Impact of crop diversification on scented rice (Konjoha) yield and quality performance in an organic rice ecosystem

The experiment was conducted considering scented rice (Konjoha) as main crop with eight different treatments viz., sole rice (T₁), rice + swamp taro intercropping (4:2) (T₂), rice + buffalo spinach intercropping (4:2) (T₃), T₂ + pumpkin in bund (T₄), T₂ + marigold in bund (T₅), T₃ + pumpkin in bund (T₆), T₃ + marigold in bund (T₇) and rice - lathyrus (relay) (T₈). Most of the yield attributes were found to be highest in T₁. The highest value of yield attributes of rice viz., no. of effective tillers/m² (13.67), no. of panicles/m² (309.67), weight of panicle (1.82 g), no. of filled grains/panicle (95.34) and test weight (14.35 g) were found in T₁. However, the growth and yield attributes of component crops were not influenced significantly under different crop diversification modules. The highest grain yield (18.46 q/ha) was recorded in T₁. It was at par with T₈ (18.44 q/ha). On the other hand, the lowest grain yield (8.58 q/ha) was recorded in T₄. The highest straw yield (45.41 q/ha) was recorded in T₁. While, lowest straw yield (19.96 q/ha) was recorded in T₄. The highest rice equivalent yield (64.57 q/ha) was found in T₅. On the other hand, the lowest rice equivalent yield (19.02 q/ha) was recorded in T₃. The highest B:C ratio of 3.10 was also recorded in T₅ and was closely followed by T₄ (2.94). The study revealed that crop diversification module, T₅ was the best option in respect of profitability. Quality parameters were significantly influenced by different crop diversification modules. The longer rice grain (6.77mm) was observed in T₄. It was at par with T₅. The shortest length of grain (6.28mm) was found in T₁. The maximum breadth of grain (2.32mm) was found in T₄. On the other hand, minimum breadth of grain (2.23mm) was found with T₁. The highest L/B ratio (2.94) was found in T₂. The highest protein content (7.35%) was recorded in T₄ while the lowest protein content (7.04%) was found in T₁. It was at par with T₈ (7.05%). Effect of crop diversification on milling recovery of grain was found significant. The highest milling recovery (61.97%) was recorded in T₄. The lowest milling recovery (58.33%) was recorded in both T₁ and T₈ respectively.