Equating low-cost natural farming vis-à-vis integrated crop management and organic practices in groundnut-wheat cropping system in Gujarat Plains of India

A comprehensive field experiment was carried out at Gujarat Plains in India during both rainy and winter seasons of 2022-23 and 2023-24 for exploring the feasibility and viability of low-cost natural farming in groundnut-based cropping system on a low-fertility medium black calcareous soil. The experiment compared natural farming (NF), conventional farming (CF, or most popularly called as Integrated Crop Management or ICM practice), and organic farming (OF), using two groundnut cultivars, GJG-22 ( Virginia bunch habit) and TG 37-A (Spanish Bunch habit). Following groundnut, two wheat cultivars (GW 451 and Lok 1) were grown in rotation during winter seasons, after a preceding fodder crop of pearl millet (taken before experimentation for eliminating soil heterogeneity). The results showed that ICM practices resulted in realization of the highest pod (1702–1822 kg/ha), haulm (2710–2740 kg/ha), total (4413–4562 kg/ha), and kernel (1202–1259 kg/ha) yields, consistently outperforming over both NF and OF. NF practices resulted in 19% and 23% reduction in pod yield over the two years’ evaluation period compared to ICM practice. Economic returns, growth parameters, and system productivities (groundnut-wheat together) followed the same trend as that of pod yield; and these values were the highest under ICM, which integrated chemical fertilizers, manure, and pesticides. The performance of organic practice was in between these two (ICM and NF). In wheat alone, ICM practice adopted plots had the highest yields and economic returns, with GW 451 outperforming Lok 1. The optimal NPK uptake ratios were identified as 6.8:1.0:2.2 for groundnut and 3.9:1.0:3.3 for wheat, emphasizing on balanced nutrient application. In conclusion, ICM practices ensure adequate nutrient supply and optimal crop growth, leading to higher productivity and profitability. Therefore, the study focuses on optimizing nutrient management in achieving sustainable and profitable agricultural production systems, balancing both high-input conventional farming and eco-friendly low-cost natural farming practices in the future.