Effect of Different Nutrient Sources on Soil Properties and Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Organic Farming

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2021-22 at organic farm, ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, to study the effect of different organic nutrient sources on rice (Oryza sativa L.). The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design with 3 replications. The Factor-A comprised of soil application (S), i.e. S1, 100% RDN through NADEP compost, S2, 80% RDN through NADEP compost along with Azospirillium and PSB @ 2 l/ha each, S3, 60% RDN through NADEP compost along with Azospirillium and PSB @ 2 l/ha each and S4, Ghan-jivamrut @ 500 kg/ha + Jivamrut @ 500 l/ha, and Factor-B comprised of foliar application (F), i.e. F0, control, F1, Novel Organic liquid nutrient @ 1% and F2, Moringa leaf extract @ 3%, with 12 treatment combinations of soil and foliar application with organic rice variety ‘GNR-7’. The results indicated that, application of 80% RDN through NADEP compost along with Azospirillium and PSB @ 2 l/ha each recorded significantly higher organic carbon (80%), available K2O (520.1 kg/ha), bacterial count (159.3×10-5 cfu/g), Actinomycetes count (39.8×10-3 cfu/g) and straw yield (5442 kg/ha) than the S4, but it was statistically similar with S1. Application of 100% RDN through NADEP compost recorded significantly higher available N (269.7 kg/ha) and grain yield (3749 kg/ha) over the S4, but it was found at par with S2. In case of foliar application F2, Moringa leaf extract @ 3% produce numerically maximum organic carbon (0.79%), available K2O (518.3 kg/ha), bacterial count (156.9×10-5 cfu/g), Fungal count (12.3×10-3 cfu/g) and (Actinomycetes count (39.0×10-3 cfu/g), it also ensured significantly higher grain (3312 kg/ha) and straw yield (5265 kg/ha). Application of Novel Organic liquid nutrient 1% produce numerically maximum available P2O5 (61.0 kg/ha). On the basis of results, it can be concluded that the application of 80% RDN through NADEP compost along with Azospirillium and PSB @ 2 l/ha each before transplanting and foliar application with either 3% Moringa leaf extract or 1% Novel Organic liquid nutrient at 15, 30 and 45 days after transplanting may be improved physical and chemical properties of soil, available macronutrients, and organic carbon after harvest may be due to the effect of manures like NADEP compost combined with biofertilizer, which significantly improved physical and chemical properties of soil, available macronutrients, and organic carbon as well as yield compared to manure application alone.