Vol. 11, Issue 4 (2022)

Author(s):
G Porkodi, G Anand and S Panneerselvam

Abstract:
The agriculture of the modern chemical era concentrates on maximum output but overlooks input efficiency as a result of which it has not been sustainable. The estimation of achievable yield through adoption of improved rice varieties reveals wide yield gaps, the major factor responsible for such gap is low soil fertility. Green manuring of rice is a well-established practice and saving of fertilizer N through green manuring ranged from 30 to 100 kg N ha-1Nitrogen–fixing systems provide an economically attractive and ecologically sound means of reducing external inputs and improving internal resources. The large scale demonstration was with an objective to sensitize the rice farmers on importance of soil health and to focus on sustainable yield through adoption of green manure (Sesbania) followed by SRI cultivation. The demonstration was done in 120 hectares covering 120 rice farmers grouped into 5 clusters. in conventional practice the average no. of panicles per meter square was only 323 whereas it was 388 in demonstration plot, similarly the average grain yield was 5138 kg/ha and 6211 kg/ha in conventional and demonstration plots respectively. The study result showed that the average drymatter production in one hectare of demonstration plot was around 2.34 t/ha and the average nitrogen fixed in the soil was found to be 50.48 kg/ha. before the intervention the average net return was only Rs.20,609 per hectare whereas it was Rs.34,199 from conventional and demonstration plots respectively similarly the average cost to benefit ratio was 1.60 in conventional method and later it was notice 1.90 in demo plot. Hence, the farmers growing rice in wetland ecosystem are advised to take-up green manure followed by SRI as cropping pattern for sustainable yield and economic returns.