Indian Journal of Agronomy 54(3): 267__271 (September 2009)

Effect of organic farming on productivity, soil health and economics of rice (Oryza
sativa)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) system
D.S. YADAV, VINEET KUMAR AND VIVEK YADAV

N.D.University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh 224 229

Received: August 2008

ABSTRACT
A study was done from 2003 -2008 at Kumarganj, Faizabad to assess the impact of organic manures on per-
formance of (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum (L.) Fiori & Paol.) system. Among different organic farm-
ing treatments, incorporation of crop residues in both the crops + green manuring + phosphorus solubilising mi-
crobes (PSM) + poultry manure (PM) 5 t/ha + neem cake 0.2 t/ha, resulted in highest values of growth and yield
components, yield and net return. This treatment gave 16.1, 16.6, 13.1, 13.1 and 44.5 % higher yield of rice and
19.7, 17.0, 14.5, 7.5 and 26.8% higher yield of wheat over T1, T2, T3, T4 (organics) and T6 (inorganics) respectively.
Maximum amount of balance or un-utilized NPK was computed with inorganics treatment (T6). All the organic
farming treatments improved soil health as evident by increased organic carbon and reduction in soil pH. High-
est values of organic carbon (0.64%) after 5 years of experimentation was recorded with wheat residues + FYM
10 t/ha + 0.2 t/ha neem cake in rice and rice residue + pressmud 10 t/ha in wheat (T 3). Treatment with crop resi-
due + green manuring + poultry manure 5 t/ha + PSM + neem–cake 0.2 t/ha also proved most remunerative and
gave 15.46, 16.08, 14.17, 8.87 and 36.48 x 103 Rs/ha higher net return over T1, T2, T3, T4 and T6, respectively.
Highest benefit: cost ratio (1.60) was also recorded with this treatment.

Key words: Economics, Organic farming, Productivity, Rice, Soil fertility, Wheat

In India, (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum beneficial influence on the physical and biological proper-
(L.) Fiori & Paol.) is the dominant cropping system ties of soil (Kumar and Tripathi, 1999). An experiment
across the Indo-Gangetic plains and in the Himalayan was, therefore, planned to find out the effect of different
foot-hills. Approximately 10.5 m ha area under this sys- organic farming modules on productivity, soil health and
tem contributed to 25% total food grain production of economics of rice-wheat system.
India. Results of long-term experiments conducted at
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Faizabad (Kumar et al., 2007) and other places in the
country (Swaroop, 2002) have shown decline or stagna- An experiment was conducted at N.D. University of
tion in the productivity of this system. The decline in or- Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad, Uttar
ganic matter content and associated changes in nutrient Pradesh (250.43’N and 820.8’E), from 2003 to 2008. The
availability and physical properties of soil seem to be climate of the area is sub-humid to sub-tropical. The soil
closely related with this. The deficiencies of secondary is alluvial having silty loam texture and taxonomically clas-
and micro-nutrients are also affecting the performance of sified as typic ustrochrept with 0.42% organic carbon,
this region in newer areas (Chakraborti and Singh, 2004). 8.13 soil pH and 0.22 dS/m electrical conductivity. The
Organic farming is a production system which favours treatments consisted of in situ incorporation of wheat
maximum use of organic materials, crop residues, animal straw (WS) + green manuring (GM) + pressmud (PRM)
excreta, legumes, on and off farm organic wastes, growth @ 7.5 t/ha in rice and in situ incorporation of rice straw
regulators, bio-pesticide etc. and discourage use of syn- (RS) + PRM @ 5 t/ha + phosphate solubilising microbes
thetically produced agro-inputs for maintaining soil health, (PSM) +Azotobacter (T1), in situ incorporation of WS +
productivity and pest management under the conditions of GM + FYM 10 t/ha in rice and in situ incorporation of RS
sustainable natural resources and healthy environment. + FYM @ 5 t/ha + PSM+ Azospirillum in wheat (T2), in
Use of organic manures have been found to be promising situ incorporation of WS + FYM @10 t/ha in rice and in
in arresting the decline in productivity through correction situ incorporation of RS + PRM @ 10 t/ha + PSM in
of deficiencies of secondary and micro-nutrients and its wheat (T3), insitu incorporation of WS + PRM @ 5t/ha
268 YADAV ET AL. [Vol. 54, No. 3

