Organic management fosters yield, soil health and profit in dwarf white yam

Published

2020-03-25

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5958/0974-0112.2020.00015.8

Keywords:

Dioscorea rotundata, eco-friendly farming, productivity, soil properties, on-farm testing.
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Authors

  • G. Suja ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram 695017, Kerala
  • A.N. Jyothi ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram 695017, Kerala
  • G. Byju ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram 695017, Kerala
  • S.S. Veena ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram 695017, Kerala
  • J. Sreekumar ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram 695017, Kerala
  • M. Indira ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram 695017, Kerala
  • V. Ravi ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram 695017, Kerala

Abstract

Organic farming is a safe alternative for sustainable production, clean food, soil and air. Field experiments were conducted in randomized block design over three consecutive seasons (2011-2014) in non-trailing genotype of white yam to compare the yield, quality and soil properties under conventional, traditional, organic and integrated system at ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Kerala. This was followed by on-farm trials for one year (2014-2015) at seven locations in two major yam growing districts of Kerala, to validate the onstation developed technology. At on-station, organic system (13.23 t/ha) performed better than chemical (12.18 t/ha) with 8.6% higher yield and insignificant effects on tuber quality. Organic plots showed higher pH (+0.412 unit), organic C (+22%), available N (+44%) and K (+7%), exchangeable Ca (+16%), Fe and Cu (+8%). The soil temperature, soil moisture, soil CO2 flux and photosynthetically active radiation were also slightly promoted under organic management. The population of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes were higher under organic (+12.87%, +58.69% and +48.85% respectively). Subsequently, the on-station developed organic technology comprising farmyard manure, green manure, neem cake, biofertilizers and ash tested on-farm confirmed that the yield and profit under organic management were higher by 21 and 38% respectively over conventional system. These results are valuable for the promotion of organic farming in non-trailing genotype of white yam for higher yield, profit and soil health.

How to Cite

Suja, G., Jyothi, A., Byju, G., Veena, S., Sreekumar, J. ., Indira, M. ., & Ravi, V. . (2020). Organic management fosters yield, soil health and profit in dwarf white yam. Indian Journal of Horticulture, 77(01), 140–148. https://doi.org/10.5958/0974-0112.2020.00015.8

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