Comparisons of the multiple cropping patterns of food crop/food crop (CK)and food crop/economic crop based on results of
experiments undertaken in
lateritic paddy field in Lanx-i,Zhejiang Province in 1992 revealed that all the 6 food crop/economic crop multiple croppingpatterns resulted in higher output value and benefit than the CK did. When wheat/green manure-sugurbeet,potato-rice-soybean and wheat/green manure-watermelon/maize-ricemultiple cropping patterns were applied, output values per hectare were 29 242.50, 23 160.00and 20 163.00 RMB,respectively, being 257.4%,203.8%and 177.5% higher than thoseof the CK,and benefits per hectare were 17 671. 50. 12 148. 50 and 10 948.50 RMB, respec-tively, being 5.1, 4 and 7. 68 times higher than those of the CK. All the differences werehighly significant. In the cases of the CK, lower output value and benefit were observed al-though higher yield were achieved. It is therefore indicated that the traditional food crop/foodcrop cropping pattern in the lateritic paddy field should be altered and diversified multiple cropping systems of food crop, economic crop,forage,green manure and vegetable should be de-veloped with the shift from national planned economy to market economy, so as to meet theneed of our country and society,and enable farmers to get higher income.