Evaluation of Organic Modules for Sustainable Production of Blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) and Greengram (Vigna radiata L. Wilezek)

Abstract

Organic farming in pulses plays a crucial role, enhancing the crop quality, yield and thereby, reducing production costs and promoting environment sustainability. An organic module was developed, conducting a field trial for six years at AAU-Zonal Research Station, Shillongani, Nagaon, Assam during Kharif 2017 to 2022 with four treatments. Treatments, viz., T1 and T2 were the organic modules (M I and M II), T3 was as per the recommended package of practices (PoP) of Assam Agricultural University and T4 was the absolute control. It was observed that the treatments with PoP (T3) recorded the lowest disease severity and insect-pest pressure and yielded the highest. Interestingly, it was found that the two organic modules were also successful in obtaining good yield and had a significant difference over the control plot. The higher yield under organic module II might be attributed to lower disease severity of both web blight (11.81 and 10.81 %) and Cercospora leaf spot (5.78 and 4.62 %) and, also lower aphid population (12.55 and 15.32) and pod borer damage (15.32 and 9.40) in both blackgram and greengram respectively. It has also contributed in the overall improvement of the soil nutrient status as well as soil microbial population.