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Conventional agricultural practices that rely heavily on blanket fertilizer recommendation, eventually leading to deteriorated partial factor productivity and N use efficiency. We investigated the effect of SPAD-based N-management on productivity and N use efficiency of rice and wheat in eastern India. Here, in the experiment three SPAD thresholds (34, 36 and 38 in rice and 38, 40 and 42 in wheat) using three N levels (15, 25 and 35 kg N ha−1) in split were incorporated as real-time N management (RTNM), one fixed-time N management (FTNM), farmers’ fertilizer practice (FFP) and control (No fertilizer) were introduced in wet and dry seasons for rice and wheat, respectively, during the years 2010 to 2012. Topdressing with 25 kg N ha−1 at medium SPAD (S36 in rice and S40 in wheat) increased soil N availability, leaf N content and grain yield of rice (5215 kg ha−1) and wheat (4483 kg ha−1) over the grain yield recorded under a low rate of N topdressing at low SPAD. While saving 33.3% N in rice and 18.8% N in wheat, the agronomic N use efficiency (58.5% in both rice and wheat) and nitrogen recovery efficiency (32.2% in rice and 15.1% in wheat) can be increased when compared with conventional FTNM. The SPAD-based management strategy showed great promise in efficient management of N fertilizer, and we estimated the optimal SPAD threshold for rice and wheat as 37.5 and 41.8, respectively.

Aerobic rice cultivation has gained recognition for resource conservation and ecosystem services. However, aerobic/partially-aerobic rice productivity is often constrained by several deficiencies in soil-plant system including phosphorus (P), because of reduced soil P dissolution and crop P acquisition. The study aimed to design sustainable P management option(s) for non-flooded rice [system of rice intensification (SRI)]-lentil system in an alkaline Fluvisol by evaluating the effect of system-based sole fertilizer-P and integrated P management treatments on crop yields, soil P dynamics, P pools, soil biophysical and biochemical attributes. The treatments consisted of one control and three variable seasonal distribution sole fertilizer-P treatments [subscript value (kg P ha−1)] in non-flooded rice (SRI)-lentil (L) rotation ([SRI0-L0], [SRI22-L22], [SRI33-L11], [SRI11-L33]), three integrated P management treatments ([SRI11-L11+phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB)], SRI16.5-L5.5+rice residue incorporation (RR)+PSB, SRI5.5-L16.5+lentil residue incorporation (LR)+PSB)]. Besides this, a conventional flooded rice-lentil system with the recommended sole fertilizer-P rate ([PTR22-L22]) as a treatment was evaluated to compare soil P dynamics in flooded versus non-flooded rice ecologies. Soil P availability was significantly reduced (7–8%) in the non-flooded rice compared to the flooded rice ecology. The integrated treatment involving suboptimal fertilizer-P rate (22 kg P ha−1y−1), rice residue recycling, and PSB increased soil P availability in rice (5-6%) and lentil (9-10%) seasons as well as system productivity by 8.3% over the recommended sole fertilizer-P treatment ([SRI22-L22], 44 kg P ha−1y−1). The rice residue recycling integrated treatment increased NaHCO3-Pi (11%) and dissolved non-reactive P (6%) over the recommended sole fertilizer-P treatment. The positive effects of the lentil residue recycling integrated treatment on soil P availability and crop yields were relatively lower than the rice residue recycling integrated treatment possibly because of the lower residue C-input. Correlation results indicate that microbial biomass carbon, soil aggregation and labile organic carbon have a positive influence on P availability in this alkaline soil. The significant positive correlation between the active C-pool and total dissolved non-reactive P suggested that oxidisable C input could improve bioavailable P forms. Results indicated the role of balanced P fertilization in C-stabilization, which had the lowest in the P control treatment. The study with one soil type suggested that in-situ crop residue recycling integrated P management (rice residue in particular) could be a sustainable option for improving P bioavailability, nutrient cycling, and productivity of non-flooded rice-legume system in tropical alkaline soil, but, for the validation of the results, more studies with diverse soil properties are warranted.

