STUDY ON LONG TERM EFFECT OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FARMING ON GROWTH, YIELD AND NUTRIENT CONTENT OF WHEAT CROP

A pot study was conducted at the net house of the Regional Research Station, AAU, Anand, during rabi season of 2017-18 on Wheat (cv. GW 496) as an indicator crop. Total ten bulk soil samples from five locations (Anand district 2 locations and Ahmedabad, Kheda and Vadodara one location each) were collected from both the situations from each district to study the changes in growth, nutrient content in wheat and nutrient status in soil after harvest in organically and inorganically managed soils. Six kilograms of soil was filled in each polythene lined earthen pot. After proper filling soil in pots, finally 8 plants were kept for the study. In pot study, the plant height under inorganically managed soil was 13.86, 13.54 and 12.75%, respectively higher at 45 and 60 DAS and at harvest over organic soils. However, grain and straw yields were non-significantly affected due to soil management practices. Among major nutrient contents of wheat grain and straw, only P and K showed significant improvement by 2.78 and 4.39% in grain and 1.86 and 6.31% in straw under organically managed soils compared to inorganically managed soils. The Fe content in grain indicated significant improvement by 6.28% and Fe and Cu content in straw gave increase of 2.81 and 3.31 % under organically managed soils over inorganic