Village-Level Studies on Rice-Based Cropping Systems in the Low-Lying Areas of Bangladesh : I. Cropping patterns and their distribution in Haor and Bil areas

Abstract

Research on rice-based cropping systems was carried out in two villages situated in the low-lying areas of Bangladesh; Jawar located on the fringe of a haor in Kishoreganj District and Taker Bhitee facing a bil in Mymensingh District. Using the local land classification system, the entire village areas were classified into more detailed land units in order to analyze the relationship between toposequences and the distribution of cropping patterns. A plotwise observation of field crops grown in the boro, aus and aman seasons was conducted and seasonal variations in the water regime were observed from 1986 to 1988. Fourteen major cropping patterns, of which 10 are rice-based, were found to exist in both villages almost identically. The performance of the existing cropping patterns was almost the same in the two villages and their distribution was found to be closely related to toposequences, and subsequently to water regime. Aus- and aman rice-based cropping patterns were distributed in the kandhilla jami (high lands), while the single crop of boro rice was the predominant pattern over shail jami/boro-jami (low lands) in Jawar. Boro-rice-based cropping patterns have tended to expand since the introduction of modern irrigation devices. A similar pattern of distribution was observed in Taker Bhitee. Overall, the research showed that the performance of cropping patterns was a result of villagers' adaptation to the given environment in the low-lying areas.