Soil fertility management using organic inputs in field crop based systems
A field experiment was laid out under Network Project on Organic Farming with two maize based cropping sequences viz.,, CS1: Maize (seed)-Toria and Table 2 Performance of pre-kharif rice varieties under different establishment methods and effect of cutting height on ratoon yield (t/ha)
Nutrient source Establishment of pre –kharif rice Cutting height of pre-kharif rice Direct seeded Transplanted Direct seeded Transplanted
15 cm 25 cm 15 cm 25 cm
FYM 4.19 4.28 2.50 2.89 2.33 2.78
Vermicompost 4.06 4.13 2.12 2.49 1.84 2.49
Pig manure 4.24 4.48 2.23 2.62 2.16 2.66
Paddy straw 3.88 4.19 1.98 2.36 1.71 2.22
Control 3.34 4.16 1.38 1.81 1.20 1.58
Table 3 Productivity (t/ha) of pre-kharif and ratoon rice as influenced by different sources of nutrients, establishment methods and cutting height
Varieties Establishment of pre –kharif rice Cutting height of pre-kharif rice Direct seeded Transplanted Direct seeded Transplanted
15 cm 25 cm 15 cm 25 cm
IR 64 3.82 4.19 2.20 2.60 1.85 2.47
Shahsarang 1 4.27 4.35 2.32 2.71 2.05 2.56
Lampnah 3.94 4.26 2.13 2.58 1.85 2.36
Krishna Hamsa 3.73 3.76 1.52 1.83 1.39 1.69
Fig 2 Shahsarang 1 ratoon under direct seeding
CS2: Maize (Green cob) – Frenchbean and six nutrient sources viz., N1:FYM+ vermicompost, N2:FYM + VC + Panchagavya, N3:Panchagavya (3%) spray, N4: Biodynamic manure, N5: Panchagavya + Biodynamic manure and N6:Control to evaluate the efficacy of various on farm and off farm produced organic sources of nutrients/formulations on productivity and soil health. Integrated application of ½ FYM + ½ Vermicompost was selected as base and applied on N- equivalent basis. P requirement was adjusted by applying mussorie rock phosphate (MRP). Maize + soybean intercropping was adopted in 1:1 ratio during kharif season (Fig 1). Soybean crop was intercropped as in-situ green manure at earthing up in standing maize crop. Maize crop grown in maize- frenchbean cropping sequence was harvested as green cob to facilitate timely sowing of succeeding frenchbean whereas, under maize- toria cropping system it was harvested as grain crop. Maize stalk was recycled back into the same plot under both the cropping systems. Results revealed that combination of FYM, Vermicompost and Panchagavya recorded maximum grain yield of maize, toria and frenchbean followed by ½ FYM + ½ VC whereas, integrated application of FYM+ Vermicompost+
Panchagavya and FYM + Vermicompost recorded comparable green cob yield of maize, seed yield of toria and pod yield of frenchbean (Table 1).
Improvement in physico-chemical properties of soil was observed due to application of organic manures.
Population of beneficial microorganisms viz, Rhizobium, Pseudomonas and Actinomycetes were found more in FYM + Vermicompost + Panchagavya treatment.
Soil fertility management using organic inputs in important vegetable crop based systems
Field experiment was conducted with treatment combinations consisting of three cropping systems viz.,, CS1: Maize + soybean (2:2)- tomato, CS2: Maize + soybean (2:2) - potato and CS3: Maize + soybean (2:2) – Frenchbean in main plot and four organic sources of nutrient viz.,, Farmyard Manure (FYM), Vermicompost (VC), integrated nutrient sources (½ of FYM+ ½ of VC) and control in sub plots (Fig 2) to study the performance of vegetables under different cropping systems and to evaluate efficiency organic sources of nutrients and their effect on soil fertility and crop production.
Significant increase in crop growth and grain yield of maize was recorded in all the cropping sequences and nutrient management sources over control (Table 2). Combination of FYM and Vermicompost recorded maximum increase in grain yield of maize and green pod yield of frenchbean, however, sole application of FYM produced comparable yield with that of
Table 1 Yield (t/ha) of crops under maize based cropping systems as influenced by various sources of nutrient supply
Nutrient sources Maize-Toria (Seed) Maize-French bean (Green cob/pod)
Maize Toria Maize French bean
FYM + Vermicompost 4.08 0.36 8.93 9.67
FYM + VC + Panchagavya 4.15 0.45 9.33 10.28
Panchagavya (3%) spray 1.34 0.10 2.58 4.18
Biodynamic manure 1.52 0.13 3.12 4.10
Panchagavya + Biodynamic manure 2.38 0.26 4.32 5.16
Control 1.01 0.015 1.21 1.32
CD (P=0.05) 0.48 0.09 1.07 0.32
Fig 1 Maize and French bean crop under Maize + Soy- bean (GM) – French bean cropping system
Fig 2 Vegetable based cropping system under organic farming
integrated nutrient source in case of maize and tomato.
