Higher yield, profit and soil quality from organic farming of elephant foot yam

Abstract

Alternative agricultural systems, like organic farming, that are less chemical intensive, less exploitative and environment friendly are gaining popularity. Elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson) is an important starchy tuberous vegetable with high nutritive and medicinal values. Since information on the organic farming of tuberous vegetables is scanty, field experiments were conducted in this crop at the Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, India, over a 5-year period. The impact of organic, conventional, traditional and biofertilizer production systems on growth, yield, quality, soil physico-chemical properties and economics were evaluated in elephant foot yam. Our results show that organic farming favoured canopy growth, corm biomass and lowered collar rot disease. Dry matter and starch contents of organic corms were significantly higher than those of conventional corms by 7% and 13%, respectively. Organic corms had 12% higher crude protein and 21% significantly lower oxalate contents. The content of K, Ca and Mg in corms were slightly higher, by 3-7% under organic farming. After 5 years of farming, the organic plots showed significantly higher pH, by 0.77 unit, and higher organic C by 19%. The exchangeable Mg, available Cu, Mn and Fe contents were also significantly higher. Organic management lowered the bulk density by 2.3%, improved the water-holding capacity by 28.4% and the porosity of soil by 16.5%. In short, organic farming proved superior and produced 20% higher yield (57.097 t ha ). The net profit was 28% higher and an additional income of Indian Rs. 47,716 ha −1 was obtained. Thus organic farming was found to be an eco-friendly management strategy in elephant foot yam for sustainable yield of quality tubers and higher profit besides maintaining soil health. Technologies for organic production involving farmyard manure incubated with bioinoculants, green manuring, neem cake, biofertilizers and ash were also standardized.

Evaluation of soil health in organicvs. conventional farming of basmati rice in North India

“…In conjunction with physical fertility, we consistently observed better soil chemical fertility under organic farming practices, which has also been reported by others (Singh et al, 2003;Blaise et al, 2004;Kaur et al, 2005;Davies and Lennartsson, 2006;Fließbach et al, 2007;Ramesh et al, 2009;Singh et al, 2009;Suja et al, 2012;Yadav et al, 2013;Wang et al, 2016). In support of this, SOC (or SOM), available forms of major nutrients (N, P, and K), micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu), and CEC were 30%, 16-18%, 2-11%, and 12% greater in organic systems than in the conventional systems at 0 DAT (Tab.…”

“…However, several authors disputed this argument and emphasized that reduced nutrient loss (and thus eutrophication of downstream water body) is a co-benefit of organic agriculture systems (Blaise et al, 2004;Wagner et al, 2007;Wuddivira et al, 2009;Soinne et al, 2014;Wang et al, 2016). Moreover, Suja et al (2012) and Askegaard and Eriksen (2007) observed higher available (i.e., potentially mineralizable) N concentrations in organic systems resulting from the substantial input of N from different organic manures including green manures and legumes that release N in synchrony with the plant demand and reduce N loss through leaching and volatilization.…”

Advances and Trends in Organic Fruit and Vegetable Farming Research

“…2011;Schmutz et al 2011;Suja et al 2012). Indeed, the largest determinant of profitability was found to be the crop type, location, and price premiums (Kaval 2004).…”

Ethnobotany of suweg, Amorphophallus paeoniifolius: Utilization and cultivation in West Java, Indonesia

“…Suweg can also be used for traditional medicinal including to treat bronchitis, asthma and dysentery, and ailment for poisonous snake bite (Ramanathan et al 2014;Girardi et al 2015;Dharmadasa et al 2016). There are various methods of management system for suweg, but in general, it can be divided into two systems: grow naturally and being cultivated (Anil et al 2011;Suja et al 2012). For example, Mutaqin et al (2020) mentions that suweg plants grow in West Java are found in several types of agroecosystems, such as home garden, garden, rice field, and pond edge, and grows wild in forest ecosystems.…”