+FYM @ 5 t/ha + PSM in rice and in situ incorporation Yield

of RS + FYM @ 10 t/ha + PSM in wheat (T4), in situ in- Data (Table 2) revealed that grain yield of rice was not
corporation of WS / RS + GM + poultry manure (PM) @ affected significantly due to various organic farming treat-
5 t/ha + PSM in rice and wheat (T5). Data on recom- ments in the first year. From second year onwards, in
mended dose of fertilizer 120:26.4:33.3 in rice and situ incorporation of WS/RS + GM + PM @ 5 t/ha +
120:26.4:50 N:P:K kg/ha in wheat were taken from side PSM (T5) gave highest yield which was significantly supe-
plot where green manures were not applied for last 5 rior over all other treatments during all the years except
years (T6). Neem cake @ 0.2 t/ha was applied in all or- 2007-08 in which treatment T4 which was in situ incor-
ganic treatments (T1 to T5) in rice as well as in wheat. The poration of WS + PRM @ 5 t/ha + FYM @ 5 t/ha + PSM
chemical composition (% N:P2O5:K2O:S) of different ma- in rice and in situ incorporation of RS + FYM @ 10 t/ha
nures ranged from: 0.45-0.56:0.21-0.28:0.41-0.51: - + PSM in wheat, was at par with T 5. Considering the
(FYM); 5.1-5.5:1.2-1.6:2.2-2.6:- (PM); 0.05-0.07:0.02- mean of the 5 year’s data, the grain yield under T5 was
0.04:0.6-0.9:- (RS); 0.10-0.16:0.06-0.08:0.8-1.0:- (WS) 16.1, 16.6, 13.1, 13.1 and 44.5% higher over T1, T2, T3,
and - : - : -:18.4-21.2 (PRM) respectively. T4, and T6, respectively. Higher growth and higher values
Experiment was conducted in randomized block design of yield components due to higher concentration and fast
with 4 replications. Rice ‘Sarjoo-52’ was transplanted on release of nutrients in poultry manure might have resulted
10 July at 20 cm x 10 cm spacing and wheat ‘HP1744’ in higher grain yield under this treatment. Mankotia
was sown on 17 December with a seed rate of 125 kg/ha. (2007) also reported higher yield of rice due to in situ GM
All the organic materials were applied 1 week before with dhaincha, sunnhemp, soybean, cowpea and with ap-
transplanting/sowing. Crops were irrigated as and when plication of FYM. Similar trend was also noted in the
required. Plant protection was done with the use of neem yield of straw. Values of harvest index were not altered
oil, solution of crushed garlic and detergent soap extract. too much due to different treatments.
Trichocard (Trichograma sp.) were used after 20 days of The differences in grain yield of wheat were also not
transplanting to next 6 weeks to control rice stem borer. significant during first year. Similar to rice, highest yield of
Weeds were controlled by hand weeding. Crop was har- wheat was also obtained from T5 during all the years of
vested at its full maturity and threshed in respective plots. experimentation. On the basis of mean yield, T5 (incorpo-
All the organic materials were incorporated in the same field ration of RS + GM + PM@ 5 t/ha + PSM) gave 19.7,
as in the treatment. Data on growth, yield components, 17.0, 14.5, 7.5 and 26.8% higher grain yield of wheat
yield and economics were recorded. Soil and plant samples over T1, T2, T3, T4 and T6, respectively. In all the years,
were taken and analyzed as per standard procedure. Record the differences between T1, T2, T3, and T4 were not-sig-
of all inputs and outputs was maintained so as to work out nificant. However, during 2007-08, all the respective treat-
the economics of the system. Price of Rs 6,500/t of rice ments except T1 gave higher yield than T6 (recommended
and Rs 10,000/t of wheat grain were used. For organic N:P:K). A similar trend was noted in straw yield. Values
produce, 25% higher price of the above were used. of harvest index were not altered much due to different
treatments. The highest yield under organic treatments
RESULS AND DISCUSSION was mainly due to accumulation of nutrients over years
Growth and yield components and improvement in physico-chemical properties of soil.
It is evident that growth and yield components of rice The highest yield of wheat under T5 (incorporation of RS
and wheat were not affected to the level of significance + GM + PM @ 5 t/ha + PSM was mainly due to higher
during first year. The tallest plant and highest dry matter nutrient content and, comparatively fast release of nutri-
production of rice and wheat were recorded with the treat- ents. Besides supplying nutrients, organic manures have
ment in situ incorporation of wheat/rice straw + GM + PM also solubilizing effect on fixed form of other nutrients
@ 5t/ha + PSM (T5) followed by in situ incorporation of and therefore, improve the productivity of soil (Sinha,
WS + GM + FYM @ 10 t/ha in rice and in situ incorpora- 1981). Singh and Singh (2005) also reported 29.9, 18.8,
tion of RS + FYM @ 5 t/ha + PSM + Azospirillum in wheat 35.5 and 15.2% increase in yield owing to FYM applica-
(T2) and in situ incorporation of WS + FYM @ 10 t/ha in tion at 15 t/ha and vermin-compost at 7.5, 10 and 15 t/ha,
rice and in situ incorporation of RS + PM @ 10t/ha + respectively over no organic manure. Yadav (2005) also
PSM (T3) in wheat. Length of the panicle, number of reported similar results. Saxena and Yadav (1998) con-
grains/spike and test weight in rice and test weight in wheat cluded that green manuring of green gram as a whole or
were not altered by different treatments during fifth year after picking of pods resulted in higher yield of rice and
(2007-08). The values of all the components were higher wheat grown in sequence. Kumar et al. (2007) also re-
in T5 as compared to other treatments (Table 1). corded higher yield of rice-wheat with the use of organic
September 2009] ORGANIC FARMING OF RICE-WHEAT 269

