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A field study was conducted to analyze the effect of long term use of organic and inorganic fertilizers on productivity and soil fertility under paddy-sesame cropping system. Application of 100% NPK + secondary and micro-nutrients based on soil test (T7) showed significantly higher mean grain yield of paddy (4735 kg/ha) and sesame (460 kg/ha) and rice equivalent yield (5348 kg/ha) followed by application of 50% NPK + 50% N as Farmyard manure (FYM) + inorganic source of micronutrients as per soil test (T1). Whereas, application of 50% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through FYM + bio-fertilizers for N + Recommended dose of phosphorus (RDP) through rock phosphate + phosphorus solubalizing bacteria (PSB) showed significantly least mean grain yield of paddy (3209 kg/ha) and sesame (314 kg/ha) and rice equivalent yield (3628 kg/ha). Further, among organic treatments (T2 to T6), higher mean grain yield of paddy (3834 kg/ha), sesame (326 kg/ha) and rice equivalent yield (4269 kg/ha) as compared to other treatments was recorded following the application of one third of RDN through FYM + one third of RDN through vermicompost + one third of RDN through neem cake + bio-fertilizers containing N and P carriers (T6). Whereas, higher nutrient status with respect to major and micronutrients and the improved soil fertility status was recorded in organic treatment plots. The application of nutrients through organic sources would improve the soil fertility status under paddy-sesame cropping system.

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Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most versatile emerging crops, with a wide range of adaptation under a multitude of agro-climatic conditions. It is primarily a kharif crop (the kharif cropping season is also called as fall harvest season and is from July to October during the south-west monsoon in Indian subcontinent), with 85 per cent of the area under cultivation during kharif season. After rice and wheat, maize is India's third most important cereal crop. The current study attempts to analyze the cost and return structure of the maize crop in Koppal district of Karnataka state, as well as the marketing costs incurred by 120 maize respondent farmers and the constraints coupled with maize production and marketing. The study concluded that large farmers have incurred higher costs in all the inputs such as seed, farm yard manure (henceforth FYM), fertilizer, plant protection chemicals (henceforth PPCs), human labour and machine labour. For cultural operations, both medium and large agriculture depends on machine labour rather than bullock power. Transportation and packing costs were higher in all farmer categories. The transportation cost varied according to the quantity of produce and the distance between the regulated market and the study area. The maize respondents said that erratic rainfall behaviour was a major production constraint (90.0%), whereas lack of news dissemination was a major marketing constraint, ranking first with 85 per cent.