Different Farming Systems Concerning Soil Health and Yield of Arecanut and Black Pepper
Shivanand Hongal
PI, Natural Farming Project, Zone-9, College of Horticulture, Sirsi- 581401 UHS, Bagalkote, Karnataka, India.
T. V. Sowjanya *
Natural Farming Project, Zone-9, College of Horticulture, Sirsi- 581401 UHS, Bagalkote, Karnataka, India.
Sudheesh Kulkarni
Co-PI, Natural Farming Project, Zone- 9, College of Horticulture, Sirsi- 581401 UHS, Bagalkote, Karnataka, India.
H. P. Maheswarappa
University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkote, Karnataka-587104, India.
S. B. Gurumurthy
Co-PI, Natural Farming Project, Zone- 9, College of Horticulture, Sirsi- 581401 UHS, Bagalkote, Karnataka, India.
K. M. Shivakumar
Co-PI, Natural Farming Project, Zone- 9, College of Horticulture, Sirsi- 581401 UHS, Bagalkote, Karnataka, India.
Rahul Phatak
Natural Farming Project, Zone-9, College of Horticulture, Sirsi- 581401 UHS, Bagalkote, Karnataka, India.
Nagesh
Natural Farming Project, Zone-9, College of Horticulture, Sirsi- 581401 UHS, Bagalkote, Karnataka, India.
Divya S. Bhat
Natural Farming Project, Zone-9, College of Horticulture, Sirsi- 581401 UHS, Bagalkote, Karnataka, India.
Roopa K. Muttappanavar
Natural Farming Project, Zone-9, College of Horticulture, Sirsi- 581401 UHS, Bagalkote, Karnataka, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
We conducted two year (2020 and 2021) field experiment in the farmer’s field at Hanagal, Sirsi, Karnataka to study the impacts of different farming practices (Recommended package of practice; (RPP), Organic farming, Natural farming and Chemical farming) on rhizosphere microflora, soil nutrient status and yield of arecanut and black pepper. The results revealed that, soil pH and electrical conductivity did not vary significantly due to different farming systems. Whereas, the significantly (p<0.05) highest soil organic carbon content was in organic farming (0.74%) which was on par with natural farming (0.66%) and least in chemical farming (0.71%). The highest available nitrogen (258.31 kg ha-1), phosphorus (39.06 kg ha-1) and potassium (205.47 kg ha-1) were in RPP. Whereas the highest secondary nutrients and micronutrients content were in organic and natural faming. The lowest of all these nutrients were recorded in chemical farming at the harvest stage of arecanut. Soil microflora, dehydrogenase and phosphatase activity in the arecanut and black pepper rhizosphere were significantly (p<0.05) highest in natural farming and lowest in chemical farming. Concerning yield, the significantly highest arecanut (Chali yield 29.35 q.ha-1) and black pepper (dry yield 12.07 q. ha-1) yield was in RPP and maximum net return also observed in RPP (Rs. 10, 62, 500 ha-1).
Keywords: Arecanut, black pepper, enzyme activity, microflora, nutrients status, soil organic carbon