Effect of different combinations of organic materials and biofertilizers on productivity, grain quality and economics in organic farming of basmati rice (Oryza sativa)

A field experiment was conducted at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during crop year of 2006 and 2007 to find out a suitable combination of organic materials and biofertilizers for organic farming of basmati rice. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with six replications. Treatments consisted of seven combinations of different organic materials and biofertilizers [control, farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC), FYM + wheat residue (WR), VC + WR, FYM + WR + biofertilizers (B) and VC + WR + B. FYM and VC were applied on nitrogen basis @ 60 kg/ha, whereas WR was applied at 6 t/ha. For biofertilizers, blue green algae, cellulolytic culture and phosphorus solubilising bacteria were used. Application of FYM or VC significantly increased growth parameters and yield attributes of rice over control which led to 23–34% increase in grain yield and 14–18% increase in net profit but had no significant effect on grain quality of basmati rice. Combination of FYM + WR or VC + WR resulted in higher increase in growth and yield attributing characters of rice than FYM or VC alone and increased grain yield over control by 38–49% and net profit by 25–31%. The combinations of FYM + WR + B and VC + WR + B resulted in highest increase growth and yield attributing characters of rice and increased grain yield of basmati rice over control by 51–58%, and net return by 37–47%. These combinations were significantly superior to all other combinations in all the growth and yield parameters, yield, net profit and grain quality of basmati rice and thus hold a great promise in organic farming of basmati rice.