Comparative Performance of Traditional Aromatic Rice under Organic and Inorganic Systems in West Bengal, India
Md Hedayetullah
Department of Agronomy, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, Bengal, India.
Sabyasachi Patra
*
P.N. Bhaduri Crop Research and Seed Multiplication Farm (PNBCRSMF), Department of Botany, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan-713104, East Burdwan, India.
Ashim Kumar Dolai
Department of Agronomy, Institute of Agricultural Science, University of Calcutta, Kolkata-700019, West Bengal, India.
Anindya Kumar Hembram
Department of Seed Science and Technology, Institute of Agricultural Science, University of Calcutta, Kolkata-700019, West Bengal, India.
Sekhar De
Cost of Cultivation Scheme, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, West Bengal, India.
Saiful Islam Mandal
Deputy Director of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture, Government of West Bengal, India.
Partha Sarathi Biswas
West Bengal State Seed Corporation, North Lake Road, Krishi Bhawan, Purulia-723101, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aromatic rice holds a special place in the world of agriculture because of its outstanding grain quality, scent, and high market value. Traditional aromatic rice types including Kalonunia, Gobindabhog, and Tulaipanji are widely grown in West Bengal, however they frequently have lesser yield potential when grown using traditional methods. A shift toward sustainable nitrogen management techniques has been spurred by growing concerns about soil degradation brought on by overuse of chemical fertilizers. Bengal farmer’s aromatic rice cultivating through organic management practices. Detrimental effect of chemical fertilizers in aromatic rice are known to the farmers. Using organic and inorganic nutrient management strategies, the growth, yield, and productivity of a few aromatic rice varieties in West Bengal are compared. Data compiled from several studies show that solitary organic treatments and integrated nutrient management which combines organic and inorganic sources have a major impact on soil health, nutrient uptake, and production characteristics. Farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost, and mustard cake are examples of organic inputs that maintain crop production by increasing soil fertility and nutrient availability. The comparison between organic and inorganic practices clearly indicates the high yield but poor quality in cultivating through chemical fertilizers. The results show that while preserving long-term soil sustainability, balanced nutrient management techniques can improve the yield and quality of aromatic rice.
Keywords: Aromatic rice, organic fertilization, inorganic fertilization, INM, yield