Rice-Wheat Cropping System

Rice-WheatCropping System

Prepared By: Kanwar Muhammad

Raheel MehboobReg. No : 2008-ag-2139Major : Agronomy

University of Agricultutre Faisalabad

Contents:

1:Cropping system

2:History of Rice Wheat Cropping System

3:Rice wheat cropping system in Pakistan

4:Factor Affecting on Rice wheat cropping system

5:Improving Yield of Rice Wheat Cropping System

6:Scenario of Rice wheat cropping system in Pakistan

Cropping System

A cropping system may be defined as a community of plants which is managed by a farm unit to achieve various human goals.A cropping system refers to growing a combination of crops in space and time. An ideal cropping system should :

use natural resources efficiently provide stable and high returns do not damage the environment

Commonly Practiced Cropping System are:

Crop rotation practices Intercropping systems Mixed cropping systems Ratoon cropping

Rice wheat cropping system is the type of crop rotation/pattern.

History of Rice Wheat cropping System:

The rice-wheat system has been practiced by farmers in Asia for more than 1000 years. It has since expanded and is currently estimated at 23.5 million ha. The rice-wheat system covers

13.5 million ha in South Asia: India (10.0 million ha), Pakistan (2.2 million ha), Bangladesh (0.8 million ha)Nepal (0.5 million ha).

It represents 32% of the total rice area and 42% of the total wheat area in these countries.

History of Rice Wheat cropping System:

In the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP), which stretches

across these four countries, rice is usually grown in the

wet summer (May/June to October/ November) and

wheat in the dry winter (November/ December to

February/March). Although rice-wheat cropped area in

the IGP is irrigated or has assured rainwater in sub-

humid regions, the soils and crop management undergo

drastic changes during the two cropping seasons.

Rice Wheat Cropping System in Pakistan

Rice-wheat is one of the important cropping systems

covering an area of about 2.2 million hectares in

Pakistan. A major portion (about 57 per cent) of the rice-

wheat area falls in the Punjab. The rice-wheat growing

areas in Pakistan are primarily situated in central Punjab

(main districts include Gujranwala, Sheikhupura,

Narowal and Sialkot) followed by Sindh. The rice-wheat

cropping system in Pakistan is the major one with an

estimated area of 2.2 mha

Rice Wheat Cropping System in PakistanTypically the Kallar belt is the genuine homeland

of the ‘basmati’ variety. The pleasant and sweet fragrant basmati rice has the quality of elongation when cooked and the fluffiness that make it unique in the world. This particular basmati rice is found only in the Punjab .To grow more quality food from marginal/degraded land and diminishing water resources, there is a need to improve the productivity of rice-wheat system to make it more viable and eco-friendly.

Rice wheat cropping system in PakistanRice nursery sowing (start after 20 may)Transplantation (after 25-35 days)Irrigation FertilizationWeed managementHarvesting

Wheat cropping in Pakistan

Land preparationSeed selection & sowingIrrigationFertilizationWeed management Harvesting

Problems of Rice Wheat Cropping System

Time consuming

Delayed wheat sowing

Flood irrigation

Higher cost of

Labor

Water

Land preparation

Problems of Rice Wheat Cropping System

The rice-wheat system, one of the major cropping systems of the South

Asia and parts of East Asia, requires special management. Rice grows well

on puddled compacted soil, whereas wheat grows best on well-drained

soils. The hardpan developed with puddling operation is important for water

retention and weed control in rice, but compacted soil creates problems of

water logging for wheat. In addition to this, the traditional land preparation

after rice harvest results in later wheat sowing dates than optimum. Due to

these management differences and traditional cultural cultivation practices,

the productivity of the rice-wheat system is stagnating and its sustainability

threatened.

Factor affecting yields of Rice and Wheat Cropping system

Delayed planting of wheat and Transplanting of Rice

Energy, labour and other input shortage

Resistance of the weed Phalaris minor to isoproturon; and crop

residue burning have contributed to the stagnating or declining

production, productivity and sustainability of this system.

Continuous cropping of rice-wheat system for several decades as

well as contrasting edaphic needs of these two crops have resulted

in increased pest pressure, nutrient mining.

Factor affecting yields of Rice and Wheat Cropping system

In many areas, yields have stagnated at below potential level.

The input use efficiency is low.

Soil organic matter content has reduced.

This can be improved by incorporating crop residue into the soil. But

burning of crop residue is common and has increased environment

pollution. Nutrients are being mined and transported long distances

and lost permanently for the sub region. The water table has

receded at several places in the region. Also, there is a reduction in

biodiversity due to large area coverage by a single cultivar.

Improving Yield of Rice Wheat Cropping System

Therefore, agronomic research related to rice-wheat system

ecology and its environment must be directed at enhanced and

sustained productivity of this important farming system at reduced

costs.

This can only be possible if the planting techniques of rice or wheat

crops are improved resulting to saving of time, cultivation cost and

irrigation water. Resource conserving technologies (e.g. zero-tillage,

bed planting or direct seeding of rice) can be helpful in the

achievements of major goals.

Resource-conserving technologies Resource-conserving technologies are defined here as any practice that

improves the efficiency of use of natural resources, including water, air, fossil

fuels, soils, & inputs.

*Late planting is a major problem in most rice-wheat areas. To improve system

productivity, the wheat crop must be planted at the optimal time.

The other major cause of late wheat planting is the long turnaround time

between rice harvest and wheat planting. Long turnaround can be caused by

many factors, including excessive tillage, soil moisture problems (too wet or too

dry), lack of animal or mechanical power for plowing, and the priority farmers

place on threshing and handling the rice crop before preparing land for wheat.

Resource Conserving Technology

Surface Seeding; In this tillage option, wheat seed is placed onto a

saturated soil surface without any land preparation.

Zero-Tillage with Inverted-T Openers; Another practice involves

sowing using a seed drill, without prior land preparation.

Reduced Tillage; The Chinese have developed a seeder for

their 12 horsepower, two-wheel diesel tractor that prepares the

soil and plants the seed in one operation. This system consists

of a shallow rotovator followed by a six-row seeding system

and a roller for soil compaction.

Bed Planting System

In bed planting systems, wheat or other crops are planted on raised beds.

Management of irrigation water is improved.

Bed planting facilitates irrigation before seeding and thus

provides an opportunity for weed control prior to planting.

Plant stands are better.

Wheat seed rates are lower.

Scenario if Rice Wheat Cropping System in Pakistan

Wheat and rice are the major food staples for about 180 million people in

Pakistan.

Wheat always occupies a central position in agricultural policies. At present,

it contributes 13.8 per cent to value added agriculture and 3.2 per cent to

GDP. Rice is a high value cash crop and is also a major export item. Rice

grown in Pakistan comprises of two major groups: Basmati (high quality

aromatic rice) and IRRI (coarse rice).It was observed that producers of

wheat and basmati rice are dis-protected or implicitly taxed via depressed

prices instead of their respective international prices.

Scenario if Rice Wheat Cropping System in Pakistan

An important conclusion is that farmers should receive price in line

with international prices for their commodities to induce the expansion

of these crops.

In wheat production the cost of domestic resources was 0.86 $ & for

rice production 0.53 $ to save one dollar in terms of wheat imports,

which also implies comparative advantage in wheat production as an

import substitute. The result suggests that these commodities are

likely to have a great production growth once distortion in output and

input markets are removed and domestic prices catch up with

international market prices.