Introduction of short duration pulses into rice-based cropping systems in western Bangladesh

Imran Malik, Ken Flower, Matiur Rahman, William Erskine

Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture

Project: CIM-2009-038

Partners and Collaborators

• ACIAR- funded from January 1, 2011 for 5 years

• Commissioned organisation: The University of Western Australia

• Collaborating partner: PBA/Vic. DPI (Peas)• Collaborating IARC: ICARDA (Lentils)• In-country coordination: IRRI• Major research partners: BARI, BRRI• Other partners: DAE and NGOs

Bangladesh statistical information

Population : 164 million

Area: 144 000 km2

Agricultural land: 90 000 km2

Forest area: 8664 km2

Outline

• Background• Approach taken• Possible constraint • Potential collaborations and prospects

Background

Rice (main crop)

77% agricultural area

82% of calories 53% of protein

FAOSTAT, 2011

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

0

50

100

150

200

Year

Lentil

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

020406080

100 Pea

Pro

duct

ion

ton

(X10

00)

Pulse production decreased

1985 2009

CropsArea

(10000 ha)Prod

(10000 t)Area

(10000 ha)Prod

(10000 t)

Boro 153 367 472 1781

Wheat 54 104 39 84

Potato 11 110 39 53

Maize 1 0.7 13 73

Change of major crop production

100 mm

200 mm

300 mm

400 mm

0 mm

Crop Calender and rain pattern of Bangladesh

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Aman

Aus

Boro

Rain data from S. Shahid (2010) Int. J. Climatol. 30: 2299–2313

Sowing Harvest

Robi

Aim of the project

Increase pulse production• In rice cropping system• New agronomic practice• Capacity building of the researchers and growers

Pulses

Lentil Field Pea Mung Bean

Strategies to achieve the goal

• Widen window between rice crops

• Early maturing lentil and field pea

• Relay cropping of short duration pulses

• Short duration Mung bean

• Up-scaling of short duration pulses varieties

Current practice Target practice

Aman rice- Fallow- Boro Aman rice-pea-Boro

Aman rice- Fallow- Boro Aman rice- lentil/pea (relay)-Mung

Aman rice-rabi crops- Fallow Aman rice-rabi crops- Mung

Cropping patterns targeted

T. Aman

BRRI dhan33 119 days

BRRI dhan49 141 days

Widen window from rice side

Super early lentil

Super early lentil (flower in 50 d)

Local lentil (flower in 65 d)

• Resource capture (e.g. moisture, nutrient)

• Conservation tillage

• Hasten maturity

Why Relay Cropping

Lentil into standing rice

Pea after rice harvest

Lentil after rice harvest

Happy Farmer with his relay Pea crop

At field day

Major findings of year 1

• Early aman rice allow green pea before Boro

• Identified early pea genotypes

• Relay sown lentil/pea between T.Aman and T.aus/Mung

• On-farm Lentil (relay sown) and Mung demonstrations

Crop Calender

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Aman

Kharif 1

Boro

Sowing Harvest

F. Pea

Lentil

G. Pea

• Soil Waterlogging

• Diseases and Pests

Constraints for growing legumes

These constraints have adverse effect on plant growth and yield

Lentil

Boro rice

Soil WaterloggingDrought

Stemphylium blight

Powdery mildew

Rust

Flower dropping caused by thrips

• Management practice:– Resource capture – Conservation tillage– Modelling reliability of window– Intercropping

• Altering inputs: – Cultivars– fertilizer

Strategies to cope with climate change at agronomic level

Potential collaboration and future direction

• LWR/2008/019 (CCAS)(Developing multi-scale climate change adaptation strategies for farming communities in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Bangladesh and India )

• LWR/2010/080 (OAMC)(Overcoming agronomic and mechanisation constraints to development of conservation agriculture in diversified rice-based cropping in Bangladesh)

• Similar cropping pattern to Bangladesh

• Myanmar (need to explore)

• India (Eastern)

• Nepal (relay cropping of lentil)

Potential collaboration cont......

• Nutritional benefit • Water use (resource capture)• Climate change and mitigation• Greenhouse gas emission• Energy budget• Soil health• Beyond agronomy

Dimension of impacts

Thank you