Comparative Efficacy of Organic and Inorganic Sources of Nutrients in Paddy (Oryza sativa L.)

The experiment was conducted at the research farm of Department of Organic Agriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur during kharif 2014 to study the comparative efficacy of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients in paddy. The experiment consisted of eight treatments comprising of combinations of four nutrient management treatments viz., Organic nutrient management (soil treatment with jeevamrit & seed treatment with biofertilizer, vermicompost (VC) 10 t ha-1 & 3 sprays of vermiwash at 15, 30, 45 days after sowing), Inorganic nutrient management (recommended NPK), Integrated nutrient management (5 tonnes VC + 50% of recommended NPK), Control (Farmer’s practices) (2.5 tonnes VC + 25% of recommended NPK) with two ecosystems i.e transplanted and direct seeded rice (rainfed) were tested in split plot design, replicated thrice. Growth, yield attributes, grain and straw yield of rice was increased in transplanted ecosystem and integrated nutrient management practice. The transplanted ecosystem recorded 18.64 per cent higher yield and 50.60 per cent higher net return per rupee invested over direct seeded rainfed ecosystem. Integrated nutrient management being statistically at par with organic nutrient management recorded the higher paddy yield over inorganic nutrient management and farmer’s practice. Integrated nutrient management recorded higher net returns per rupee invested (1.18) but remain statistically at par with organic nutrient management and inorganic nutrient management.