Yield, Profitability And Soil Health As Influenced By Long-Term Application Of Biomanures, Biofertilizers And Crop Residues In Organic Rice-Based Cropping Systems

Summary

For wider adoption of organic systems in India, the crop production technologies need to be evolved for varied soils and cropping systems. Among other field limitations, inefficient nutrient management results in low yields under organic systems. A 10 years’ field experiment evaluated the effect of two rice-based cropping systems and seven nutrient management practices on yield, economics and soil health under organic management. Rice-wheat-mungbean system recorded significantly higher profits, and 13% and 6% higher grain yields of rice and wheat crops, respectively, over rice-wheat system. Levels of organic carbon, total N, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and micronutrients increased significantly and substantially due to inclusion of mungbean in rice-wheat cropping system. Application of FYM + crop residue + biofertilizers was most profitable practice in rice-based cropping systems.