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Recycling of Organic Waste in

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Residual influence of organic materials, crop residues, and biofertilizers on

performance of succeeding mung bean in an organic rice-based cropping
system
International Journal Of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture 2012,
1:14 doi:10.1186/2251-7715-1-14
Mohammadreza Davari (mrdavari@gmail.com)
Shri Niwas Sharma (snsharma_agro@yahoo.com)
Mohammad Mirzakhani (hm_mirzakhani@yahoo.com)

ISSN
Article type

2251-7715
Original research

Submission date

20 June 2012

Acceptance date

17 November 2012

Publication date

7 December 2012

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http://www.ijrowa.com/content/1/1/14

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Residual influence of organic materials, crop

residues, and biofertilizers on performance of
succeeding mung bean in an organic rice-based
cropping system
Mohammadreza Davari1*
*
Corresponding author
Email: mrdavari@gmail.com
Shri Niwas Sharma2
Email: snsharma_agro@yahoo.com
Mohammad Mirzakhani3
Email: hm_mirzakhani@yahoo.com
1

Department of Agriculture, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New delhi, India

Department of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Farahan branch, Farahan,

Iran

Abstract
Background
The present investigation was undertaken to assess the residual influence of organic materials
and biofertilizers applied to rice and wheat on yield, nutrient status, and economics of
succeeding mung bean in an organic cropping system. The field experiments were carried out
on the research farm of IARI, New Delhi during crop cycles of 2006 to 2007 and 2007 to
2008 to study the effects of residual organic manures, crop residues, and biofertilizers applied
to rice and wheat on the performance of succeeding mung bean. The experiment was laid out
in a randomized block design with three replications. Treatments consisted of six
combinations of different residual organic materials, and biofertilizers included residual
farmyard manure (FYM) and vermicompost (VC) applied on nitrogen basis at 60 kg ha1 to
each rice and wheat crops, FYM + wheat and rice residues at 6 t ha1 and mung bean residue
at 3 t ha1 in succeeding crops (CR), VC + CR, FYM + CR + biofertilizers (B), VC + CR +
B, and control (no fertilizer applied). For biofertilizers, cellulolytic culture, phosphatesolubilizing bacteria and Rhizobium applied in mung bean.

Results
Incorporation of crop residue significantly increased the grain yield of mung bean over
residual of FYM and VC by 25.5% and 26.5%, respectively. The combinations of FYM + CR
+ B and VC + RR + B resulted in the highest increase growth and yield attributing characters

of mung bean and increased grain yield of mung bean over the control by 47% and net return
by 27%.

Conclusions
The present study thus indicate that a combination of FYM + CR + B and VC + CR + B were
economical for the nutrient need of mung bean in organic farming of rice-based cropping
system.

Keywords
Crop residues, Economics, FYM, Green gram, Nutrient concentration, Vermicompost

Introduction
The rice (Oryza sativa)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system (RWCS) occupies about
28.8 million hectares (m ha) in five Asian countries, namely, India, Pakistan, Nepal,
Bangladesh, and China (Prasad 2005). These five countries represent 43% of the world
population on 20% of the world's arable land (Singh and Paroda 1994). In India, RWCS
occupy 12 m ha and contributes about 31% of the total food grain production (Kumar and
Yadav 2006). Similarly in China, RWCS occupies about 13 m ha (Jasdan and Hutchaon
1996) and contributes about 25% of the total cereal production in the country (Lianzheng and
Yixian 1994). Thus, RWCS are of considerable significance in meeting Asia's food
requirements. However, practice of following a cereal-cereal cropping system on the same
piece of land over years has led to soil fertility deterioration, and questions are being raised
on its sustainability (Duxbury and Gupta 2000; Ladha et al. 2000; Prasad 2005). Efforts were,
therefore, made to find out alternate cropping systems. Sharma and Prasad (1999)
recommended that growing a short-duration mung bean after wheat and incorporating of its
residue in succeeding rice made rice-wheat cropping system more productive, remunerative,
and soil recuperative than traditional rice-wheat cropping system.
Organic farming of Basmati rice-based cropping system is another alternative system for
sustainability of crop production and natural resources. Moreover, there is a great demand of
organically grown food in European and Middle East countries and offer two to two and a
half times higher prices for organic produce (Partap 2006). Organic farming often has to deal
with a scarcity of readily available nutrients in contrast to inorganic farming which relies on
soluble fertilizers. The aim of nutrient management in organic systems is to optimize the use
of on-farm resources and minimize losses (Kopke 1995). Maximum use of crop residues has
been suggested towards building soil fertility (Jasdan and Hutchaon 1996). Rice and wheat
straw have large potential for plant nutrients in organic farming of rice-wheat system. The
straw in the system accounts about 35% to 40% N, 10% to 15% of P, and 80% to 90% of K
removal by these crops (Sharma and Sharma 2004). Incorporation of straw, thus, results in
recycling of a sizable amount of plant nutrients. However, there is a great difficulty in using
the plant residue of cereals due to higher C/N ratio. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop
a suitable technology to use crop residue in organic farming. We have to mix the plant
residues of cereals with well-decomposed farmyard manures or plant residue of legumes for
narrowing down of C/N ratio so as to overcome the adverse effect of immobilization of
native plant nutrients. Sharma and Prasad (1999) reported that incorporation of mung bean
residue was found to be at par with Sesbania green manure in rice-wheat system.