Maximum yield of potato was recorded with sole application of vermicompost and was found at par with sole application of FYM.
The highest organic carbon content was recorded 2.36 % with application of ½ FYM + ½ VC (integrated nutrient supply) after 5th year of the experimentation.
Likewise, available nutrients (N, P & K) in the soil also increased from the initial status. Maximum SMBC (220.33 µg/g) was recorded with integrated nutrient supply. Dehydrogenase enzyme activity of soil was also recorded maximum (109.8 µg/g soil) under integrated nutrient source.
Comparative efficiency of organic, inorganic and integrated management practices on soil and crop productivity
Upland rice under 100% organic management practice exhibited better yield over inorganic and integrated (50 % N through organic + 50 % N through inorganic) management (Fig 3). Rice- Frenchbean cropping systems recorded highest yield (3.13 t/ha) of rice compared to other cropping systems. All the vegetable crops viz, carrot, potato, frenchbean and
tomato registered highest economic yield in integrated nutrient management practices and was found significantly superior over all other nutrient sources.
There was improvement in soil health in terms of soil physico-chemical and biological properties.
Porosity (58.0 %) and maximum water holding capacity (56.8 %) increased from the initial value of porosity (50.2 %) and water holding capacity (45.2%) due to application of organic manures in raised bed.
However, higher porosity (63.75 %) and maximum water holding capacity (62.80 %) was recorded in sunken bed compared to raised bed. This might be due to organic matter from raised bed washed into sunken bed.
Population of beneficial microorganisms viz., Rhizobium, Pseudomonas and actinomycetes are presented in the Fig 4. Population/activity of all the three groups of organisms were found maximum in the soil under organic followed by integrated management practices. Increased microbial populations in the organics and integrated treatment probably mineralized the unavailable form of nutrients and thus enhanced their avaibility and subsequently improved the plant growth and productivity. Maximum Table 2 Yield (t/ha) of crops under different cropping systems as influenced by various sources of organic nutrient
Nutrient sources Maize + Soybean-Tomato Maize + Soybean- Potato Maize + Soybean-Frenchbean Maize Soybean Tomato Maize Soybean Potato Maize Soybean French
bean
FYM 5.28 0.70 27.35 5.28 0.66 11.52 4.70 0.68 17.65
VC 5.09 0.62 26.81 5.08 0.61 11.83 4.46 0.65 16.99
FYM+VC 5.54 0.74 27.08 5.26 0.71 11.33 5.10 0.77 18.53
Control 3.04 0.48 9.42 2.54 0.50 4.63 2.41 0.50 3.39
CD (P=0.05) 0.49 0.11 1.10 0.45 NS 1.31 0.48 NS 0.99
Fig 3 Rice and vegetables under rice–vegetables cropping system in raised sunken bed technology
value of Soil Microbial Biomass Carbon (SMBC) was under organic (173.50 µg/g dry soil) nutrient management practices followed by integrated (141.34 µg/g dry soil) and inorganic (131.1 µg/g dry soil) nutrient management practice which is depicted in fig 5.
Quality parameters of tomato such as average fruit weight and fruit diameter were recorded 50 and 50 respectively in organic treatment which was found superior over other treatments (Table 3). TSS, acidity, ascorbic acid and lycopene content were also found maximum (4.72, 0.67, 28.32, respectively) in organic treatment whereas reducing sugar and total sugar content were found maximum (2.53 and 6.38) in inorganic treatment.
Quality parameters of carrot such as root diameter, TSS, ascorbic acid, acidity, bita-carotene, total carotenoides, total sugar and reducing sugar are presented in table 4. The maximum root diameter, specific gravity, total sugar and reducing sugar were recorded (33.07,1.98 ,5.94 and 4.32 respectively) in integrated treatment, where as TSS, ascorbic acid, acidity, beta carotene and total carotenoides (8.33, 40, 0.22, 8.03 and 69.06, respectively) were found maximum in organic treatment followed by integrated treatment.
Insect-pest and disease management under organic farming
Application of Panchagavya along with Derisom
@ 3ml/L and Cow urine produced higher grain yield (3.74 t/ha) in maize compared to other pest management practices. Maximum fruit yield of tomato (19.91 t/ha) was recorded when Panchagavya was applied in combination with Lantana leaf extract 10%
+ Vermiwash 10% followed by sole application of Trichoderma (19.76 t/ha) compared to other treatments.
