Growth Dynamics of Rice: Effects of Sustainable Farming Practices on Plant Height and Plant Density under Sodic Soil Conditions

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of sustainable farming practices and cropping systems on the growth dynamics of rice, with a focus on plant height and density under sodic soil conditions in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. The experiment was conducted for two consecutive years (2023--24 and 2024--25) at Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Ayodhya, India, following a split-split plot design with three replications. The treatments included four farming practices: 1. Biochar-based ecological farming (BBEF), 2. Climate-Resilient Organic Farming (CROF), 3. Low-Input Natural Farming (LINF), and 4. Conventional farming (CF), three cropping systems; (1. Rice–Wheat–Mungbean, 2. Rice–Mustard–Sesbania, and 3. Rice–Barley–Mentha), and two rice varieties (1. DRR Dhan-50, and 2. Kalanamak). The results indicated that farming practices significantly influenced plant height at critical stages. The greatest plant height was consistently recorded under the CF × Kalanamak treatment, which was up to 44% taller at harvest than the LINF × DRR Dhan-50 treatment. BBEF and CROF with Kalanamak exhibited competitive growth, attaining heights within 10–13% of the CF, highlighting the potential of sustainable systems to increase vegetative growth. The plant density remained statistically uniform across the treatments and stages, suggesting that establishment is governed more by sowing practices than by postsowing management. The findings underline that while conventional farming maximizes early growth in sodic soils, sustainable practices supplemented with organic amendments and resilient varieties can offer comparable establishment without compromising ecological sustainability. These insights advocate for integrative soil management approaches in sodic environments and emphasize the need for long-term assessments of yield, soil health, and resilience.