The climate change due to mingled effect of rising [CO2] level and temperature will influence crop production by affecting various components of the production system. In the present study, Open Top Chamber (OTC) facility has been used to realize the consequence of rising [CO2] with nutrient management on rice crop. The experiment was organized in open field and inside OTC with ambient [CO2] (400 ppm) and elevated [CO2] (25%, 50% and 75% higher than ambient) in wet season of the year 2017- 18 at Kharagpur, India. Increase in [CO2] level resulted decreasing trend in growth, yield attributes (filled grains number) and grain yield. The nutrient management with use of only chemical fertilizer at recommended dose gave highest grain yield, which was comparable with integrated management using chemical and biofertilizer. Post-harvest processing quality such as head rice percentage and the head rice yield decreased significantly with CO2 elevation. The elevated [CO2] with 25 to 75% higher than ambient, reduced the head rice percentage by 13 to 21 %. The research stated that investigations on climate change adaptations should be made to avoid the negative impact of rising [CO2] level and temperature on crop yield and processing quality.

Elevated CO2 might have differential impact on the growth, development, and yield of wheat under varying nutrient management, especially in a warmer climate when the global atmospheric temperature is already increasing. Field experiments were conducted in subtropical Eastern India during the rabi seasons of 2014–2016 to study the performance of wheat under the elevated CO2 environment with different nitrogen (N) management. Wheat was grown in open field and inside open top chambers (OTCs) with ambient (˜390 μmol mol−1) and elevated (˜585 μmol mol−1) level of CO2 without any fertilizer addition (N0), and with application of N through chemical fertilizer (CF) at normal (100%) recommendation [N100(CF)] and 50% higher dose [N150(CF)] and through integration of organic and chemical fertilizer [N150(OF + CF)]. Results showed that CO2 enrichment had a positive effect on various growth parameters and yield attributes of wheat. Elevated CO2 tended to increase the crop growth rate and the fraction of leaf biomass and leaf N, especially for the N management using chemical fertilizer [N100(CF) and N150(CF)]. Elevated CO2 [+˜200 μmol mol−1] caused 17% increase in wheat grain yield above ambient as averaged over the N fertilized treatments. Application of N at 50% higher dose than normal through CF did not increase the grain yield significantly under the open field and OTC with ambient [CO2] environment, whereas the yield increment was significant under the elevated [CO2] environment. Elevated CO2 also resulted in higher agronomic N use efficiency and nitrogen harvest index with the increased N fertilizer dose. Thus, wheat production under the elevated CO2 environment in Eastern India might be maintained or improved through the normal and increased dose of N fertilizer application.

A comparative study on the effect of elevated CO2 environment on soil nitrogen availability in different rice planting system is needed to develop nutrient management strategies in future climate scenarios. A field experiment was conducted inside open top chambers (OTC) to study the effect of elevated CO2 environment with varying nitrogen management on soil NH4+–N and NO3−–N status in two planting system of rice, direct-seeded rice (DSR) and puddled transplanted rice (PTR). The nitrogen management included chemical fertilizer (CF) at 100% (CF100) and 150% (CF150) of the recommended dose, integrated nitrogen management including organic fertilizer (OF) and CF as CF75+ OF75, and site-specific N management through CF using SPAD meter. The soil NH4+–N content was higher in PTR, but NO3−–N was higher in DSR. The soil NH4+–N and NO3−–N content decreased significantly under elevated CO2 environment as compared to ambient in both planting system, except the NO3−–N content at flowering in DSR. The decrease was around 8% for NH4+–N and 5% for NO3−–N content. Soil nitrogen content in DSR can be maintained by following integrated nutrient management (CF75 + OF75) and SPAD-based nitrogen management for sustainable yield. Grain yield, in general, increased with CO2 elevation in both planting system. Under ambient environment, CF150 increased the grain yield by 23% as compared to CF100 in DSR, but no change was noted in PTR. However, under elevated CO2 environment, CF150 increased the grain yield by 13% in PTR. Under elevated CO2 environment, the yield increase of the hybrid rice to additional N fertilizer application was noted in PTR but not in DSR. This study suggests that for sustainable rice production under increasing CO2 environment in future climate scenarios, higher dose of N fertilizer is recommended in PTR, but normal dose in DSR production system.

