Five-Year Descriptive Evaluation of Organic Nutrient Modules for Wheat in Northern Gujarat, India

Abstract

A five-season field-scale evaluation was conducted at the Wheat Research Station, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Vijapur, Gujarat, during the rabi seasons of 2019-20 to 2023-24. Four organic nutrient modules were compared in separate large plots, and 10 quadrats of 1 x 1 m were sampled within each plot. Because each module was represented by one large plot, quadrats were treated as subsamples and the results were summarised descriptively rather than used for treatment-level significance testing. The castor-cake module supplied 90 kg N ha-1 through castor cake and received the same bio-inputs, Jeevamrut, Panchagavya, and need-based neem-based protection as the other modules. Across five seasons, this module had the highest mean plant height (74.28 cm), effective tiller density (339 m-2), spike length (8.00 cm), grain yield (4,008 kg ha-1), straw yield (6,626 kg ha-1), harvest index (37.74%), and grain protein content (9.63%). It also had the lowest mean termite damage (3.04%). The farmyard-manure module had the lowest mean grain yield (2,510 kg ha⁻¹) and the greatest termite damage (11.45%). Differences in grains per spike and 1,000-grain weight were comparatively small. Rust was recorded only at trace level during the first two seasons and was absent thereafter; aphids were not observed. The castor-cake module generated the highest gross return (₹1,56,350 ha⁻¹), net return (₹77,719 ha⁻¹), and benefit-cost ratio (1.99). The results identify the castor-cake-based package as a promising option under the study conditions, while the non-replicated design limits causal inference and wider recommendation.