Field experiments were conducted at TNAU, Coimbatore during 2019 and 2020 for developing organic nutrient package for finger millet (Ragi) using the variety CO (Ra) 15. Treatments included twelve combinations of weed compost, enriched vermicompost, enriched farmyard manure (EFYM) as soil application along with panchagavya, effective microbes (EM), vermiwash, egg amino acid as foliar spray. The experiment was laid out in RBD with three replications. The results showed that application of enriched vermicompost @ 1t ha -1 applied in two equal splits on 25 and 40 DAT along with foliar application of egg amino acid @ 5% on 30 and 45 DAT was found to be the best nutrient management package for organic finger millet based on the grain yield (2746 kg ha -1 ). However the maximum net return (Rs. 31,477) and BCR of 1.94 was recorded under basal application of EFYM @ 750 kg ha -1 along with foliar spraying of EM @ 5% on 30 and 45 DAT thus proving as an economically viable nutrient package for organic finger millet production.

Bio-inoculants (Biofertilizer) are an agricultural input that helps to keep the environment clean. By definition biofertilizers are efficient strains of isolated microorganisms that help plants grow in a variety of ways, both directly and indirectly. Biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, phosphate mobilisation, siderophore generation and phytohormone production are some of the direct methods. The majority of efficient bio-inoculants perform better in laboratory conditions but fail to achieve the same results in the field. Due to the poor performance of bio-inoculants in field conditions, biofertilizers are not widely accepted by the farming community. Soil pH, temperature and chemical residues are considered as important abiotic stress. The key soil biotic elements are native microflora, predatory organisms and virus. Some bacteria are able to live despite the stress, but the total efficacy of the applied biofertilizer is diminished. Bio-inoculants must resist a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses in the soil, depending on the circumstances. We look at the obstacles that bio-inoculants confront in terms of survival and performance in the field.

Background: Organic farming seems to be one of the best options to offer healthier food and environment in the present situation. However, non availability of promising varieties is a major constraint which inevitably makes us to shift towards traditional varieties. Rice being the major crop grown and consumed in Tamil Nadu, an attempt was made to study the yield potential of different traditional varieties of rice under organic cultivation. Methods: The experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2020-2021 at wetland farms of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. The experiment was laid out in RBD with twelve varieties replicated thrice under SRI method. The treatments consisted of twelve traditional varieties viz., Athur Kichili samba, Garudan samba, Illuppaipoo samba, Milagu samba, Poonkar, Sorna masuri, Thooya malli samba, Thanga samba, Kuzhiadichan, Kullakar, Anaikomban and Thulasi vasa samba. Result: The investigation revealed that significantly higher plant height, number of productive tillers, panicle weight, panicle length, fertility percentage were observed in Kuzhiadichan and Anaikomban which eventually led to higher grain and straw yield. The aforementioned varieties have also fetched higher net returns of Rs. 96,476 ha-1 and Rs. 73,893 ha-1, respectively indicating their suitability under organic production system.