Temperatures have a major effect on potato crop growth and yield attributes during the crop growing season. In this study, the SUBSTOR-Potato model was used to simulate the potato crop growth and yield in a sub-tropical region of West Bengal comprising of three districts, namely West Medinipur, Bankura and Birbhum in India. Also, the effect of temperature and planting dates scenario on potato crop growth was evaluated by using 30 years historical weather data of the aforesaid districts. Field experiments were conducted on potato crops of cultivar Kufri Jyoti under two planting dates (10th and 25th of December) and different fertilizer treatments in the years 2013–2014 and 2014–2015, respectively. The statistical results showed the satisfactory performance of the model with an R2 of 0.82 to 0.98 and d-stat of 0.94 to 0.98 for the year 2013–2014 and an R2 of 0.89 to 0.98 and d-stat of 0.97 to 0.98 for the year 2014–2015. Evaluation of planting dates with past 30 years historical data showed planting dates 20th and 30th of November resulted in average higher yield than planting dates 10th, 25th and 30th of December, respectively, in current climate scenario. Furthermore, the study suggests that amending the planting dates is an effective climate change adaptation strategy for reducing the effect of temperature on the yield of a potato crop in the near future.

Water management technologies under projected climate change will play key role in sustainable rice production. Modeling approach was used to assess the impact of climate change on rice production under drip irrigation (DIR) and conventional puddle transplanted (PTR) in subtropical India. The genotype coefficients of CERES-Rice model (cv. Naveen) were determined and tested using experimental data for the years 2012–2014. Close match between the observed and simulated values was recorded during both the years which led to higher d-index (> 0.95) and lower normalized RMSE (RMSEn) values. Under the projected climate change scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5), grain yield reduced over the period 2020–2080, with higher decline in RCP 8.5. Over the period, higher nitrogen (N) use efficiency in DIR led to lower yield reduction over PTR. Among the different adaptation measures, higher fertilizer N dose was able to mitigate negative impact of temperature rise up to 3.3 °C over base period, beyond which grain yield was significantly reduced. Results of the simulations for the different sowing dates stated higher reduction in grain yield with delayed sowing in DIR as well as in PTR for both (RCP 4.5 and 8.5) climate change scenarios. However, early sowing resulted in better crop establishment in DIR leading to better yield compared to PTR in both the climate change scenarios.

Aerobic rice is gaining global recognition for its role in the conservation of water. However, its productivity is often constrained by several deficiencies in the soil-plant system. Particularly, in absence of flood-induced phosphorus (P) desorption, it is likely that P availability in aerobic soils would be reduced thus affecting the productivity. Presently, our understanding of soil P dynamics and its bioavailability in aerobic rice-based system(s) is limited, particularly in alkaline soils. In this study, the impact of sole fertilizer and integrated P management on soil P dynamics, biochemical and biophysical properties and crop yields in direct-seeded rice (DSR)-lentil rotation in alkaline soil was assessed to devise sustainable management option(s). Seven different P treatments in aerobic direct seeded rice-lentil system [subscript value (kg P ha−1)] i.e., P control (P[0−0]), three sole fertilizer-P treatments with variable rate application to component crops (P[22−22], P[33−11], P[11−33]), and three integrated treatments ([P11−11+ phosphate solubilizing bacteria (B)], [P16.5−5.5+ rice residue recycling (RR)+B], [P5.5−16.5+lentil residue recycling (LR)+B]) in aerobic direct seeded rice-lentil system along with a conventional flooded rice-lentil system with the recommended fertilizer-P rate (P[22−22]FR) were studied. Given the recommended sole fertilizer-P rate, the aerobic rice soil (P[22−22]) had lower available-P (8–10 %) compared to the flooded rice soil (P[22−22]FR). The rice residue recycling integrated treatment (P16.5−5.5+RR + B) increased soil available-P in both the rice (5–6 %) and lentil (12–13 %) crop season over the recommended sole fertilizer-P treatment (P[22−22]), and also increased the system productivity by 6–7 %. The higher NaHCO3-Pi (13 %) and dissolved non-reactive P (DNRP) (7%) in the treatment P16.5−5.5+RR + B over the treatment P[22−22] suggested a higher soil P mobilization potential of rice residue recycling integrated treatment. The effect of lentil residue recycling integrated treatment (P5.5−16.5+LR + B) and recommended sole fertilizer-P treatment P[22−22] was similar on soil P and crop yields, and would thus be an option when considering the reduction of P fertilizer use in aerobic rice. Soil aggregation, very-labile carbon, microbial biomass carbon, DNRP exhibited positive correlations with P bioavailability in the aerobic rice soil. Our results suggested that C-stabilization in aerobic rice soil is altered with P input, the lowest rate being recorded in the control treatment. Hence, the study concluded that reduced soil P availability could limit the productivity potential of aerobic rice-lentil system in alkaline soils, and integrated treatments involving in-situ crop residue recycling (rice in particular) and suboptimal fertilizer rate could improve soil P bioavailability, soil quality parameters, and crop yields, thus, recommended for sustainable management.