The responses of the succeeding crops in a cropping system are influenced greatly by the
preceding crops and the inputs applied therein. Therefore, recently greater emphasis is being
laid on the cropping system as a whole rather than on the individual crops. In addition,
organic manures and biofertilizers have carry-over effect on the succeeding crops. Jamaval
(2006) reported that around 30% of the applied nitrogen as manure may become available to
the immediate crop and rest to the subsequent crops. Maintenance of soil fertility is important
for obtaining higher and sustainable yield due to large turnover of nutrient in the soil-plant
system. Mung bean (Vigna radiate L.), commonly known as green gram, is an important
conventional pulse crop in India. It has an edge over other pulses because of its high nutritive
value, digestibility, and non-flatulent behavior. It is grown principally for its protein-rich
edible seeds (Haq 1989). An important feature of the mung bean crop is its ability to establish
a symbiotic partnership with specific bacteria, setting up the biological N2 fixation in root
nodules that supplies required nitrogen to the plant (Mandal et al. 2009). The present
investigation was therefore undertaken to assess the residual influence of organic materials
and biofertilizers applied to rice and wheat on yield, nutrient status, and economics of
succeeding mung bean in an organic cropping system.

Methods
Experimental design
The field experiment was conducted during spring 2007 and 2008 at the research farm of the
Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India to study the residual effects of
organic materials, crop residues, and biofertilizers applied to the cropping system on
performance of succeeding mung bean crop (Figure 1). It is situated at 28.4N latitude and
77.1E longitude at an elevation of 228.6 m above the mean sea level (Arabian Sea) for two
years (2006 to 2007 and 2007 to 2008). The soil was medium in organic C (5.1-mg kg1 soil),
low in available nitrogen (73.1-mg kg1 soil), medium in available phosphorus (8.42-mg kg1
soil), available potassium (108.87-mg kg1 soil), and had a pH 8.16. The experiment was laid
out in a randomized block design with three replications.
Figure 1 Timetable of the cropping system

Treatment regimen
Treatments consisted of six combinations of different residual organic materials and
biofertilizers and control as follows:
1. Farmyard manure (FYM) applied on nitrogen basis at 60 kg ha1 to each rice and wheat
crops
2. Vermicompost (VC) applied on nitrogen basis at 60 kg ha1 to each rice and wheat crops.
FYM and VC were applied to both rice and wheat, whereas mung bean was grown on
residual fertility
3. FYM + crop residue (CR) whereas rice and wheat residues were applied at 6 t ha1 to
wheat and mung bean, respectively, and mung bean residue applied at 3 t ha1 to rice
4. VC + CR
5. FYM + CR + biofertilizers (B) including cellulolytic culture (CC) and phosphatesolubilizing bacteria (PSB) were used in all the crops, whereas BGA, Azotobacter, and

