Land productivity enhancement and soil health improvement in rainfed rice (Oryza sativa) farms of Odisha through integrated farming system

Field investigation was carried out at 5 clusters located in 5 different blocks viz. Khajuripada of Kandhamal district, Dhenkanal Sadar and Odapada of Dhenkanal district, Golamunda and Narla of Kalahandi District of Odisha, under rain-fed medium land situations across 2010–2013. The experiment aimed at comparing performance of pond based integrated farming system (IFS) model comprising rice (Oryza sativa L.)-onion (Allium cepa L.) cropping system, pisciculture + on dyke plantation, poultry and mushroom with conventional cropping system of rice-greengram (Vigna radiata L.) for system productivity and impact on soil health. The IFS model gave total system productivity of 31.92 tonnes rice equivalent yield (REY) as compared to 3.78 tonnes and net returns of 1, 61, 148 as compared to 11, 631 under rainfed rice-greengram cropping system. There was decrease in bulk density, increase in soil pH, organic carbon, soil N, P and K status and increase in the population of heterotrophic bacteria, actinomycetes and Azotobacter compared to initial values.