Performance of potato based cropping system under organic mode during initial years of conversion in relation to nutrient managment practices

The study compares the performance of potato, cowpea and okra crop system during initial three years of conversion (2003–04 to 2005–06) from conventional cultivation to organic cultivation. The experiment was conducted at Organic Farming Centre, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar for three consecutive years revealed that the crop yield as well as available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content of soil improved with organic management and time after the harvesting of each crop. The effect of different organic manures and their doses showed significant influence on yield and chemical properties of soil. The highest yield during last year in each crop was obtained by the application of FYM@ 40 t/ha. While the continuous use of inorganic fertilizers showed no increase in yield and this was almost same in all the years. The soil health was also improved in terms of organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium content with treatment having FYM @ 40t/ha.