Influence of drip irrigation and straw mulching on economic feasibility and soil fertility of rice-potato system in subtropical India

Water-saving technologies such as drip irrigation and straw mulching are aligned with sustainable agriculture as they enhance soil health, preserve water resources, and improve crop production. Understanding their combined impact, especially in subtropical rice-potato cropping system, is crucial. This study delves into the economic feasibility and impact on soil fertility when adopting drip irrigation and straw mulching. Field experiments demonstrated that using rice straw as mulch significantly increased nutrient availability, with available nitrogen (N) increasing by 15% to 17%, available phosphorus (P) by 13% to 14%, and available potassium (K) by 31% to 33% compared to non-mulched conditions. Furthermore, compared to conventional irrigation, drip irrigation treatments resulted in significantly higher soil available N, with increases ranging from 6 to 8% during the potato tuber initiation stage. Economic analysis showed that despite initial investment costs, adopting drip irrigation with straw mulch resulted in higher net returns. Rice-potato system with drip irrigation and straw mulch had a higher benefit–cost ratio, although it had a slighter shift in payback period than conventional practice. The research highlights sustainable intensification in rice-potato systems, suggesting strategic techniques for productivity and resource conservation to farmers and stakeholders.