Productivity, Nutrient Balance, Soil Quality, and Sustainability of Rice (Oryza sativaL.) under Organic and Conventional Production Systems

Abstract

covering 10 crop seasons [five wet (WS; Kharif) and five dry (DS; Rabi)] at the Directorate of Rice Research farm, Hyderabad, India, to compare the influence of organic and conventional farming systems on productivity of fine grain rice varieties, cumulative partial nutrient balance, and soil health/quality in terms of nutrient availability, physical and biological properties, and sustainability index. Two main plot treatments were with and without plant protection measures, and four subplot treatments were (1) control (CON), (2) inorganic fertilizers (CF), (3) organics (OF), and (4) inorganics + organics (integrated nutrient management, INM). During wet season, grain yields with CF and INMwere near stable (5.0 to 5.5 t ha −1 ) and superior to organics by 15-20% during the first 2 years, which improved with OF (4.8 to 5.4 t ha −1 ) in the later years to comparable levels with CF and INM. However, during DS, CF and INM were superior to OF for 4 consecutive years and OF recorded yields on par with CF and INM in the fifthyear. The partial nutrient balance over 10 crop seasons for N and P was positive and greater with OF and INM over CF and for K it was positive with OF alone and negative with CF and INM. There were increases in SOC and available N, P, and K by 50-58%, 3-10%, 10-30%, and 8-25% respectively, with OF, over CF at the end of 5 years. The sustainability index (SI) of the soil system was maximum with organics (1.63) and CF recorded 1.33, which was just above the minimum sustainability index of 1.30 after 5 years. Thus, organic farming needs more than 2 years to stabilize rice productivity and bring about perceptible improvement in soil quality and sustainability in irrigated rice.

Transporter genes identified in landraces associated with high zinc in polished rice through panicle transcriptome for biofortification

“…A set of 300 RILs (F 8 ) were grown in two replications in an augmented block design at the research farm of ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), Hyderabad during wet season 2011 following recommended package of practices. The experimental soil characteristics were: pH 8.2; non-saline (EC 0.7l dS/m); calcareous (free CaCO 3 5.01%); CEC 44.1 C mol (p+)/kg soil and medium soil organic carbon (0.69%); low soil available nitrogen (228 kg ha -1 ); high available phosphorus (105 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 ), high available potassium (530 kg K 2 O ha -1 ), and high available zinc (12.5 ppm) [ 55 ].…”

Sustainable agriwaste management at farm level through self-reliant farming system

“…This indicates a positive residual effect on nutrient availability with OF. Surekha and Satishkumar (2014) also reported that organic farming needed more than two years to stabilize rice productivity and bring about perceptible improvement in soil quality and sustainability in irrigated rice. The mean straw yield of rice under OF (5720 kg ha −1 ) was comparable to that under CF (5930 kg ha −1 ).…”

Soil Chemical Properties under Conservation Agriculture and Cereal-Based Cropping System in Eastern Tarai of Nepal

“…The soil under ZT found containing less available K than CT at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Tarahara (Sinha et al 2019). Furthermore, negative K balance for crops in South Asia is widespread (Singh et al 2005, Surekha andSatishkumar 2014).…”