Rhizobium applied in rice, wheat, and mung bean, respectively

6. VC + CR + B
7. Control (no fertilizer applied)
As biofertilizers, CC and PSB were used in all the crops, whereas BGA, Azotobacter, and
Rhizobium applied in rice, wheat, and mung bean, respectively. Cellulolytic culture
containing four fungi (Aspergillus awamori, Trichoderme viride, Phanerochaete
chrysosporium, and Aspergillus wolulens) was inoculated at the time of residue
incorporation, whereas Azotobacter, Rhizobium, and PSB (Pseudomonas striata) were used
to inoculate the seeds as per the treatments. Farmyard manure used in the previous crops was
well decomposed. It contained N (6,150 mg kg1), P (2,600 mg kg1), K (3,150 mg kg1), Mn
(11.5 mg kg1), Zn (39.5 mg kg1), Cu (2.65 mg kg1), and Fe (21.5 mg kg1) and had a C/N
ratio of 23.5. Similarly VC contained N (1,1950 mg kg1), P (6,283mg kg1), K (6,950 mg
kg1), Mn (37.5 mg kg1), Zn (87 mg kg1), Cu (8.5 mg kg1), and Fe (57.5 mg kg1) and had
a C/N ratio of 17.5. The chemical compositions of crop residues are given in Table 1.
Table 1 Chemical composition of crop residues applied in rice-wheat-mung bean
cropping system
Composition (mg kg1)
Total N
Total P
Total K
Organic C
Fe
Zn
Mn
Cu

2006 to 2007
Rice
Wheat
Mung bean
4,700
3,900
15,000
680
490
1,100
14,600 15,600
4,400
408,000 400,000 401,000
434.23 349.80
849.56
100.52 29.89
69.13
58.23
73.69
79.65
40.02
16.85
22.23

Rice
5,000
700
14,650
410,000
437.41
105.09
60.69
40.67

2007 to 2008
Wheat Mung bean
4,100
15,200
500
1,200
15,700 4,500
403,000 403,000
372.97 876.21
34.67
72.04
78.52
88.62
17.43
23.04

Analytical technique
Grain and stover samples of mung bean were dried in hot air oven at 60C for 6 h and ground
in a Macro-Wiley Mill (Paul N. Gardner Company, Inc., FL, USA) to pass through a 40-mesh
sieve. A representative sample of 0.5-g grain and straw was taken for the determination of
nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The nitrogen concentration in grain and straw samples
was determined by modified Kjeldahl method (Jackson 1973); total phosphorus, by
Vanadomolybdo phosphoric acid yellow color method and flame photometry method, as
described by Prasad et al. (2006). The NPK concentration in grain and straw was expressed in
percentage. Iron, zinc, manganese, and copper were determined in diacid digest of plant
tissues using AAS as in the case of soil analysis. The N, P, and K uptake in grain or straw
was worked out by multiplying their percent concentrations with the corresponding yield.
The total uptake of N, P, and K was obtained by adding up their respective uptake in grain
and straw. This was expressed in kilogram per hectare. Protein content in mung bean grains
was obtained by multiplying the N concentration of grain with a factor 6.25 (Juliano 1985).
The protein yield of mung bean was calculated by multiplying its protein concentration with
grain yield.

The cost of mung bean cultivation was calculated on the basis of prevailing rates of inputs,
and gross income was calculated on the basis of procurement price of mung bean grain and
prevailing market price of mung bean stover. The income was obtained by subtracting the
cost of cultivation from the gross income, i.e.,
Netincome

grossincome costofcultivation.

The net profit of the rotation was calculated by adding the net profits of the rice and wheat
together.

Statistical analysis
The data relating to each character were analyzed by applying the technique of analysis of
variance for randomized block design as described by Cochran and Cox (1957). Critical
difference at 5% level of significance was calculated for comparing the mean of difference
presented in the summary table.

Results and discussion

Yield attributes
During both years of study, application of FYM had no significant effect on the number of
pods of mung bean, whereas all other combinations of organic manures and biofertilizers
significantly (p = 0.05) increased the number of pods per plant over the control (Table 2).
During the second year of experiment, the combination of VC + CR + B was significantly
superior to FYM and VC alone. The increased pod formation in treatments, where organic
manures and crop residues were applied, may be attributed due to better plant development
through efficient utilization of soil resources by the plant, where primary growth elements
were available in sufficient amount. During the first year, FYM, VC, FYM + CR, VC + CR,
and FYM + CR + B had no significant effect on the number of grains per pod, whereas VC +
CR + B significantly increased the number of grains per pod. During the second year, the
results were similar to those observed in the first year except that VC + CR, FYM + CR + B
also significantly increased the number of grains per pod over the control. Similar results
were reported by Srinivas and Shaik (2002). During both years, FYM and VC applied to rice
and wheat did not affect the test weight of mung bean, whereas all other combinations of
organic manures and biofertilizers significantly increased the test weight of mung bean over
the control. Effects of different combinations of organic manures and biofertilizers applied to
rice, wheat, and mung bean on the grain yield of mung bean were greater in the second year
as compared to the first year. Residual effect of organics was also noticed by Reddy and
Reddy (2005) wherein the plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, yield attributes, and root
yield in radish were significantly affected due to the residual effect of vermicompost in
onion-radish cropping system.

