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J. Bios. Agric. Res. | Volume 18, Issue 02, 1549-1568| https://doi.org/10.18801/jbar.180218.190
​Article type: Research article, Received: 16.08.2018, Revised: 07.12.2018, Date of Publication: 25 December 2018.

Effects of conservation agriculture on crop and system productivity and profitability under maize based system in far western Nepal

Hari Kumar Prasai 1, Shrawan Kumar Sah 2, Anand Kumar Gautam 3 and Anant Prasad Regmi 4
1, 3, 4 Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Doti, Nepal.
2 Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal.

Abstract
Intensive conventional tillage practices in Doti district, far western Nepal has been experiencing low crop productivity and profitability. A shift towards conservation agriculture (CA) practices improve the crop production and farmer’s net income. This research assessed the effects over two consecutive years (2014/15– 2015/16) of CA system on crop and system productivity and profitability of different maize-based cropping system. This study under split-split plot design with four replications examined the effects of two cropping systems (Maize-wheat-mungbean and maize-lentil-mungbean), two cultural practices (CA and conventional agricultural practices) and four varietal sequences (Rajkumar-Dhaulagiri and Shimal-Pratikshya, Rajkumar-WK 1204 and Khajura1-Pratikshya, Arun2-Dhaulagiri and Shimal-Kalyan and Arun 2-WK 1204 and Khajura1-Kalyan). Results showed that cereal-cereal-legume cropping system, CA practices and varietal sequence of Rajkumar-WK 1204-Pratikshya produced 10.87% higher system yield (12.85 t ha-1yr-1) than conventional agricultural practices (11.59 t ha-1yr-1), 83.47% higher system net benefit (1554 US$ ha-1yr-1) than conventional agricultural practices (847 US$ ha-1yr-1) and 7.76% higher maize equivalent yield (17.08 t ha-1yr-1) than conventional agricultural practices (15.85 t ha-1yr-1). Similarly, cereal-legume-legume cropping system, CA practices and varietal sequence of Rajkumar-Khajura1-Pratikshya produced 19.62% higher system yield (9.39 t ha-1yr-1) than conventional agricultural practices (7.85 t ha-1yr-1), 139.39% higher system net benefit (1594 US$ ha-1yr-1) than conventional agricultural practices (666 US$ ha-1yr-1) and 12.70% higher maize equivalent yield (16.50 t ha-1yr-1) than conventional agricultural practices (14.64 t ha-1yr-1). Therefore, farmers should apply cereal-cereal-legume cropping system (irrigated condition), cereal-legume-legume cropping system (rainfed condition), CA practices and varietal sequence of Rajkumar-WK 1204-Pratikshya and Rajkumar-Khajura1-Pratikshya for higher system productivity and profitability.
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Key Words: Conservation vs conventional agriculture, Maize yield, Net benefit and Cropping system     

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Article Citations

​MLA
Prasai et al. “Effects of conservation agriculture on crop and system productivity and profitability under maize based system in far western Nepal.” Journal of Bioscience and Agriculture Research 18(02) (2018): 1549-1568.
 
APA
Prasai, H. K. Sah, S. K. Gautam, A. K. and Regmi, A. P. (2018). Effects of conservation agriculture on crop and system productivity and profitability under maize based system in far western Nepal. Journal of Bioscience and Agriculture Research, 18(02), 1549-1568.
 
Chicago
Prasai, H. K. Sah, S. K. Gautam, A. K. and Regmi, A. P. “Effects of conservation agriculture on crop and system productivity and profitability under maize based system in far western Nepal.” Journal of Bioscience and Agriculture Research 18(02) (2018): 1549-1568.
 
Harvard
Prasai, H. K. Sah, S. K. Gautam, A. K. and Regmi, A. P. 2018. Effects of conservation agriculture on crop and system productivity and profitability under maize based system in far western Nepal. Journal of Bioscience and Agriculture Research, 18(02), pp. 1549-1568.
 
Vancouver
Prasai, HK, Sah, SK, Gautam, AK and Regmi, AP. Effects of conservation agriculture on crop and system productivity and profitability under maize based system in far western Nepal. Journal of Bioscience and Agriculture Research. 2018 December 18(02): 1549-1568.

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