Yield and quality of little millet (Panicum sumatrense) as influenced by organic manures and inorganic fertilizers

Low soil fertility is one of the bottlenecks to sustain production and productivity. Anthropogenic factors such as inappropriate land use systems, monocropping, nutrient mining and inadequate supply of nutrients have aggravated the situation. Consumers also have become more aware of safe food produced with low environmental impact in which organic agriculture is of particular interest in this respect. The possible differences between organic and Inorganic (conventional) plant products are examined from the view of possible effects on human health. However, there can be considerable risk that the avoidance of chemical inputs in organic farming will result in poor food production. Organic farming is a system aimed at producing food with minimal harm to ecosystems, animals or humans which is often proposed as a solution. Keeping in view of sustained crop yields as well as soil health a long-term experiment is being conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Vizianagaram, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Andhra Pradesh, from Kharif, 2015-16 to study the effect of organic manures in comparison with inorganic fertilizers on soil available nutrients, yield and quality of little millet crop. The organic inputs were supplied in the form of in-situ incorporation of green manures (Sunhemp), application of farmyard manure, neem cake and biofertilizers (Azospirillum and Phosphorus Solubilising Bacteria), whereas the inorganic fertilizers were applied as Recommended Dose of fertilizers (20-20-20 kg NPK/ha). The results revealed that significantly highest plant height (143.7cm), grain yield (858 kg/ha), straw yield (6801 kg/ha) were recorded when compared to the organic plot (140.5 cm, 730kg/ha and 6039 kg/ha respectively). But the soil available nitrogen, potassium, zinc and manganese were found significantly high in the organic plot (235 kg/ha, 326 kg/ha, 1.16 ppm and 8.57 ppm respectively) when compared to inorganic plot (224 kg/ha, 309 kg/ha, 0.99ppm and 6.98ppm respectively). Moreover, when we compare the grain quality the N content, Zn and Fe contents along with the antioxidants, phenols and tannins were also found significantly high in the organic plot.