Table 2 Effect of treatments on the yield attributes of mung bean

Number of pods per plant
Number of grains per pod
2007
2008
2007
2008
Organic materials and biofertilizers
Control
10.3
10.8
6.8
6.9
FYM
11.6
12.3
7.3
7.5
VC
12.9
13.7
7.4
7.7
FYM + CR
12.8
14.8
7.7
7.8
VC + CR
14.3
15.7
7.8
7.9
FYM + CR + B 13.6
16.0
7.8
7.9
VC + CR + B
15.1
16.8
8.0
8.1
SEM
0.76
0.93
0.33
0.31
LSD (p = 0.05) 2.34
2.82
1.02
0.96
SEM, standard error of the mean; LSD, least significant difference.

Test weight (g)

2007
2008
39.5
42.5
43.1
44.6
44.9
45.3
45.6
1.53
4.71

39.8
42.7
43.3
45.0
45.4
45.4
46.1
1.68
5.18

Grain and stover yields

In terms of statistical significance (p = 0.05), FYM had no significant effect on the grain yield
of mung bean, whereas FYM + CR, VC + CR, FYM + CR + B, and VC + CR + B, being at
par, significantly increased the grain yield of mung bean over the control, FYM, and VC
alone in the first year and over the control and FYM alone in the second year (Table 3).
Weather conditions during the second year of study were more favorable than those of the
first year. Mean monthly maximum and minimum temperatures were relatively low during
the second year as compared to the first year. Total rainfall during the crop growth period of
mung bean was about five times more in the second year than in the first year. All these
favorable weather conditions resulted in higher yield during the second year as compared to
the first year. On the other hand, the superiority of vermicompost was attributed to its slow
and steady decomposition, which probably released the nutrients slowly and in higher
quantity compared to other organic materials. Poonam et al. (2007) reported that seed
inoculation with Rhizobium recorded an increase in yield by 12% to 16%. Conjunctive use of
Rhizobium with PSB and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria revealed synergistic effect on
the symbiotic parameters and grain yield of mung bean. In both years, stover yield of mung
bean was not significantly affected by FYM and VC and FYM + CR, whereas other
combinations of organic manures and biofertilizers significantly increased the stover yield of
mung bean over the control. There was no significant difference between different
combinations of organic manures and biofertilizers in both years of study. The findings are in
corroboration with those reported by John De Britto and Sorna Girija (2006).
Table 3 Effect of treatments on the seed and stover of mung bean
2007
Organic materials and biofertilizers
Control
0.68
FYM
0.74
VC
0.76
FYM + CR
0.92
VC + CR
0.95
FYM + CR + B
0.97

Grain yield (t ha1)

2008
0.69
0.76
0.79
0.96
1.00
1.02

2007
2.69
2.93
3.09
3.30
3.47
3.55

Stover yield (t ha1)

2008
2.70
3.02
3.20
3.44
3.63
3.64

VC + CR + B
1.00
1.04
3.70
SEM
0.050
0.051
0.20
LSD (p = 0.05)
0.154
0.157
0.62
SEM, standard error of the mean; LSD, least significant difference.

