System of crop intensification and organic sources of nutrient on grain quality parameters of cereals under organic production system

Introduction

Cereal crops play a vital role in global food security and constitute the staple diet for a large proportion of the world's population. Rice is the primary staple food for more than half of the global population and contributes significantly to daily caloric intake. The global millets production was estimated at 27.8 m t. India is the largest global producer with a 41.04% global market share (Business Wire, 2018) [2] . Finger millet contains rich amounts of calcium (0.38%), protein (6% -13%) and carbohydrates (65% -75%). The seeds are abundant source of dietary fiber (18%), minerals (2.5% -3.5%), essential amino acids, viz., isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, phytates, tannins, phenolic compounds, trypsin inhibitory factors and also glutenfree (Sood et al., 2016; Chandra et al., 2016) [11,3] . In recent decades, the intensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in conventional agriculture has resulted in soil degradation, environmental pollution and declining soil fertility. These challenges have increased the interest in sustainable and organic farming systems that rely on natural inputs for maintaining soil health and crop productivity (Reganold and Wachter, 2016) [8] . The nutrients required by plants can be supplied through organic sources such as farmyard manure, poultry manure, vermicompost, bokashi manure, green manure and foliar application of organic inputs like cattle urine to maintain soil fertility and sustain crop yields (Debbarma et al. 2024) [4] . These organic amendments improve soil physical, chemical and biological properties and enhance nutrient availability to plants. The System of Crop Intensification (SCI) has emerged as an innovative agroecological approach aimed at increasing crop productivity while reducing dependence on external inputs. The concept of SCI is derived from the principles of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), which involves practices such as wider spacing, use of young seedlings, improved soil aeration and better water and nutrient management (Uphoff, 2002) [12] . These practices stimulate root growth, improve nutrient uptake and enhance crop productivity. The application of intensification principles has also been extended to other crops such as finger millet through the System of Finger Millet Intensification (SFMI). Studies have reported that SFMI practices significantly improve plant growth, yield attributes, grain yield and grain quality compared to conventional cultivation methods. Integration of organic nutrient sources with intensification practices further enhances crop overall performance by improving soil fertility and nutrient availability (Debbarma et al. 2024) [4] . Grain quality parameters such as protein content, carbohydrate composition, mineral concentration and fiber content are important indicators of nutritional value in cereal crops. Crop management practices and nutrient sources play a crucial role in determining these quality parameters. Organic nutrient sources provide a balanced supply of macro and micronutrients and improve nutrient uptake efficiency, which can positively influence grain nutritional quality (Worthington, 2001) [13] . Although several studies have evaluated the effects of crop intensification techniques on yield improvement, limited research has focused on their combined influence with organic nutrient sources on grain quality parameters of cereals under organic production systems. Understanding the interaction between intensification practices and organic nutrient management is essential for developing sustainable strategies that enhance both productivity and nutritional quality of cereal crops. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of "System of Crop Intensification and organic sources of nutrient on grain quality parameters of cereals under organic production system".

Materials and Methods

The experiment was carried out for both the crops (finger millet and rice) during Kharif season 2016 and 2017 at Crop Research Farm, SHUATS Model of Organic Farm, Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P.). SHUATS Model Organic Farm (SMOF) with 2 hectares (5 acres) area has been Certified by Lacon Quality Certification (P) Ltd. [Accreditation No. NPOP/NAB/006, Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India] till 2017 the field was in its 9 th year of conversion. The soil of the experimental plots was sandy loam in texture, low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and high in available potash with 7.68 soil pH. For finger millet the experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications, having three planting methods, viz., System of Finger millet Intensification [SFMI (30 DAS), 25 × 25 cm] technique, Conventional Transplanted Finger millet [CTFM (30 DAS), 25 × 10 cm] and Late Conventional Transplanted Finger millet [LCTFM (40 DAS), 25 × 10 cm); three organic sources of nutrient, viz., Poultry manure (1.7 t/ha), Farm yard manure (10 t/ha) and Vermicompost (2.5 t/ha) were studied. For rice the experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications, having three planting methods, viz., System of Rice Intensification method of transplanting [SRI (mt), 20 × 20 cm], Conventional Transplanted Rice (CTR, 20 × 15 cm) and Direct Seeded Rice (DSR, 20 × 10 cm); three organic sources of nutrient, viz., Poultry manure (2.6 t/ha), Farm yard manure (16 t/ha) and Vermicompost (4 t/ha) were studied. Green manure dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata L.) was grown during zaid season and organic liquid manure (Panchagavya and Fish Amino Acid) was sprayed in all the treatment; and both the crop seeds were treated with jeevamruth organic formulation. There were total 9 treatment combinations in all. The net plot size was 5 × 4 m and net experimental area 540 m 2 . The agronomic practices for finger millet, viz., weeding with cycle weeder in SFMI technique, manual and hand weeding in CTFM and LCTFM methods were done and irrigation was given according to the schedules for all treatments. The agronomic practices for rice, viz., weeding with cono weeder in SRI method of transplanting, manually in CTR and DSR methods were done and irrigation was given according to the schedules for all treatments. The finger millet variety 'VL Mandua-352 (VL 352)' was sown. The rice variety 'Sonam' was sown. Data on carbohydrate (%), protein (%), fat (%), ash (%) and moisture (%) were recorded. Data recorded on qualitative parameters were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis as per Gomez and Gomez, 1976 [6] .

