Effect of farmyard manure and Jeevamrit in maize-wheat organic production system in Punjab

A field study on maize-wheat system was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana for three years to evaluate different sources of nutrition under organic production. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with main plots consisting of recommended doses of chemical fertilizers (RDF), farmyard manure (FYM₂₀₀) to supply 200 kg N ha⁻¹, to supply 100 kg N ha⁻¹ (FYM₁₀₀) to each crop and one unfertilized control. The sub plots consisted of application of Jeevamrit (cow dung and urine culture) as soil application, soil & foliar application and a control without Jeevamrit. Maize grain yields with FYM₂₀₀ and FYM₁₀₀ were significantly lower than RDF by 53.5 and 59.6; 35.8 and 38.1; 12.7 and 18.7% during 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd year, respectively. FYM₂₀₀ resulted in 15.1, 3.7 and 7.4% higher grain yield than FYM₁₀₀ during 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd year, respectively. The wheat grain yield decrease with FYM₂₀₀ and FYM₁₀₀ from RDF was 40.7 and 44.2; 16.6 and 30.1; 11.0 and 21.5% during 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd year, respectively. Thus, maize and wheat grain yields under organic farming failed to compete with recommended fertilizers even with FYM₂₀₀ to both the crops. Therefore, application of single source of manures should not be recommended under organic farming. Jeevamrit was not effective in influencing the grain yields of maize and wheat indicating its inability to contribute to the nutrition of these crops. Soil organic carbon improved with FYM at both the rates compared to RDF. The soil microbial population increased with application of Jeevamrit but it did not influence the productivity of crops.