3.84
0.28
0.86

NPK concentration
In 2007 as well as in 2008, all combinations of organic manures and biofertilizers
significantly increased nitrogen concentration in mung bean grain over the control (Table 4).
All the combinations of organic manures and biofertilizers were at par in respect of N
concentration in mung bean grain in both years of study. In both years, FYM had no
significant effect on N concentration in mung bean stover, whereas all other combinations of
organic manures and biofertilizers significantly increased nitrogen concentration in mung
bean stover over the control. There was no significant difference between the different
combinations of organic manures and biofertilizers, and all the combinations, except FYM,
significantly increased phosphorus concentration in mung bean grain over the control in both
years. In both years, phosphorus concentration of mung bean was not significantly affected
by FYM, VC, and FYM + CR, whereas other combinations of organic manures and
biofertilizers significantly increased P concentration of stover over the control. There was no
significant difference between different combinations of organic manures and biofertilizers in
both years of study. In both years, the combinations of FYM, VC, FYM + CR, and VC + CR
were at par and significantly increased K concentration in mung bean over the control.
Similarly, FYM + CR + B and VC + CR + B, being at par, significantly increased K
concentration in mung bean grain over FYM. In 2007 as well as in 2008, FYM had no
significant effect on potassium concentration in mung bean stover, whereas VC, FYM + CR,
VC + CR, and FYM + CR + B, being at par, significantly increased P concentration over the
control. The combination of VC + CR + B was at par with VC + CR and FYM + CR + B but
significantly superior to VC and FYM + CR combinations. This is in conformity with the
result obtained by applying seaweed extract as a biostimulant in organic farming of green
gram (Zodape et al. 2010).
Table 4 Effect of treatments on nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium concentrations
(%) in mung bean
Phosphorus
Nitrogen
Grain
Stover
Grain
Stover
2007 2008 2007 2008 2007 2008 2007 2008
Organic materials and biofertilizers
Control
2.91 2.92 1.29 1.28 0.316 0.316 0.08 0.08
FYM
3.31 3.24 1.50 1.52 0.342 0.351 0.10 0.10
VC
3.26 3.29 1.55 1.57 0.350 0.357 0.11 0.12
FYM + CR
3.27 3.29 1.54 1.57 0.348 0.356 0.11 0.12
VC + CR
3.32 3.38 1.59 1.62 0.356 0.363 0.12 0.13
FYM + CR + B
3.36 3.41 1.62 1.65 0.358 0.363 0.12 0.14
VC + CR + B
3.43 3.50 1.65 1.68 0.369 0.378 0.13 0.16
SEM
0.10 0.10 0.08 0.09 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02
LSD (p = 0.05)
0.31 0.32 0.25 0.27 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.06
SEM, standard error of the mean; LSD, least significant difference.

Potassium
Grain
Stover
2007 2008 2007 2008
0.77
0.83
0.84
0.85
0.87
0.89
0.91
0.02
0.06

0.76
0.84
0.85
0.87
0.89
0.91
0.94
0.02
0.06

0.38
0.42
0.44
0.44
0.47
0.47
0.50
0.02
0.05

0.37
0.43
0.46
0.46
0.50
0.51
0.53
0.02
0.07

NPK uptake by grain and stover

In both years, FYM and VC had no significant effect on nitrogen uptake over the control,
whereas other combinations of organic manures and biofertilizers resulted in significantly (p
= 0.05) higher nitrogen uptake by mung bean grain than the control (Table 5). In 2007 and
2008, FYM had no significant effect on nitrogen uptake by mung bean stover over the
control, whereas VC, FYM + CR, VC + CR, and FYM + CR + B, being at par, significantly
increased nitrogen uptake by mung bean stover over the control. The combination of VC +
CR + B was at par with FYM + CR, VC + CR, and FYM + CR + B but significantly superior
to VC and FYM alone. In 2007 and 2008, FYM had no significant effect on nitrogen uptake
by mung bean, whereas VC, FYM + CR, and VC + CR, being at par, significantly increased
nitrogen uptake by mung bean over the control. Similarly, FYM + CR + B and VC + CR + B
were at par and significantly increased N uptake by mung bean over FYM and VC alone.
Table 5 Effect of treatments on nitrogen uptake (kg ha1) by mung bean
2006
Grain
Straw
Total
Grain
Organic materials and biofertilizers
Control
19.8
34.7
54.5
20.1
FYM
23.8
44.0
67.8
24.6
VC
24.8
47.9
72.7
26.0
FYM + CR
30.1
50.8
80.9
31.6
VC + CR
31.5
55.2
86.7
33.8
FYM + CR + B
32.6
57.5
90.1
34.8
VC + CR + B
34.3
61.1
95.4
36.4
SEM
2.13
3.70
5.62
2.72
LSD (p = 0.05)
6.56
11.40
17.32
8.38
SEM, standard error of the mean; LSD, least significant difference.

