~ 2483 ~ International Journal of Chemical Studies 2020; 8(1): 2483-2486 P-ISSN: 2349–8528 E-ISSN: 2321–4902 IJCS 2020; 8(1): 2483-2486 © 2020 IJCS Received: 07-11-2019 Accepted: 09-12-2019 Basavanneppa MA Agricultural Research Station, Siruguppa, Karnataka, India Ashok Kumar Gaddi Agricultural Research Station, Siruguppa, Karnataka, India Corresponding Author: Basavanneppa MA Agricultural Research Station, Siruguppa, Karnataka, India Productivity and profitability as influenced by rice based cropping systems in Tunga Bhadra project area of Karnataka Basavanneppa MA and Ashok Kumar Gaddi DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/chemi.2020.v8.i1al.8641 Abstract A field experiment under All India Coordinated Research Project was conducted for four years (2015-16 to 2018-19) in irrigated condition at Agricultural Research Station, Siruguppa, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Raichur, Karnataka, India, to study the productivity and profitability of cropping system as influenced by rice based cropping system in Tunga Bhadra Project area of Karnataka on deep black soil. The experiment consisted of ten cropping systems and laid out in completely randomized block design with three replications. The results showed that, growing of rice followed by ridge gourd (Kharif- summer) recorded significantly higher rice equivalent yield (11338 kg/ha), gross return (Rs.213355/ha), net return (Rs.142691/ha), BC ratio (3.08), system productivity (31.07 kg/ha/day) and system profitability (537.54 Rs/ha/day) compared to other cropping systems. Whereas rice followed by beans cropping system registered significantly lowest rice equivalent yield, gross returns, net returns, BC ratio, system productivity and system profitability when compared to other cropping systems tested under the study. Keywords: Cropping system, rice equivalent yield, gross returns, net returns, BC ratio Introduction Rice followed by rice is the most predominant cropping system in the deep and shallow black soil of Tungabhadra Project Area of Karnataka, India. Continuous cultivation of rice for longer periods with low system productivity, and often with poor crop management practices, led to loss in soil fertility due to emergence of multiple nutrient deficiency (Dwivedi et al., 2001) [2] and deterioration of soil physical properties, and decline in factor productivity and crop yields in high productivity areas (Yadav, 2002) [12] . Diversification and intensification of rice-based system to increase productivity per unit resource is very pertinent. Crop diversification shows lot of promises in alleviating these problems besides, fulfilling basic needs for cereals, pulses, oilseeds and vegetables and, regulating farm income, withstanding weather aberrations, controlling price fluctuation, ensuring balanced food security, preservation of natural resources, minimise the chemical fertilizer and pesticide loads, ensuring environmental safety and creating employment opportunity (Gill and Ahlawat, 2006) [3] . Crop diversification has been recognized as an effective strategy for achieving the objectives of food security, nutrition security, income growth, poverty alleviation, creation of employment opportunities, and judicious use of land and water resources, sustainable agricultural development and environmental improvement (Hedge et al., 2003) [5] . The crop diversification may enhance profitability, reduce pests, spread out labour more uniformly, reduce risks from aberrant weather by different planting and harvesting times and source of high value products from new crops (Reddy and Suresh, 2009) [8] . Rice being the staple food of people, hence, rice cannot be replaced with other crops during kharif season. The only option left is to identify suitable crops for rabi/summer seasons for non availability/scarcity of water due to less storage capacity in the reservoirs coupled with low water availability for the tail end farmers in the command area it is more so with TBP. Growing of crops such as vegetables, pulses and oilseeds during summer is an alternative approach for realizing higher productivity and profitability. Moreover, growing non paddy crops during summer has a special reference for efficient utilization of irrigation water, labour and other resources for higher productivity, profitability and food security.