Development of alternate cropping pattern by inclusion of short duration potato variety against farmers’ existing cropping pattern fallow-boro-fallow in haor areas of Netrakona

Abstract

A trial was conducted in farmers' fields in Madan, Netrakona, by the On-Farm Research Division of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Mymensingh, during 2023–24 and 2024–25. The study aimed to develop an alternate cropping pattern, Potato (var. Challisha)-Boro rice (var. BRRI dhan92)-Fallow and compare its productivity and profitability against the existing pattern, Fallow-Boro (var. BRRI dhan29)-Fallow, through the inclusion of potato (var. Challisha) and Boro rice (var. BRRI dhan92) using improved management practices. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with six dispersed replications. Two cropping patterns viz., alternate cropping pattern (Potato-Boro rice-Fallow) and farmers’ existing cropping pattern (Fallow-Boro-Fallow) were the treatment variables of the experiment. The unit plot size was 1000-1200 m².  The result of the study showed that two crops could be grown successfully in sequence in the tested site.  Mean rice equivalent yield of alternate cropping pattern was 26.59 t ha^-1which was 271 % higher over existing cropping pattern (7.16 t ha^-1). Besides, land utilization index, harvest index and profitability of alternate cropping pattern was higher than farmers’ existing cropping pattern. The mean gross return (Tk. 5,49,950 ha^-1) and gross margin (Tk. 2,69,148 ha^-1) were higher in alternate cropping pattern compared to farmers’ existing cropping pattern. The marginal benefit cost ratio (2.01) was also indicated the superiority of the alternate cropping pattern over the farmers’ existing cropping pattern

Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 51(1): 523-532, March 2026