Performance of different rice-based cropping systems in the wet temperate zone of Himachal Pradesh

A field experiment to diversify the rice‒wheat system to increase employment and income was conducted during 2017-18 at the research farm of CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya Palampur with eight cropping systems that were replicated four times. One-year results revealed that the highest rice grain yield (16477 kg/ha), net returns (₹ 219828/ha) and marginal returns (₹80946) were recorded from the rice – palak – cucumber sequence. Okra – radish – onion resulted in maximum food availability (55.16 kg/ha/day), whereas employment generation was maximum from rice – lettuce – potato + coriander (102.91%). In terms of carbohydrate yield (5146 kg/ha), protein yield (640.6 kg/ha) and energy equivalent (23919 MJ/ha), it was highest from the rice – wheat sequence; however, in the case of carbohydrate and energy equivalent, it was on par with rice – lettuce – potato + coriander.