Production potential, economics and energetics of rice (Oryza sativa) genotypes under different methods of production in organic management conditions of Sikkim Himalayas

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at Research Farm, ICAR Sikkim Centre during two consecutive rainy sea- sons (kharif ) of 2012 and 2013 with the objective to select the efficient methods and rice (Oryza sativa L.) geno- types in terms of productivity, profitability and energetics for mid hill ecosystems of Sikkim Himalayas. The experi- ment was laid out in 3 times replicated split plot design, assigning 3 methods of rice production, viz. System of rice intensification (SRI), Integrated crop management (ICM) and Conventional planting (CP) to main plots and 6 rice genotypes, viz. Pusa Sugandh-2, Satyaranjan, Geetanjali, Rajendra Bhagwati, Krishna Bhog and Shahsarang in sub-plots. The results revealed that among the methods of rice production, significantly higher val- ues of all the yield attributes {productive tillers/hill, panicle length (cm), panicle weight (g), grains/panicle, 1,000 grain weight (g)} and grain yield (3.97 t/ha) were recorded with SRI followed by ICM and conventional method of planting. The increase in yield with SRI was 25 and 55% higher over the ICM and conventional planting, respec- tively. Gross returns, net returns, benefit: ratio and energy use efficiencies were also higher under SRI. Amongst the genotypes, maximum values of yield attributing characters and grain yield (4.15 t/ha) were recorded with the Satyaranjan which was significantly superior to other genotypes.