Five pedons (P) were evaluated for their suitability to maize as alternate crop for the existing dominant rice crop at water scarce condition by variation in physiography, parent materials, and soil nutrients in Ponnaniyar basin. The pedons had the parent materials of non-calcareous gneiss with feldspar (P1), granite and feldspar intermingled (P2), weathered gneiss (P3), weathered quartz and felspatic gneiss (P4) and gneiss with lime (P5) with soil orders of Vertisol (P3, P5), Inceptisol (P1, P2) and Alfisol (P4). The soils were low, medium and high in available N, P and K status respectively. Based on the soil analytical report suitability of maize was established. Kunnatur, Eliyattur and Tiruchengodu series are moderately suitable (S2) for maize cultivation. Whereas, Manapparai and Pilamedu series are highly suitable (S1) for maize cultivation. Also, based on the soil fertility data, the map was generated using-the software Arc GIS 10.1 with the help of GPS information for future reference.

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A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the rice varieties suitable for organic farming. The experiment was carried out in the rabi season of 2013-14 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore to study the yield, quality and economics of different rice varieties. The experiment was laid out in a RBD replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of 12 rice varieties viz., Bhavani, W hite ponni, Mappillai samba, Kitchili samba, IR 20, CO 43, CO(R) 48, CO(R) 51, CB 05022, KDML 105, Red kavuni and Jeeraga samba. The culture CB 05022 produced significantly higher grain yield of 4877 kg ha -1 and registered a yield increase ranging from 32 to 82 per cent over the other varieties under evaluation. With regard to quality parameters, grains of the culture CB 05022 was medium slender based on the kernel length and L/B ratio. The highest net return of ` 40,015 ha -1 with B:C ratio of 2.28 was realised under the rice culture CB 05022 followed by Kitchili samba (net return: ` 32,423 ha -1 ; B:C ratio: 2.04) and Jeeraga samba (net return: ` 31,431 ha -1 ; B:C ratio: 2.01). It is inferred that varieties and cultures differ widely among themselves when grown under organic farming. In terms of grain yield, quality and economics, the culture CB 05022 performed better under the organic production system.

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