Economic feasibility of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Organic Farming in South Gujarat Region

An experiment was conducted to find out the economic feasibility of Rice under organic
farming at the Organic Farm, ASPEE College of Horticulture, Navsari Agricultural University,
Navsari, Gujarat, during the kharif season of 2021. The experimental design used was
Randomized Block Design with two factors i.e., forth levels of Soil application (S 1 : 100% RDN
through NADEP compost, S 2 : 80% RDN through NADEP compost along with Azospirillium and
PSB @ 2 l/ha each, S 3 : 60% RDN through NADEP compost along with Azospirillium and PSB
@ 2 l/ha each and S 4 : Ghan-jivamrut @ 500 kg/ha + Jivamrut @ 500 l/ha) and three levels of
Foliar application (F 0 : control, F 1 : Novel Organic liquid nutrient @ 1% and F 2 : Moringa leaf
extract @ 3%). From the total twelve treatments, the S 1 treatment resulted in significantly higher
growth attributes viz., plant height and no. of tillers/m 2 at 60 DAT, yield attributes viz., panicle
weight, grain weight/hill as well as grain yield (3749 kg/ha) and maximum gross returns (Rs.
96728/ha), net returns (Rs. 51793/ha). But it was statistically similar to the S 2 treatment. While
from foliar application the F 2 treatment recorded significantly higher growth attributes and yield
attributes viz., no. of productive tillers/m 2 at 60 harvest, no. of grains/panicle, panicle length,
grain and straw weight/hill as well as grain and straw yield (3312, 5665 kg/ha), but it was at par
with F 1 treatment. The F 2 treatment also recorded the highest gross returns (Rs. 87300/ha), net
returns (Rs. 44704/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.05). The findings of the study conclude that, to
achieve higher productivity and profitability with soil application of 100 percent RDN through
NADEP compost and foliar application of either 3 percent Moringa leaf extract or 1 percent
Novel organic liquid nutrient at 15, 30, and 45 days after transplanting in kharif rice var. GNR-7
can be carried out, as these treatments are economically feasible under organic farming.