194
The innovative conventional practice of applying FYM gives a slightly higher yield
than the currently practised fertilisation with inorganic fertilisers only (CF-30), but
this (small) difference in the yield is statistically insignificant. Hence, in contrast to
many existing studies (e.g. Khaliq et al. 2006; Hulihalli and Patil 2008; Kumari
et al. 2010; Anwar-ul-Haq et al. 2014; Moe et al. 2017; Rao et al. 2017), we do not
find that combining inorganic fertilisers with manure gives significantly higher
yields than applying inorganic fertilisers alone. For instance, Rao et al. (2017) find
a significant synergistic interaction effect between FYM and inorganic fertilisers
and argue that FYM acts as a source of additional nutrients and supports moisture
retention. Kumari et al. (2010) argue that FYM increases microbial activity and,
hence, nutrient availability to cotton plants. Moe et al. (2017) argue that combining
inorganic fertilisers with manure results in higher yields due to continuous supply
of nutrients throughout the growing season, given that inorganic fertilisers release
nutrients rapidly during the early growth stages followed by gradual release of
nutrients from organic manure at a later stage.
The economic performance of the innovative conventional fertility treatment is
slightly better than the economic performance of the current practice and the higherinput fertility treatment, but these differences are statistically insignificant. This is
in contrast to results from other studies which indicate significantly higher economic performance of combining inorganic fertilisers and manure than applying
inorganic fertilisers alone. For instance, Anwar-ul-Haq et al. (2014) report higher
yield and economic performance of cotton from combining 20 Mg ha
−1
manure and
NPK (at 88 kg N ha
−1
) than sole NPK application (at 175 kg N ha
−1
), which are very
high application rates compared to those of this study (3 Mg ha
−1
manure, 30 or
60 kg N ha
−1
from inorganic fertilisers).
Three Sprays of Neem-Leaf Extract and Cow Urine
Spraying three times with neem-leaf extract in combination with cow urine has a
similar effectiveness as spraying six times with a conventional pesticide containing
lambda-cyhalothrin and likely has a slightly higher effectiveness than spraying
three times with a conventional pesticide containing lambda-cyhalothrin, but this
difference is statistically insignificant. The leaves of the neem tree (Azadirachta
indica) contain biologically active components, and their potency is increased when
mixed with cow urine (Gupta 2005). The biologically active components in the
neem-leaf extract act broadly as toxicant, repellent, anti-feedant and growthdisrupting substances on insect pests (Gujar 1992) and also act as powerful insect
growth regulators (IGR) (Subbalakshmi et al. 2012). The combinations of cow urine
and neem-based products have shown significant synergistic effects to enhance
product toxicity resulting in pest mortality (Gahukar 2013) but are safe to insect
predators, particularly beetles (Gupta 2005). The land rent when spraying three
times with neem-leaf extract and cow urine is similar to the one of spraying six
times with a conventional pesticide and may be slightly higher than the land rent
when spraying three times with a conventional pesticide.
T. N. Bwana et al.
The innovative conventional practice of applying FYM gives a slightly higher yield
than the currently practised fertilisation with inorganic fertilisers only (CF-30), but
this (small) difference in the yield is statistically insignificant. Hence, in contrast to
many existing studies (e.g. Khaliq et al. 2006; Hulihalli and Patil 2008; Kumari
et al. 2010; Anwar-ul-Haq et al. 2014; Moe et al. 2017; Rao et al. 2017), we do not
find that combining inorganic fertilisers with manure gives significantly higher
yields than applying inorganic fertilisers alone. For instance, Rao et al. (2017) find
a significant synergistic interaction effect between FYM and inorganic fertilisers
and argue that FYM acts as a source of additional nutrients and supports moisture
retention. Kumari et al. (2010) argue that FYM increases microbial activity and,
hence, nutrient availability to cotton plants. Moe et al. (2017) argue that combining
inorganic fertilisers with manure results in higher yields due to continuous supply
of nutrients throughout the growing season, given that inorganic fertilisers release
nutrients rapidly during the early growth stages followed by gradual release of
nutrients from organic manure at a later stage.
The economic performance of the innovative conventional fertility treatment is
slightly better than the economic performance of the current practice and the higherinput fertility treatment, but these differences are statistically insignificant. This is
in contrast to results from other studies which indicate significantly higher economic performance of combining inorganic fertilisers and manure than applying
inorganic fertilisers alone. For instance, Anwar-ul-Haq et al. (2014) report higher
yield and economic performance of cotton from combining 20 Mg ha
−1
manure and
NPK (at 88 kg N ha
−1
) than sole NPK application (at 175 kg N ha
−1
), which are very
high application rates compared to those of this study (3 Mg ha
−1
manure, 30 or
60 kg N ha
−1
from inorganic fertilisers).
Three Sprays of Neem-Leaf Extract and Cow Urine
Spraying three times with neem-leaf extract in combination with cow urine has a
similar effectiveness as spraying six times with a conventional pesticide containing
lambda-cyhalothrin and likely has a slightly higher effectiveness than spraying
three times with a conventional pesticide containing lambda-cyhalothrin, but this
difference is statistically insignificant. The leaves of the neem tree (Azadirachta
indica) contain biologically active components, and their potency is increased when
mixed with cow urine (Gupta 2005). The biologically active components in the
neem-leaf extract act broadly as toxicant, repellent, anti-feedant and growthdisrupting substances on insect pests (Gujar 1992) and also act as powerful insect
growth regulators (IGR) (Subbalakshmi et al. 2012). The combinations of cow urine
and neem-based products have shown significant synergistic effects to enhance
product toxicity resulting in pest mortality (Gahukar 2013) but are safe to insect
predators, particularly beetles (Gupta 2005). The land rent when spraying three
times with neem-leaf extract and cow urine is similar to the one of spraying six
times with a conventional pesticide and may be slightly higher than the land rent
when spraying three times with a conventional pesticide.
T. N. Bwana et al.