2007
Straw

Total

34.6
45.9
50.2
54.0
58.8
60.1
64.5
4.42
13.62

54.7
70.5
76.2
85.6
92.6
94.9
100.9
5.88
18.13

In both years, FYM and VC did not affect P uptake by mung bean grain significantly,
whereas FYM + CR, VC + CR, FYM + CR + B, and VC + CR + B, being at par, significantly
increased phosphorus uptake by mung bean grain over the control (Table 6). Also, FYM +
CR + B and VC + CR + B were also significantly superior to FYM and VC alone. The
combinations of FYM, VC, and FYM + CR in both years and VC + CR in only the first year
had no significant effect on P uptake by mung bean stover, whereas FYM + CR + B and VC
+ CR + B in both years and VC + CR in the second year significantly increased phosphorus
uptake by mung bean stover over the control. In both years, FYM and VC had no significant
effect on P uptake by mung bean, whereas all other combinations of organic manures and
biofertilizers significantly increased phosphorus uptake by mung bean over the control, the
difference between different combinations being not significant.
Table 6 Effect of treatments on phosphorus uptake (kg ha1) by mung bean
Grain
Organic materials and biofertilizers
Control
2.2
FYM
2.5
VC
2.7

2006
Straw

Total

2.2
2.9
3.4

4.4
5.6
6.1

Grain

2007
Straw

Total

2.2
2.7
2.8

2.2
3.0
3.4

4.4
5.7
6.6

FYM + CR
3.2
3.6
6.8
3.4
VC + CR
3.4
4.2
7.6
3.6
FYM + CR + B
3.5
4.3
7.8
3.7
VC + CR + B
3.7
4.8
8.5
3.9
SEM
0.21
0.65
0.71
0.25
LSD (p = 0.05)
0.65
2.01
2.19
0.78
SEM, standard error of the mean; LSD, least significant difference.

4.1
4.7
5.1
6.1
0.79
2.43

7.5
8.3
8.8
10.0
0.87
2.68

In 2007 as well as in 2008, FYM and VC had no significant effect on K uptake by mung
bean, whereas FYM + CR, VC + CR, FYM + CR + B, and VC + CR + B significantly
increased potassium uptake by mung bean over the control (Table 7). There was no
significant difference between different combinations of organic manures and biofertilizers in
the second year, whereas in the first year, FYM + CR, VC + CR, FYM + CR + B, and VC +
CR + B were at par but significantly superior to FYM alone. In both years, there was no
significant effect of FYM, VC, and FYM + CR on potassium uptake by mung bean stover,
whereas other combinations of organic manures and biofertilizers resulted in significantly
higher potassium uptake than the control. The differences between different combinations of
organic manures and biofertilizers were not significant in both years of study. In 2007, FYM
and VC had no significant effect on K uptake by mung bean, whereas FYM + CR, VC + CR,
and FYM + CR + B, being at par, significantly increased potassium uptake by mung bean
over the control. The combination of VC + CR + B was at par with VC + CR and FYM + CR
+ B but significantly superior to FYM, VC, and FYM + CR. In 2008, FYM and VC also had
no significant effect on K uptake by mung bean, whereas other combinations of organic
manures and biofertilizers resulted significantly higher K uptake than the control. There was
no significant difference between different combinations of organic manures and
biofertilizers during this year.
Table 7 Effect of treatments on potassium uptake (kg ha1) by mung bean
2006
Grain
Straw
Grain
Straw
Organic materials and biofertilizers
Control
5.2
10.2
15.4
5.2
FYM
6.1
12.3
18.4
6.4
VC
6.4
13.6
20.0
6.7
FYM + CR
7.8
14.5
22.3
8.4
VC + CR
8.3
16.3
24.6
8.9
FYM + CR + B
8.6
16.7
25.3
9.3
VC + CR + B
9.1
18.5
27.6
9.8
SEM
0.54
1.89
1.70
0.69
LSD (p = 0.05)
1.66
5.82
5.24
2.12
SEM, standard error of the mean; LSD, least significant difference.