SUMMARYTopdressing of N fertilizer, whenever leaf greenness, as measured by Chlorophyllmeter (SPAD), falls below the threshold value can be used for site-specific N management in wheat cultivation. Herein, a field experiment was conducted to analyse the effect of SPAD-based N management on wheat productivity and N use efficiency during the dry season of 2010/11 and 2011/12 on acid lateritic soil of eastern India. The experiment had 12 treatments, with nine treatments combining three SPAD thresholds (38, 40 and 42) and three N levels (15, 25 and 35 kg N ha−1) as real time N management (RTNM), one fixed time N management (FTNM), one farmers’ fertilizer practise (FFP) and control (Zero N), with three replications. The grain yield of RTNM ranged from 90 to 113% as that of FTNM, but using considerably less N. Maintaining SPAD threshold of 40 up to heading stage by topdressing 25 kg N ha−1 at each time (N25S40) caused the highest grain yield (4483 kg ha−1). While saving 22.5 kg N ha−1 (18.8%), N25S40 increased agronomic N use efficiency by 58.5%, nitrogen recovery efficiency by 15.1% and partial factor productivity of applied N by 26.4% when compared with conventional fertilizer recommendations (i.e. FTNM). The SPAD-based N management strategy was found very promising in efficiently managing N fertilizer in wheat for improving wheat productivity and N use efficiency.

Field experiments were conducted to analyse the changes in soil organic carbon (SOC), NH4 +-N and NO3 −-N and the yield of paddy rice due to application of organic (vermicompost, vermiwash, Azotobacter and crop residue) and inorganic sources of N in varied amounts and timing in dry-seeded rice during wet seasons (June–October) of 2013 and 2014. The residual effect of these nutrients was also assessed on pod yield of chickpea that was grown after rice. The experiment laid in a randomized complete block design comprised eight treatment combinations of organic and inorganic nutrient management and one control, where nothing was added. Our results indicated that recommended dose of N (100 kg ha−1) through vermicompost (VC) applied full as basal and in splits (half at basal and the other half at panicle initiation stage) to rice could attain 75 and 88% grain yield of chemical fertilizer (CF), respectively. The split application of VC was comparable to CF alone and CF + VC treatment in maintaining organic carbon, NH4 +-N and NO3 −-N contents of soil at panicle initiation stage of the rice crop. The residual effect of split application of VC gave significantly higher pod yield of chickpea compared to the rest of the treatments. Hence, split application of VC to rice was effective in improving rice grain yield than its one-time application and yield of following chickpea crop in lateritic soil.

Intensive use of chemical fertilizer results in environmental pollution that disturbs the local ecosystem and causes reduction in the long-term crop yield. There is a need to explore the alternative source of plant nutrition such as de-oiled microalgal biomass as biofertilizer for sustainable production of food crops in a relatively pollution free environment. This study reports sustainable and improved agriculture of rice crop (cv. IR 36) by valorizing de-oiled microalgal biomass waste (DOMBW) of Scenedesmus sp., as eco-friendly fertilizer. The microalga (MA) was cultivated in open raceway pond using wastewater and flue gas. Performance evaluation and comparison of DOMBW with respect to growth and yield of rice plants vis-a-vis commercial chemical fertilizers (CF) and vermicompost (VC) applied individually or together, established the superiority of the former. The experiment comprised of five nutrient management treatments (CF100, VC100, MA100, MA50+CF50, and MA50+VC50) meeting 100% nitrogen (N) recommendation either through a single source or combined application in the soil. Combining the application of microalgal based organic fertilizer with chemical fertilizer (MA50+CF50), showed the highest performance in terms of plant height, tiller number, biomass, and grain yield. At the harvest stage, MA50+CF50 also resulted in maximum plant dry weight, panicle weight, and 1000-grain weight in comparison to other treatments. This study revealed that the application of DOMBW as a biofertilizer is potentially sustainable and effective in improving the yields of rice crop with reduced use of chemical fertilizer.

Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration has a potential impact on the growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.), but little is known on grain milling quality. A field experiment in open-top chamber (OTC) was conducted to assess the effect of elevated CO2 under varying N management on brown rice, milled rice and head rice yield. The experiment was conducted during wet season (June–November) of the year 2011 and 2012 at Kharagpur, India, using a long-duration, high-yielding cultivar ‘Swarna Sub1,’ which was grown in open field and in OTCs of ambient and elevated CO2 environment (25 % higher than ambient) with five different N management levels. The elevated CO2 reduced the brown rice, milled rice and head rice percentage by 1.2, 1.4 and 14 %, respectively, as compared to ambient environment in OTC. Due to elevated CO2, the reduction in processed yields were 9 and 4 % in brown/milled rice and 21 and 15 % in head rice under sole application of chemical fertilizer and integration of chemical and organic sources, respectively. The decrease in rice milling quality was associated with increasing canopy temperature (+0.8 °C) during grain-filling stage under elevated CO2 environment. The elevated CO2 has a substantial adverse impact on grain milling quality, and to some extent, this can be compensated through proper N management.

Nutrient management plays an important role in yield and quality of tomatoes. A field experiment was conducted during the years 2008–09 and 2009–10 to analyze the effect of organic and conventional sources of fertilizer on yield and quality of tomatoes in an acid lateritic soil of India. The organic sources of fertilizer were vermicompost (VC), crop residue (CR), vermiwash (VW) and biofertilizer (BF). The conventional input was chemical fertilizer (CF) applied at recommended dose of 100:80:60 kg ha−1 of N:P2O5:K2O for the tomato. The organic source VC was used to supply 100% N recommendation as single source or 50% N recommendation when combined with CF or organic sources. Maximum fruit yield was recorded when CF was applied at full dose, which was on a par with VC at full recommendation. A higher percentage of large-size fruits (>7 cm) was obtained in VC-based treatments compared with CF treatment. Vermicompost at full dose increased ascorbic acid, beta carotene, total soluble solids and color value comp...

A field experiment investigating amendments of organic material including farmyard manure, paper factory sludge and crop residues combined with fly ash, lime and chemical fertilizer in a rice-peanut cropping system was conducted during 1997–98 and 1998–99 at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India. The soil was an acid lateritic (Halustaf) sandy loam. For rice, an N:P:K level of 90:26.2:33.3 kg ha−1 was supplied through the organic materials and chemical fertilizer to all the treatments except control and fly ash alone. The required quantities of organic materials were added to supply 30 kg N ha−1 and the balance amount of N, P and K was supplied through chemical fertilizer. Amendment materials as per fertilization treatments were incorporated to individual plots 15 days before planting of rice during the rainy season. The residual effects were studied on the following peanut crop with application of N:P:K at 30:26.2:33.3 kg ha−1 through chemical fertilizer alone in all treatments, a...

To justify suitability of fly ash in agricultural applications, field investigation was carried out for six years, 1996 to 2001. An attempt was made to develop an integrated plant nutrition system (IPNS) utilizing fly ash (FA), and paper factory sludge (PFS), along with farm yard manure (FYM), crop residue (CR) and chemical fertilizers (CF) for rice- peanut cropping system. Direct and residual effects of FA was assessed on the basis of crop response and changes in soil characteristics. Application of FA @ 10t ha -1 in combination with organic sources (PFS/ FYM/ CR) and CF increased the grains yield of rice, pod yield of peanut and equivalent yield of both the crops by 31, 24 and 26 per cent respectively as compared to CF alone. There was beneficial effect of repeated application of FA as compared to one time application at the same level and yield advantage derived by peanut through IPNS was greater than rice. Moreover, there was saving of CF in the order of 64.4 % N, 44 % P2O5, 43.3 % K2O. the alkaline fly ash (pH 8.4) could be used as substitute of lime a costlier material, for amending acidic soils and increased the availability of P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu and Co besides improving soil physicochemical properties. The results indicated prospect of safe disposal and utilization of fly ash and organic wastes in agriculture for retaining productivity of problem soils, reduced the usage of costly chemical fertilizer, bring greater economy in cultivation and minimize environmental problems.

N management must be based on crop demand and supply capacity of the soil. A field experiment was conducted to analyze the effect of chlorophyll meter (SPAD meter) based N management on growth, productivity and agronomic N use efficiency of rice (cv. IR 36) in lateritic soil of India during the wet season of 2010 and 2011. The Experiment contained twelve N management treatments such as farmers’ fertilizer practice, one fixed time N management (FTNM), nine treatments of real time N management (RTNM), and one control. The RTNM is the combination of three SPAD threshold (SPAD: 34, 36 and 38) and three N levels (15, 25 and 35 kg ha-1) for top dressing when the SPAD value of rice leaf falls below the threshold. The grain yield of RTNM was in the range 93 to 105% as that of FTNM, but with lower N application rate. Among RTNM treatments, SPAD 36 with 35 and 25 kg N ha-1 top-dressing could save N fertilizer by 20 to 35% compared to FTNM without reducing grain yield. Agronomic N use efficiency can be increased at high yield level using SPAD meter based N management.