The carbohydrates content of grain can be determined by calculating the percent remains after the entire component have been measured, viz., moisture, protein, fat and ash. The following formula was used for calculation (Ranganna, 2003) [7] .

It is calculated by the formula, Protein (%) = N (%) × power factor [finger millet (5.4); rice (5.95)]. The nitrogen content of grains was analyzed by micro-Kjeldahl digestion and distillation method (Amma, 1989) [1] . The micro-Kjeldahl's method for total nitrogen content (%) essentially involves digestion of the sample to convert N compounds in the sample to NH 4 form. The 200 mg of plant sample and an equal amount of catalyst mixture (prepared by mixing 25.0 g K 2 SO 4 + 5.0 g CuSO 4 . 5H 2 O + 0.5 g of metallic selenium) is transferred to a micro Kjeldahl digestion flask. On adding 3 ml of conc. H₂SO₄ the digestion flask is transferred to digestion assembly with a fume hood. The contents are first heated slowly. When the initial vigorous reaction is over, the contents are heated briskly until it become clear. Organic N is transformed into ammonium sulphate during the digestion process. The digestion contents are transferred to distillation flask of a micro Kjeldahl distillation unit which has water filled large flask with round bottom for generating steam to boil the contents placed in distillation flask. The distillation flask is connected to a condenser, and the condenser outlet is dipped in 25 ml of 2% boric acid containing mixed indicator. On adding of 10 ml of 40% NaOH into distillation flask, the feeding funnel is closed and water in large round flask is heated to boil for generating steam for boiling the contents in distillation flask. In 9 minutes of distillation about 55 ml of distillate is collected in boric acid forming ammonium borate which makes the weak boric acid alkaline. The ammonium borate is back titrated by adding 0.02N HCl until the reaction mixture changes its colour from green to pink. The standard acid used in back titration of ammonium borate is a masure of N content of the plant sample. Similar procedure for blank sample was followed.

Where, S is ml of standard acid used in the titration of the sample distillate B is the ml of standard acid used in the titration of the blank distillate N is the normality of the acid used in the titration of the distillate ME is the milligram equivalent weight of nitrogen, i.e., 0.014 W is the mass of plant sample taken in gram for the preparation of the sample digest.

The extractor and extract flask were cleaned and dried. The extract flask was weighed on chemical balance up to 2 decimal. Two gram of prepared sample was placed on whatman paper number 42 which was folded in to a shape of thimble and was placed inside the extractor. Two hundred fifty (250) ml of ether solvent was added in the extractor flask and to avoid overheating, the intensity of heat from electric coil was lowered with the help of regulator. For the complete removal of fat of grain sample, four cycles of siphoning was needed and 1000 ml of ether solvent were used. The solvent was kept in flask and only the fat content was heated gently till the smell of ether was not there. It was taken out and kept for cooling and the weight was taken. It was represented in percentage. The following formula was used for calculation (Ranganna, 2003) [7] .

Where, X is final weight of flask Y is initial weight of flask

This method consists in measuring the weight lost by prepared sample. The moisture content was determined by the air oven method and the methodology was used as follows. The temperature of the oven was set at 80° C and samples were placed inside the oven and the final weights of samples were measured after the 8 hours (Ranganna, 2003) [7] .