Fig 4 Microbial population (cfu/g dry soil) as influenced by various sources of organic nutrients
Fig 5 Soil microbial biomass carbon as influenced by nutrient management practices
Table 3 Quality parameters of tomato at maximum ripening stage
Treatment Average Average fruit TSS Acidity Ascorbic Reducing Total Lycopene
fruit weight diameter (%) (%) acid sugar sugar (mg/100g)
(g) (mm) (mg/100 g) (%) (%)
Natural 12.30 34.00 3.53 0.40 19.90 1.37 2.81 11.85
Organic 50.50 50.50 4.72 0.67 28.32 2.50 4.10 16.35
Integrated 44.55 49.08 4.17 0.61 27.47 2.49 5.72 15.49
Inorganic 42.97 42.97 4.22 0.65 26.43 2.53 6.38 13.86
CD (P=0.05) 2.83 4.36 0.33 0.08 3.06 0.15 0.70 1.35
Table 4 Quality parameters of carrot at harvesting stage
Treatment Root diameter TSS Ascorbic acid Acidity Beta carotene Total Total Reducing (mm) (%) (mg/100g) (%) (mg/100g) carotenoides sugar (%) sugar (%)
(mg/g)
Natural 15.53 7.63 35.00 0.14 7.27 57.07 4.27 3.70
Organic 28.23 8.33 40.00 0.22 8.03 69.06 5.82 4.11
Integrated 33.07 7.30 39.50 0.16 7.42 61.96 5.94 4.32
Inorganic 24.80 6.63 35.20 0.14 6.23 58.60 5.13 3.97
CD (P=0.05) 3.45 NS NS NS NS NS 1.87 NS
Lowest PDI of early blight of tomato was recorded with the application of Panchagavya @ 3% followed by Anonine @ 3ml/L. Fruit borer and leaf miner are the two major pests of tomato. Due to less incidence of leaf miner attack only fruit borer incidence was given priority and no. of infested fruits/plants and % fruit damage was recorded for testing the effectiveness of various insect pest management practices.
Panchagavya + Lantana leaf extract + vermiwash and Trichoderma treatments were found better in minimizing the fruit borer attack in tomato.
Weed management in maize-toria cropping system Experiment on weed management under organic farming in maize-toria cropping systems was carried out during kharif season. Mulching with fresh Ambrosia/ Eupatorium @ 10 t/ha after earthing up was found effective in reducing weed growth and produced significantly higher grain yield (3.94 t/ha) of maize
compared to all other treatments. Mulching with fresh Eupatorium/Ambrosia showed a positive effect on yield of succeeding crop toria and recorded significantly higher seed yield (0.67 t/ha) which might be due to carry over nutrients and moisture from the previous crop.
Organic farming on rainfed terraces Ginger and turmeric
Ginger and turmeric was grown in rainfed terraces following two methods of cultivation i.e. flat bed and bun (raised bed of 30 cm height, 1 m width) along with four organic nutrient management practices.
Soybean as green manure crop was grown in the inter row spaces of ginger and turmeric and was incorporated during earthing up operation (Fig 6).
Experimental results (Tables 5 & 6) revealed that integrated (1/2 FYM + ½ VC) application of nutrients
Table 5 Yield (t/ha) of turmeric as influenced by different nutrient management sources
Treatments Turmeric rhizome Dry matter (%) Powder yield
Flat bed Bun Flat bed Bun Flat bed Bun
FYM 19.82 20.66 2.02 2.08 3.68 4.03
Vermicompost 17.45 16.54 1.99 2.09 3.18 3.21
FYM +VC 22.29 26.11 2.07 2.12 4.45 5.20
Farmers practice 15.12 15.27 1.90 1.90 2.50 2.78
CD (P=0.05) 0.49 0.50 NS 0.14 0.48 0.38
Table 6 Yield (t/ha) of ginger as influenced by different nutrient management sources
Treatments Ginger rhizome Dry matter (%) Powder yield
Flat bed Bun Flat bed Bun Flat bed Bun
FYM 18.16 19.61 1.79 1.88 3.24 3.43
Vermicompost 15.18 16.04 1.64 1.84 2.32 2.65
FYM +VC 19.31 20.31 1.92 1.93 3.33 3.55
Farmers practice 12.85 15.09 1.58 1.72 1.88 2.34
CD (P=0.05) 0.43 0.47 0.13 NS 0.42 0.33
Fig 6 Ginger and turmeric in flat bed and bun under organic farming
along with soybean in-situ green manuring produced significantly higher yield in ginger (20.31 t/ha) and turmeric (26.1 t/ha) compared to control in bun system of cultivation. The powder yield of turmeric (5.21 t/
ha) and ginger (3.55 t/ha) was also recorded higher in integrated sources (1/2 FYM +1/2 VC) in bun system of cultivation. Yield of these two crops was found more in bun beds compared to flat bed system of cultivation, probably because rhizome development of these two crops needs more soil depth which was espaced by the bun beds.
