Comparative performance of pea genotypes under organic and conventional farming conditions

Abstract

Off-late, organic farming has become one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors worldwide. However, viability of organic farming system in terms of productivity and profitability is of major concern. Comparative performance of crops under organic and conventional farming system is more realistic only after the completion of transition period (3–5 years) for organic farming. Therefore, in the present study 18 varieties of garden pea (three recommended varieties for Himachal Pradesh, two edible podded varieties and remaining newly identified lines either resistant to Fusarium wilt disease or superior in horticultural traits) were evaluated for their performance under organic and conventional farming conditions. The seeds were sown at 45 × 10 cm spacing in plots of size 3.0 × 1.5 m for evaluation under organic and conventional farming conditions. Differential response of genotypes was recorded under organic and conventional farming conditions. The maximum pod yield (124.31 q/ha), net profit (Rs. 161277/ha) and B: C (2.59) ratio under organic farming conditions was observed in Punjab-89, whereas, under conventional farming system, DPPM-74 was recorded to be the most desirable genotype with the maximum pod yield (147.08q/ha), net profit (Rs.159951/ha) and B: C ratio (2.64).