Where, X = Initial weight of grain sample Y = Final weight of grain sample

The ash content in rice was determined by the Bunsen burner and muffle furnace. Two g sample was prepared and put in the crucible and the initial weight was taken. The samples were kept over the Bunsen burner for 5 to 6 minutes. Samples were put inside the muffle furnace at 525 o C for 4 hours samples and thereafter it was cooled and the final weight recorded. The difference in weights gave the total ash content and was expressed as percent (Ranganna, 2003) [7] .

Where, X = Initial weight of grain sample Y = Final weight of grain sample

Results and Discussion

Carbohydrate content in grain (%)

The result regarding the effect of different planting methods and organic sources of nutrient on qualitative parameter namely carbohydrate content (%) in cereal grains is given in the table [10] reported that the quality parameter is mainly a varietal character. High amount of carbohydrate in finger millet grain with organic source of nutrient may be due to higher alpha amylase activity. Starch is the major source of carbohydrate in finger millet which consists of amylose and amylopectin (Deshpande and Devasenapathy, 2010) [5] . Appraisal of the data on carbohydrate percentage remained unchanged with planting methods and organic sources of nutrient during both the years and in pooled.

In rice highest carbohydrate (77.47% and 77.48%) was registered in the treatment M1 (System of Rice Intensification method of transplanting) in both the years of evaluation and pooled, though it was found no significance difference. Data pertaining to organic sources of nutrient showed highest in carbohydrate percentage. It further registered that S2 (Farm yard manure, 16 t/ha) has highest carbohydrate percentage of 77.48% with exactly same values in both the years and pooled, though it showed no significant difference. Appraisal of the data on carbohydrate percentage remained unchanged with planting methods and organic sources of nutrient during both the years and in pooled.

The data regarding the effect of different planting methods and organic sources of nutrient on qualitative parameter namely protein content (%) in cereal grains in the Appraisal of the data on protein percentage remained unchanged with planting methods and organic sources of nutrient during both the years and in pooled.

In rice highest protein (7.30% in 2016 and 7.33% in 2017) was registered in the treatment M1 (System of Rice Intensification method of transplanting) in both the years of evaluation and pooled, though it showed no significant difference. Data pertaining to organic sources of nutrient showed highest in protein percentage. It further registered that S1 (Poultry manure, 2.6 t/ha) has highest protein percentage of 7.30% and 7.36% in both the years and pooled respectively, though it showed no significant difference. Nitrogen being an important element and constituent of the amino acids and protein probably, increased uptake of nitrogen, which in turn might have resulted in the increment of the crude protein content. The increase in grain quality with application of organic source of nutrient may be due to better nutrient availability and its uptake by crop. This might have lead to accumulation of higher quantities of seed components like calcium carbonate and increased the lipid metabolism which helps in increasing the protein content in seed. These results are in line with findings of Roy and Singh (2006) [9] . Appraisal of the data on protein percentage remained unchanged with planting methods and organic sources of nutrient during both the years and in pooled.

The performance regarding the effect of different planting methods and organic sources of nutrient on qualitative parameter namely fat content (%) in cereal grains is given in the

The finding regarding the effect of different planting methods and organic sources of nutrient on qualitative parameter namely ash content (%) in cereal grains is given in the Appraisal of the data on ash percentage remained unchanged with planting methods and organic sources of nutrient during both the years and in pooled.

The observation regarding the effect of different planting methods and organic sources of nutrient on qualitative parameter namely moisture content (%) in cereal grains is given in the

Conclusion

The findings of the two year study on the quality parameters of organic cereal grains revealed that planting methods and organic sources of nutrients had no significant effect on grain quality parameters of finger millet and rice during both the years and in pooled analysis. However, comparatively higher values of some quality traits were observed under System of Finger Millet Intensification technique and System of Rice Intensification methods of transplanting. Among organic sources, farmyard manure and poultry manure recorded slightly higher quality parameters, indicating that organic nutrient management can maintain good grain quality under organic production systems.

Pattnayak A. Gene discovery and advances in finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) genomics: An important nutri-cereal of future. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2016;7:1-17. 12. Uphoff N. Opportunities for raising yields by changing management practices:

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