manures. They also reported that bio-fertilizers have est balance or unutilized fraction of N was noted in T 6
added advantage in wheat production. (inorganics) closely followed by T 1, the values being
11.26 and 11.04 kg N/ha, respectively. A lowest value of
Nutrient balance sheet N balance of 54.2 kg/ha was recorded in T3. Maximum
Data on addition, depletion and balance of nutrient un- balance of P (59.0 kg P/ha) was noted in T5, whereas it
der different organic farming modules are given in Table was lowest (5.2 kg P/ha) in T2. Maximum balance of K
3. It is evident that maximum addition of N and P was was recorded in T 1 (307.8 kg K/ha) followed by T 4.
done in T5, whereas highest K was added in T 1. Deple- Negative balance of K was recorded in T6 (inorganics).
tion of all N, P and K was computed highest in T5. High- The highest depletion of nutrients in T5 was due to highest
Table 1. Effect of organic farming on growth and yield components of rice and wheat at harvest stage

Treatment Rice Wheat

Plant Dry No.of Length of No.of Test Plant Dry No.of No.of Grain Test
height weight shoots/ panicle filled weight height weight shoots grains/ weigh/ weight
(cm) (g/hill) hill (cm) grains/ (g) (cm) (g/m row) (m row) spike spike (g)
panicle

2003-04
T1 96.6 35.2 8.6 21.9 114.6 23.5 62.6 129.2 50.4 34.6 1.6 32.9
T2 96.3 33.0 8.0 21.7 121.5 24.3 58.1 138.5 53.6 34.9 1.5 30.6
T3 94.0 31.0 7.6 21.6 122.9 24.2 58.0 144.2 56.0 38.3 1.9 34.7
T4 95.8 31.0 7.7 21.5 120.7 24.9 60.1 141.0 53.6 36.6 1.8 34.9
T5 100.8 36.0 8.0 22.0 123.1 24.4 69.2 146.3 52.0 33.3 1.7 36.8
SEm± 2.2 1.7 0.3 0.2 2.8 0.5 3.9 5.7 1.9 1.8 0.1 2.3
CD (P=0.05) NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS
2007-08
T1 94.0 50.2 8.2 21.9 116.0 23.5 66.4 134.0 55.2 34.0 1.9 43.0
T2 96.0 54.6 8.6 21.7 114.5 23.3 63.2 138.6 56.4 36.0 2.0 42.8
T3 98.0 52.0 8.2 21.7 116.8 24.2 64.1 146.8 58.1 33.1 2.0 42.6
T4 99.2 51.8 7.8 21.5 120.0 24.6 65.1 145.0 61.2 34.0 2.1 44.1
T5 103.6 56.0 9.0 22.0 124.2 24.4 71.8 151.2 63.2 41.2 2.7 44.8
SEm± 2.0 0.7 0.2 0.2 1.9 0.4 2.3 2.8 1.9 1.9 0.2 0.8
CD (P=0.05) 4.8 1.8 0.4 NS 5.8 NS 6.4 7.8 5.2 5.8 0.4 NS

Table 2. Yield (t/ha) of rice and wheat and economics (x 103 Rs/ha) rice-wheat system under different organic farming modules

Treatment Grain yield Straw Harvest Cost of Net Net B:C

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 Mean yield (t/ha)* index * cultivation* income* ratio*

