Vol. 12, Issue 6 (2023)

Author(s):
Raveena, Rameshwar Kumar, GD Sharma, Abhishek Walia, Raj Paul Sharma and Shilpa

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2020 at the Zero Budget Natural Farm (ZBNF), Department of Organic Agriculture & Natural Farming, COA, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, to evaluate the influence of natural and organic farming techniques on the productivity and economics of maize based intercropping systems. The experiment was comprised of thirteen treatments which were tested in randomized block design with three replications. Results of the study revealed that significantly higher grain yield (27.38 q/ha) of maize was recorded under maize + lobia and jeevamrit spray at 14 days interval which was found to be statistically at par with maize + soybean and jeevamrit spray at 14 days interval (25.99 q/ha). In case of economic analysis, highest gross returns (205252 ₹/ha), net returns (156132₹/ha), benefit cost ratio (3.18) and gross returns per rupee invested (4.18) were noted under maize + soybean and jeevamrit spray at 14 days interval.