Soil Microbial Community, Enzymatic Activity, and Yield under Natural Farming in Maize [Zea mays L.]

The present study was carried out to evaluate natural farming and the performance of maize in comparison with inorganic and organic farming. The highest grain yield was recorded in the inorganic method, which was superior to organic and natural farming. In turn, organic farming was superior by 55 % to the natural farming method. Particularly, the grain yield of DHM 117 hybrid, in inorganic farming was 342 % higher than in Aswini variety whereas, it was 131, 176 percent higher in organic and natural farming methods, respectively. Similarly, stover yield in the inorganic method was 55 and 89 % higher than in organic and natural farming, respectively. The population of microbes (bacteria and fungi) in the organic method was significantly superior to inorganic and natural methods. Significantly higher urease and dehydrogenase activity was recorded in the organic method over inorganic and natural farming. Notably higher organic carbon content was left in the soil after maize crop in the organic method over the other methods, while pH and EC did not change due to farming methods or variety/hybrid. Higher, available N and K2O were recorded in inorganic farming while available P2O5 and Zn were higher in organic farming.