Introduction: Nutrient management plays a key role in improving crop yield with maintenance of soil fertility for sustainable production in intensive cropping. Aim: A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of organic and mineral sources of fertilizer on yield and quality of sweet corn grown in acid laterite soil of India during the years 2009 and 2010. Materials and Methods: The organic inputs were vermicompost (VC), vermiwash (VW), biofertilizer (BF), and crop residue (CR) and the inorganic input was mineral fertilizer. Results: Optimal application of N, P, and K (100% recommended dose) either through organic source or mineral source was significantly superior to their suboptimal dose in increasing the yield of sweet corn, wherein mineral fertilizer recorded maximum production. Between organic and mineral sources of fertilizer application, ascorbic acid and total phenolics content of sweet corm were higher in organic nutrient management. The ascorbic acid was higher by 133% in VC100 and 37% in VC50 + CF50 compared to mineral (CF100) treatment. But crude protein content was low by 13.5% in VC100 and 2.9% in VC50 + CF50, respectively, as compared to CF100 treatment. Organic carbon content and pH of the acid lateritic soil were improved in organic nutrient management as compared to mineral fertilizer. Conclusion: Organic fertilizer application, therefore, exhibited potential in improving sweet corn yield and quality and soil health in acid lateritic soil of the subtropical climate.

The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of elevated [CO 2 ] with varying nutrient management on rice–rice production system. The experiment was conducted in the open field and inside open-top chambers (OTCs) of ambient [CO 2 ] (≈ 390 μmol L − 1 ) and elevated [CO 2 ] environment (25% above ambient) during wet and dry seasons in 2011–2013 at Kharagpur, India. The nutrient management included recommended doses of N, P, and K as chemical fertilizer (CF), integration of chemical and organic sources, and application of increased (25% higher) doses of CF. The higher [CO 2 ] level in the OTC increased aboveground biomass but marginally decreased filled grains per panicle and grain yield of rice, compared to the ambient environment. However, crop root biomass was increased significantly under elevated [CO 2 ]. With respect to nutrient management, increasing the dose of CF increased grain yield significantly in both seasons. At the recommended dose of nutrients, integrated nutrient management was comparable to CF in the wet season, but significantly inferior in the dry season, in its effect on growth and yield of rice. The [CO 2 ] elevation in OTC led to a marginal increase in organic C and available P content of soil, but a decrease in available N content. It was concluded that increased doses of nutrients via integration of chemical and organic sources in the wet season and chemical sources alone in the dry season will minimize the adverse effect of future climate on rice production in subtropical India.

Quality tea production is in need for its better acceptability and marketability. So far, few studies have been made on the impact of fertilizer input management practices on quality of tea. To address the issue, tea was grown through conventional and organic practices in a field experiment for comparing yield and tea quality through production of biochemical compounds like crude fibre, starch, total phenolics, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate [(-)-EGCG], (-)-gallocatechin gallate [(-)-GCG] and (-)-epicatechin gallate [(-)-ECG], and antioxidant activity. The experiment was conducted in acid-lateritic soil with four fertilizer treatments i.e. conventional fertilizer (CF), organic fertilizers such as Vermicompost (V) and Vermicompost+Vermiwash (V+Vw), and one control treatment on two tea varieties i.e. TV1, and TV25, at Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India. In CF treatment, N fertilizer was applied at 200 kg/ha through urea. In V treatment, vermicompost dose was calculated to supply similar N dose based on its N equivalent basis. In V+Vw treatment, same dose of vermicompost used along with vermiwash at 650 l/ha through foliar spary as a growth inducer. Organically grown tea improved soil health by improving its physical, chemical and biological properties and thereby increased yield of fresh and made tea leaves as compared to conventional practice. The content of crude fibre was maximum in control treatment and minimum in chemical fertilizer, and intermediate in organic treatments. Organic fertilization produced higher polyphenol than inorganic source, which has shown greater antioxidant property when analyzed through the methods dot-blot -DPPH staining, DPPH radical assay, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities by electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry.