Comparative studies of conventional, organic and natural farming types for their efficiency, and productivity in maize + red gram intercropping system

Abstract

The field experiment on comparative studies of different farming methods for their efficiency and productivity in maize + redgram intercropping system was conducted at zonal agricultural and horticultural research station, Bhavikere during Kharif season. Among the different farming types, growth and yield parameters of maize viz. plant height (204.18 cm) number of leaves/ plant (17.20), cob length (15.94cm), straw yield (19.35 t/ ha) grain yield (81.36 q/ ha) and red gram Grain yield (4.36 q/ ha) and straw yield (11.19 q/ ha) were significantly higher with treatment received nutrients as per package of practices as compared to natural farming and organic farming treatments. Similar trend was observed with maize equivalent yield (95.50 q/ ha). On the other hand, highest dehydrogenase (14.32, 28.65, 24.19 and 16.23 µg TPF/ g soil/ day) and urease (4.12, 12.65, 7.14 and 3.32 µg NH4-N/ g / soil/ 2 hrs) enzyme activity was observed in organic farming treatment at 30, 60, 90 DAS and at harvest, respectively followed by natural farming treatment and least enzyme activity was noticed in farmers practice. Same trend was observed in acid and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activities. There was no much variation in physical properties i.e., bulk density, particle density, maximum water holding capacity and porosity by the different treatments and also no significant difference occurs in the pH and EC, however higher nitrogen (315.27) phosphorus (73.48) and potassium (271.28) was observed in the organic farming treatment and it was followed with the farmer’s practice treatment. The lowest was recorded in the natural farming treatment (215.47, 33.47 and 220.47 at the harvest stage).