2007
Grain

Straw

10.0
13.0
14.7
15.8
18.2
18.6
20.4
2.23
6.87

15.2
19.4
21.4
24.2
27.1
27.9
30.2
2.15
6.61

Micronutrient concentration in grain

In 2007, FYM, VC, and FYM + CR, being at par, significantly (p = 0.05) increased Zn
concentration of mung bean over the control (Table 8). Similarly, VC + CR, FYM, CR + B,
and VC + CR + B were at par and significantly increased zinc concentration of mung bean
grain over FYM. In 2008, FYM, VC, and FYM + CR, being at par, significantly increased Zn
concentration of mung bean grain. Similarly, VC + CR was at par with FYM + CR + B but

significantly superior to FYM and VC. Similarly, VC + CR + B was at par with FYM + CR +
B but significantly superior to FYM, VC, FYM + CR, and VC + CR.
Table 8 Effect of treatments on micronutrient concentration (ppm) by mung bean grain
Zinc
Copper
Iron
2007
2008
2007
2008
2007
2008
Organic materials and biofertilizers
Control
15.4
15.2
15.8
15.7
58.1
58.1
FYM
16.2
16.4
17.0
17.3
59.4
59.8
VC
16.4
16.7
17.4
17.6
60.2
60.8
FYM + CR
16.5
16.6
17.5
17.7
60.2
60.7
VC + CR
16.8
17.1
18.0
18.5
61.4
62.3
FYM + CR + B
16.9
17.5
18.3
18.7
61.4
62.2
VC + CR + B
17.1
17.8
19.1
19.7
62.8
63.7
SEM
0.14
0.15
0.13
0.14
0.35
0.33
LSD (p = 0.05)
0.43
0.46
0.41
0.43
1.08
1.02
SEM, standard error of the mean; LSD, least significant difference.

Manganese
2007
2008
55.3
57.1
57.5
57.5
57.8
58.0
58.5
0.30
0.92

55.1
57.3
57.7
57.7
58.2
58.7
59.0
0.37
1.11

The copper concentration in mung bean grain with different combinations of organic manures
and biofertilizers were found in the following increasing order: control < FYM < VC = FYM
+ CR < VC + CR = FYM + CR + B < VC + CR + B. In 2008, FYM, VC, and FYM + CR
were at par and significantly increased Cu concentration by mung bean grain over the control.
Similarly, VC + CR and FYM + CR + B were at par and resulted in significantly higher Cu
concentration in mung bean grain than FYM, VC, and FYM + CR. The combination of VC +
CR + B was significantly superior to other combinations of organic manures and
biofertilizers.
In both years, FYM, VC, and FYM + CR, being at par, significantly increased iron
concentration by mung bean over the control. Similarly, VC + CR and FYM + CR + B were
at par and significantly increased Fe concentration of mung bean over FYM, VC, and FYM +
CR. The combination of VC + CR + B was significantly superior to other combinations of
organic manures and biofertilizers.
In the first year, FYM + VC, FYM + CR, VC + CR, and FYM + CR + B, being at par,
significantly increased manganese concentration of mung bean grain over the control,
whereas the combination of VC + CR + B was at par with VC + CR and FYM + CR + B but
significantly superior to FYM, VC, and FYM + CR in respect to Mn concentration in mung
bean grain. In the second year, FYM, VC, FYM + CR, and VC + CR were at par and
significantly increased iron concentration in mung bean grain over the control. The
combination of VC + CR + B was at par with VC, FYM + CR, VC + CR, and FYM + CR +
B but significantly superior to FYM.

Protein
In both years, all the combinations of organic manures and biofertilizers were at par and
significantly (p = 0.05) increased protein concentration in mung bean grain over the control
(Table 9). In 2007, FYM, VC, and FYM + CR had no significant effect on the protein yield
of mung bean, whereas VC + CR, FYM + CR + B, and VC + CR + B were at par with FYM,
VC, and FYM + CR and increased the protein yield of mung bean over the control

significantly. In 2008, FYM and VC had no significant effect on protein yield of mung bean,
whereas FYM + CR, VC + CR, FYM + CR + B, and VC + CR + B being at par and
significantly increased the protein yield of mung bean over the control. Dhaliwal et al. (2007)
reported that the N and protein contents of seed in mung bean were significantly higher with
both RFD (recommended fertilizer dose + residue incorporation over the chemical fertilizer
treatments, being statistically on par with each other).
Table 9 Effect of treatments on protein content (%) and protein yield (kg ha1) of mung
bean
Protein content (%)
2008

Protein yield (kg ha1)

2007
2008

2007
Organic materials and biofertilizers
Control
18.2
18.3
124
FYM
20.1
20.3
149
VC
20.4
20.6
155
FYM + CR
20.4
20.6
188
VC + CR
20.8
21.1
198
FYM + CR + B
21.0
21.3
204
VC + CR + B
21.4
21.9
214
SEM
0.51
0.56
21.2
LSD (p = 0.05)
1.56
1.74
65.47
SEM, standard error of the mean; LSD, least significant difference.

