Himachal Journal of Agricultural Research

Sanjay Chadha ¹, Rameshwar ¹, Surender Sharma ², J. P. Saini ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Organic Agriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur-176 062, IN
2 Department of Organic Agriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur-176 06, IN

Abstract

A study entitled "effect of locally available potting mixture on nursery raising of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo Linn.) under organic conditions" was carried out at Model Organic Farm of the Department of Organic Agriculture, CSK HPKV, Palampur during 2011. Eight different treatments of local organic potting materials were tested for their suitability for growing seedlings of summer squash in thermocol glasses of 150 ml capacity. The treatments were laid out in CRD with three replications. The same set of experiment was repeated thrice over three sowing dates at one month interval under protected structure i.e., 20th January 2011 (first sowing), 22nd February 2011 (second sowing) and 22nd March 2011 ( third sowing) . The pooled analysis over three sowing dates showed that the potting mixture comprising of two parts vermicompost + one part soil+ one part sand+ one fourth part wood ash was found to be the best organic material for growing the seedlings of summer squash. This potting material produced 91.78 percent healthy seedlings for transplanting, which could be easily pulled out with intact ischolar_maining mixture from the thermocol glasses. Small thermocol glasses can be used as an alternative to pro/plug trays or polythene bags as potting base for growing individual seedlings of cucurbits. It can be an affordable, cheaper and easily available technology for nursery raising of cucurbits in the country like India where majority of the farmers are small and marginal.

Keywords

Potting Mixture, Organic Nursery, Summer Squash, Potting Base.

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Nesar Ahmed ¹, Rameshwar ¹, J. P. Saini ¹, R. P. Sharma ¹, Punam ¹, Meenakshi Seth ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Organic Agriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur-176 062, IN

Abstract

An investigation was conducted in Rabi season of 2015-16 at Model Organic Farm, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh to evaluate the performance of chickpea under organic and inorganic sources of nutrients at different soil moisture regimes in chickpea-okra cropping system. The results of the study revealed that growth, yield attributes, seed and straw yield of chickpea were statistically increased with irrigated condition and nutrient management practices. Under irrigated condition, 15.20% and 16.43% higher seed yield and net returns per rupee invested, respectively were recorded over rainfed condition. Organic nutrient management recorded significantly higher chickpea seed yield (10.60 q/ha) as compared to other treatments, followed by integrated nutrient management (INM). Organic nutrient management recorded higher values of net returns of Rs. 58692 ha^-1 and net returns per rupee invested of 2.05. The available nutrient status of soil (NPK) was significantly higher under organic nutrient management as compared to inorganic nutrients.

Keywords

Chickpea, Inorganic, Irrigated, Organic, Rainfed.

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Sanjay Chadha ¹, J. P. Saini ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Organic Agriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur-176 062, IN

Abstract

Agriculture in the past is generally considered to be organic by default or tradition, but the modern organic farming combines traditional farming knowledge with different modern agrotechnologies, such as the use of enriched composts, high yielding varieties suitable for growing under organic farming conditions, biofertilizers, green manuring, mulching, bioformulations, crop rotations, mixed cropping with systematic integration of leguminous crops, etc. Organic agriculture in India has a great potential as an important livelihood option for small and marginal farmers looking for low input cost, ecologically sustainable farming in rainfed areas. Besides, various ecological services and other benefits of organic agriculture, the organic crops also suffer less from the attact of insectpests and diseases and give higher profitability. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and water resources have resulted in poor quality of food produced with heavy pesticide residues and overall environmental degradation. Keeping in view the great potential of organic agriculture, there is an urgent need to promote organic farming in the country, which requires strong financial support to the farmers and R&D activities.

Keywords

Organic Agriculture, Strategies, Potential, Problems, India, Himachal Pradesh.

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