Rice
T1 4.22 4.99 4.92 5.01 5.20 4.78 7.17 39.96 35.90 42.19 1.18
T2 4.27 4.92 4.85 4.99 5.30 4.76 6.64 41.77 37.55 41.57 1.11
T3 4.25 4.98 5.24 5.18 5.42 4.91 7.27 40.35 35.72 43.48 1.22
T4 4.35 5.14 5.15 5.02 5.46 4.91 6.93 41.53 36.09 48.68 1.35
T5 4.59 5.77 5.92 5.96 5.86 5.56 9.55 36.81 35.97 57.65 1.60
T6 4.06 3.64 3.85 5.86 39.55 34.25 23.84 0.70
SEm± 0.13 0.18 0.20 0.19 0.14
CD (P=0.05) NS 0.52 0.61 0.55 0.42
Wheat
T1 2.70 3.15 3.38 3.01 3.42 3.13 3.58 46.56
T2 2.84 3.31 3.40 3.28 3.61 3.21 4.08 44.64
T3 2.97 3.68 3.41 3.14 3.62 3.36 4.03 45.46
T4 2.87 3.74 3.81 3.61 3.88 3.58 4.11 46.45
T5 2.62 4.03 4.30 3.98 4.31 3.85 4.67 45.15
T6 3.21 2.86 3.04 3.78 44.55
SEm± 0.14 0.17 0.29 0.22 0.17
CD (P=0.05) NS 0.57 0.64 0.63 0.56

*Mean
270 YADAV ET AL. [Vol. 54, No. 3

Table 3. Balance sheet (mean) of nutrients and soil properties in rice-wheat system under organic farming

Treatment Total addition (kg/ha) Total depletion (kg/ha) Balance (kg/ha) Soil properties
N P K N P K N P K Organic pH EC
carbon (%)

T1 285 75 536 175 31 167 110 19.4 307.8 0.57 7.68 0.50
T2 271 42 210 173 31 165 98 5.2 37.5 0.60 7.65 0.50
T3 240 54 243 186 34 178 54 8.8 54.2 0.60 7.79 0.53
T4 250 70 374 187 37 174 63 14.5 166.7 0.62 7.61 0.51
T5 308 176 279 219 42 216 89 59.0 52.5 0.68 7.54 0.48
T6 280 120 100 167 29 163 113 40.0 -52.5 0.38 8.10 0.56
Initial value 166 12.2 215 0.42 8.13 0.22

yield of grain and straw recorded under this treatment. and wheat (Table 2). This treatment gave 15.46, 16.08,
Maximum balance or loss of N in T6 was mainly due to 14.47, 8.97 and 33.81 x 103 Rs/ha higher net profit over
leaching and volatalization of N fertilizers. Several other T1, T2, T3, T4 and T6, respectively. Lowest net income of
workers have reported that N use efficiency in rice ranged 23.84 x 10 3 Rs/ha was recorded in the treatment with
from 30 to 91 % only (Prasad, 1998 ; Tandon, 1980). chemical fertilizer (T6). Net B:C ratio was computed high-
Negative balance of K was under T6 was met from the est (1.60) in treatment T5 and lowest under the treatment
release of K from its non-exchangeable pool of the soil to with chemical fertilizer (T6). The higher returns under or-
meet the demand of crop. These results corroborate with ganic farming when compared with chemical fertilizers
Sharma and Mishra (1987). was mainly due to better soil health resulted in better plant
growth, yield components, yield and higher prices of or-
Soil health ganic produce. Sarma et al. (2007) also reported that by
Data on soil properties as influenced by different treat- integration of FYM and Azotobacter with N, productivity
ments showed that organic carbon content increased to a and monetary returns of wheat can be increased by main-
great extent with the addition of different organic manures taining or improving soil fertility.
(Table 3). Highest value of organic carbon (0.64%) was From the results of the 5 year experimentation on or-
recorded in T3 where in addition to crop residues FYM ganic farming and discussion it may be concluded that in
was applied @ 10 t/ha. Slight decrease (0.37%) in or- situ decomposition of wheat / rice residues + green manur-
ganic carbon content was recorded in T6 (recommended ing + poultry manure @ 5 t/ha + phosphate solubilizing mi-
NPK) against the initial value of 0.42%. Organic carbon crobes is the most remunerative organic farming treatment
content in T1, T2, T4 and T5 ranged from 0.51 to 0.57%. and may be recommended for adoption by the farmers.
Slight reduction in pH was recorded in the treatment with
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