Relative effect of organic and conventional farming on growth, yield and grain quality of scented rice and soil fertility1: Relative wirkung von organischem und konventionellem ackerbau auf wachstum, ertrag und kornqualität von reis und auf die bodenqualität

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of the crop year 2001 at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, to study the comparative effects of organic and conventional farming on scented rice. Grain yield of rice increased significantly with increasing rate of fertilizer application only up to 60 kg N + 13 kg P + 17 kg K ha − 1. The effect of 10 t ha − 1 farmyard manure (FYM) was found to be similar to 60 kg N + 13 kg P + 17 kg K ha − 1, whereas the effect of Sesbania green manuring (SGM) was similar to 120 kg N + 26 kg P + 34 kg K ha − 1. Inoculation of BGA (Blue green algae) with FYM or SGM had no additional advantage over FYM or SGM alone. The highest yield (5.2 t/ha) of rice was obtained when FYM + SGM + BGA + PSB (Pseudomonas striata) were applied together. The yield obtained with this combination was significantly more than that obtained with 180 kg N + 39 kg P + 51 kg K ha − 1. A similar trend was observed in N, P, and K uptake of rice. Inorganic nutrients had no significant effect on grain quality parameters like head rice recovery (HRR), kernel length (KL), kernel breadth (KB) and KL : KB ratio, whereas organic manures and biofertilizers resulted in an increase in HRR, KL and KL : KB ratio. A combination of FYM + SGM + BGA + PSB also resulted in highest organic C and available N content in soil and thus holds a promise for sustainable production.