Organic farming boosts rice and potato yields, but lags in onion production
A 10-year study in Chhattisgarh compared different ways of feeding nutrients to rice-potato and rice-onion crops. Organic methods showed a dip in yield at first but then improved over time, with 33% more rice, 40% more potatoes, and 9% more onions after 10 years. The rice-potato system was most productive with chemical fertilizers, while the rice-onion system did best with a mix of organic and chemical fertilizers. Organic methods helped maintain soil health and led to higher profits due to premium prices for the produce. However, potassium levels in the soil did not improve with organic or integrated approaches.