Year-round and rotational freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii and paddy farming: soil quality, production and economics

A study was carried out at five upazillas (Dumuria, Fakirhat, Pirojpur sadar, Gopalgonj sadar and Kalia) of five southern districts of Khulna, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Gopalgonj and Narail to understand the comparative production performance and any effect on soil quality in case of year-round golda (Macrobrachium rosenbergii), alternate prawn-paddy and year-round paddy farming. A direct interview of 55 farmers was taken, using pretested questionnaire, and soil samples were taken from selected farms before and after each crop. Among the five upazillas, farmers in Gopalgonj sadar and Kalia are not practicing year-round golda. Rotational golda-paddy farming has been recorded to result in maximum profit, with the highest of Tk. 310,912/ha/year in 2003 at Dumuria. Only paddy farming is less profitable than other two cropping patterns, irrespective of study sites. The nutrient status of soil in rotational golda and paddy farming has been found improved, compared to that of only golda or paddy farming.