewan,Amina Khatun,Hasina Sultana, (2015) Rice Yield Gap Minimization in Central Bangladesh: Using and Adapting Existing Technologies. Open Access Library Journal,02,1-13. doi: 10.4236/oalib.1101641