Effect of different Natural Farming Practices on NPK and Chlorophyll Content of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) under Sub humid Southern plains of Rajasthan

Author: Pinky Yadav, S.K. Sharma, Roshan Choudhary, Gajanand Jat, B. Upadhayay, S.S. Sisodia and Sonal Athnere

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Abstract

With growing environmental concerns and demand for safe healthy food, the sole dependence on chemical input-based agriculture is being replaced by organic and natural farming practices. A field experiment was conducted in 2020 and 2021 at the Organic Farming Unit (Agronomy), Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur. The soil at the test location was clay loam in texture, with accessible nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium concentrations of 255.30, 25.83 and 305.41 kg ha-1, respectively in the top 30 cm of soil with a pH of 7.9. The experiment comprised 27 treatment combinations assigned in a randomised block design with three replications. The experiment comprised of 9 treatments of different practices viz., treatment T1-(Control), treatment T2-(Complete NF i.e. 1. Beejamrit + Ghanjeevamrit + Jeevamrit; 2. Crop residue mulching; 3. Intercropping; 4. Whapasa), treatment T3-NF without 1 (Beejamrit + Ghanjeevamrit + Jeevamrit), treatment T4-NF without 2 (Crop residue mulching), treatment T5-NF without 3 (Intercropping), treatment T6-NF without 4 (Whapasa), treatment T7-(AI-NPOF package), treatment T8-[Integrated Crop Management (50 % nutrient application through organic manures and 50% nutrient application through inorganic sources with the use of Neemaster, Agniaster for pest management) and treatment T9-[Integrated Crop Management (50 % nutrient application through organic manures and 50% nutrient application through inorganic sources with an application of need-based pesticides for pest management)]. Results of two-year experimentation revealed that maximum chlorophyll content at 30 and 45 DAS and NPK content in seed and haulm in cowpea was observed with T9 [Integrated Crop Management (50 % nutrient application through organic manures and 50% nutrient application through inorganic sources with the application of need-based pesticides for pest management)] which was significantly higher than the rest of the treatments, However, the effect of T9 treatment was statistically equivalent to treatment T8 [Integrated Crop Management (50 % nutrient application through organic manures and 50% nutrient application through inorganic sources with use of Neemaster, Agniaster, Brahmaster and Dashparni ark for pest management)] and treatment T7 (AI-NPOF package).

Keywords

Cowpea, chlorophyll content, natural farming, Integrated, content

Conclusion

Based on the two years of investigation, it is inferred that T9 (Integrated Crop Management with chemical pesticide) the best treatment for enhancing the NPK and chlorophyll content of cowpea. Hence, the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers in equal proportion to supply the recommended level of nitrogen not only increased the chlorophyll content of crops but also enhanced the nutrients availability in soil and their content in crops.

References

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How to cite this article

Pinky Yadav, S.K. Sharma, Roshan Choudhary, Gajanand Jat, B. Upadhayay, S.S. Sisodia and Sonal Athnere (2023). Effect of different Natural Farming Practices on NPK and Chlorophyll Content of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) under Sub humid Southern plains of Rajasthan. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(1): 289-293.