PRODUCTION POTENTIAL AND ECONOMICS OF DIFFERENT RICE (ORYZA SATIVA)-BASED CROPPING SYSTEMS IN ANDHRA-PRADESH

A 3-year (1989-92) experiment conducted at Rudrur with 6 rice (Oryza s aliva L.)-based crop sequences, viz rice with safflower (Carthamus tin ctorius L.), indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. & Cosson], b engal gram (Cicer arietinum L.), maize (Zea mays L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) showed that rice-sunflower gives significantly higher rice equivalent yield (8.48 tonnes/ha), higher production efficiency (36.4 kg/ha/day) , higher net return Rs 26 160/ha) and benefit : cost ratio (3.18). Thi s was followed by rice-bengal gram with rice-equivalent yield 7.97 ton nes/ha, net return Rs 23 865/ha and benefit : cost ratio 2.98. The lan d-use efficiency of rice with bengal gram, indian mustard, wheat or su nflower was 61-64% in the year, whereas that of rice with safflower or maize was 65-71%. The value of sustainable yield index revealed that rice-sunflower system was more stable (89%), followed by rice-bengal g ram (82.8%).