126
154
163
198
211
217
228
23.10
71.05

Economics
In both years, FYM and VC were at par and significantly (p = 0.05) increased the gross
income from mung bean over the control. Similarly, FYM + CR and VC + CR being at par
and significantly increased the gross income of mung bean over FYM and VC alone (Table
10). The combinations of FYM + CR + B and VC + CR + B were at par with VC + CR but
significantly superior to FYM, VC, and FYM + CR in respect of the gross income from mung
bean.
Table 10 Effect of treatments on economics (103 Rs ha1) of cultivation of mung bean
Gross return
2007
2008
Organic materials and biofertilizers
Control
23.4
26.2
FYM
25.4
28.9
VC
26.2
30.1
FYM + CR
31.3
36.1
VC + CR
32.4
37.6
FYM + CR + B
33.0
38.3
VC + CR + B
34.1
39.2
SEM
0.50
0.53
LSD (p = 0.05)
1.55
1.63
SEM, standard error of the mean; LSD, least
$0.0224)

Cost of cultivation
2007
2008

Net return
2007
2008

5.16
5.27
18.2
20.9
5.16
5.27
20.3
23.6
5.16
5.27
21.0
24.8
11.16
11.27
20.1
24.8
11.16
11.27
21.2
26.4
11.34
11.45
21.7
26.9
11.34
11.45
22.8
27.8
0.39
0.44
1.17
1.32
significant difference; Rs, Indian Rupees (Rs 1 =

The costs of cultivation of 2 years are given in Table 10. The cost of cultivation of a
particular treatment did not vary in three replications; hence, data on cost of cultivation were
not analyzed statistically. The cost of cultivation varied from Rs 5,160 to 5,270 to Rs 1,1340
to 1,1450. The incorporation of CR increased the cost of cultivation by 116% in the first year
and 114% in the second year, whereas inoculation of biofertilizers increased the cost of
cultivation by 1.6% in both years.
In the first year, FYM, VC, FYM + CR, and VC + CR were at par and significantly increased
the net income of mung bean over the control. The combination of FYM + CR + B was at par
with VC + CR and VC but significantly superior to FYM and FYM + CR. Similarly, VC +
CR + B was at par with FYM + CR + B but significantly superior to FYM, VC, FYM + CR,
and VC + CR. In the second year, FYM, VC, and FYM + CR were at par and significantly
increased the net return of mung bean over the control. The combination of FYM + CR + B
was at par with VC + CR and FYM + CR but significantly increased the net return of mung
bean over FYM, VC, and FYM + CR. Similarly, VC + CR + B was at par with FYM + CR +
B and significantly increased the net return of mung bean over FYM, VC, FYM + CR, and
VC + CR. Naeem et al. (2006) reported the maximum net benefit of mung bean obtained
from the treatment, where poultry manure was applied.

Conclusions
Organic farming may not lead to higher production and income in the short run as its returns
are of long term nature. It is initially a soil-building process. Organic farming systems ensure
built-in capacity to maintain and increase soil health and fertility leading to sustained increase
in yield and production and low variability of crops which result to the stabilization and high
jump in income and sustainability in agriculture. Findings of this study provided a sound base
to believe that FYM + CR, VC + CR, FYM + CR + B, and VC + CR + B, being at par,
significantly increased the grain yield of mung bean over the control, but incorporation crop
residue plus inoculation of seeds with biofertilizers (CC + PSB + Rhizobium) resulted the
most economical treatment with respect to increasing net profit. This was because of the low
price of biofertilizers compared with crop residue. Both of FYM + CR + B and VC + CR + B
combinations resulted in improved grain quality and nutrient uptake by grain. The present
study thus indicates that a combination of FYM + CR + biofertilizers or VC + RR +
biofertilizers holds a promise for organic farming of mung bean.

Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors' contributions
This work is part of the Ph.D. thesis of MD where SNS supervised the thesis and MM
participated in the statistical analysis and correction of the manuscript. All authors read and
approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgments
Authors are grateful to Dr. H.S. Guar, Dean and Joint Director (Education), IARI, New Delhi
for his untiring help and support.

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Figure 1