A field experiment was laid out in a randomised block design with different doses of Tephrosia green leaf manure with or without mulching. Experimental results showed that Tephrosia @ 20 t/ha produced significantly higher rhizome (28.30 t/ha), dry matter percentage (58.0 %) and powder (5.80 t/ha) yield of turmeric followed by Tephrosia @ 15 t/ha.
Black gram
A field experiment was carried out in randomized block design with four organic sources of nutrient viz.,, Farmyard Manure (FYM), Vermicompost (VC), integrated nutrient sources (½ of FYM+ ½ of VC) and control. Results revealed that integrated treatment recorded maximum stover and seed yield of blackgram followed by FYM, Vermicompost and control treatment (Table 7).
Table 7 Yield of black gram (t/ha) as affected by various organic nutrient management practices
Treatment Seed yield Stover yield (t/ha) (t/ha)
FYM 1.18 0.47
Vermicompost 0.98 0.39
½ FYM + ½ VC 1.36 0.54
Control 0.95 0.30
CD (P=0.05) NS 0.13
Rice
Six organic nutrient management combinations were tested in direct seeded rice (var. Bhalum 1) under rainfed terrace condition. Integrated application of FYM + VC+ Rock phosphate produced highest grain yield (3.30 t/ha) and was found at par with FYM (15 t/
ha) + RP compared to all other treatments (Table 8).
Incorporation of fresh biomass (weed / hedgerow) of Indigofera, Ambrosia + Eupatorium 15 days before sowing resulted significantly higher grain yield in rice over control.
Table 8 Yield of rice (t/ha) as affected by various organic nutrient management practices
Treatment Grain Straw
yield yield (t/ha) (t/ha)
FYM @ 15 t/ha + RP 3.20 3.70
Vermicompost @ 7.5 t/ha + RP 2.66 3.26
½ FYM + ½ VC + RP 3.30 3.75
Indigofera green leaf biomass @ 15 t/ha 2.52 3.25 Ambrosia + Eupatorium green leaf 2.69 3.14 biomass @ 15 t/ha
Farmer’s practice (control) 2.06 2.95
CD (P=0.05) 0.44 0.34
Groundnut
Sixteen organic nutrient management combinations were tested to find out suitable organic nutrient source for groundnut in mid hills of Meghalaya during kharif season. Application of FYM (15 t/ha) along with rock phosphate (150 kg/ha) and lime produced maximum pod yield (33.4 t/ha) followed by Ambrosia green biomass @ 15 t/ha (Table 9).
Table 9 Groundnut productivity (t/ha), chlorophyll and oil content as affected by source of nutrient supply
Treatment Pod Chlorophyll Oil
yield index at content (t/ha) 45 DAS (%)
Control 2.62 40.4 37.0
FYM @ 10 t/ha 2.98 43.6 38.0
FYM @10 t/ha + RP 150 kg/ha 3.09 40.4 38.5 FYM @ 15 t/ha + RP + lime 3.34 44.7 38.8
Vermicompost @ 5 t/ha 2.77 43.7 35.5
Vermicompost @ 5 t/ha + RP 2.83 43.1 36.4 150 kg/ha
Vermicompost @ 10 t/ha + RP 3.23 44.4 35.0 150 kg/ha + lime
Eupatorium green biomass 3.05 44.7 37.0
@ 15 t/ha
Ambrosia green biomass 3.27 42.27 36.5
@ 15 t/ha (FW)
FYM @ 5 t/ha + Eupatorium 3.15 42.63 38.5 green biomass @10 t/ha
FYM @5 t/ha + Ambrosia green 30.6 41.7 36.0 biomass @ 10 t/ha
Improved Bun with FYM 32.5 44.1 38.2
@ 10 t/ha
FYM 7.5 t/ha+Vermicompost 3.75 32.0 44.0 37.5 t/ha+RP 150 Kg/ha
Tephrosia 15t/ha (FW) 31.32 42.27 37.5
FYM 5 t/ha + Tephrosia 30.4 42.9 37.0
10 t/ha (FW)
Vermicompost 2.5 t/ha + 29.8 44.1 36.4
Tephrosia 10t/ha (FW)
CD (P=0.05) NS 2.28 2.4