Profit analysis of different rotations based on leguminous green manure in dryland area

【Objectives】 In dryland area of Loess Plateau, soil is barren, and the heat and precipitation resources can hardly be fully utilized during summer fallow period. Therefore, a better cropping system is needed to secure the farmer's income depending on the results of a profit analysis of different rotations. 【Methods】 A 4-year field trial was conducted to assess economic benefits of two rotations and corresponding green manure treatments. Leguminous green manure-winter wheat (LG-WW) and leguminous green manure-spring maize-winter wheat (LG-SM-WW) were compared with summer fallow-winter wheat (SF-WW) as control, a widely applied rotation in local area. 【Results】 LG-WW has the lowest economic benefits, and the coefficient of variation (CV) of net benefits for LG-WW is 67.69 %, which indicates the rotation thus couldn't replace the traditional SF-WW. The differences of wheat yields and gross revenue among the green manure treatments for this rotation vary from year to year. LG-SM-WW has the highest gross revenue and the lowest CV (15.42 %) of net benefits among the three rotation systems, which implies that farmers could achieve a high and stable income by applying this rotation. Crops yields and economic benefits under the straw mulch and incorporation treatments for this rotation are higher than those of move-away treatment in LG-SM-WW rotation. 【Conclusions】 Legume-summer maize-whinter wheat rotation is the most profitable cropping system in the dryland of Loess Plateau. After harvesting the pods of legumes, the straw is recommended to mulching or incorporated for higher yield of maize and wheat.