Agronomic Evaluation of Biodynamic preparations and Panchagavya for organic cultivation in North Western Indo-Gangetic Plains, India

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2012-13 to evaluate the effects of biodynamic preparations and Panchgavya in combinations with FYM and vermicompost on productivity, profitability and soil health under different cropping systems. The treatments comprised two cereal-based cropping systems and six organic nutrient management practices consisting of biodynamic preparations and Panchgavya in combinations with FYM and vermicompost. Results revealed that application of BD- FYM + vermicompost + Panchgavya being at par with BD- FYM + vermicompost recorded significantly higher grain and biological yield of different crops under study. BD-FYM + vermicompost + Panchgavya registered 11.1, 8.80, 10.2, 6.50 and 33.7 % improvement in grain yield and 9.40, 7.10, 11.8, 11.1 and 23.0 % improvement in biological yield of rice, wheat (sole), maize, wheat (intercropped) and mustard, respectively compared to FYM + vermicompost. Maize + cowpea – wheat + mustard cropping system recorded higher system productivity, N, P and K uptake, available N in soil as compared to basmati rice-wheat cropping system. Soil organic carbon, available P and K differed non- significantly among the cropping systems. Irrespective of cropping systems, the application of BD-FYM + vermicompost + Panchgavya recorded the highest system productivity; net return, N, P and K uptake; and organic carbon, available N, P and K in the soil.