Impacts of conservation tillage on soil quality, including soil-borne crop diseases, with a focus on semi-arid grain cropping systems

SUMMARYSoil quality integrates the effects of soil physical, chemical and biological attributes. Some of them are dynamic in nature and behave differentially in various agro-ecosystems (AESs) and are quantified in terms of a soil quality index (SQI). An attempt has been made in this paper to develop an SQI based on a minimum data set (MDS), which could be used to evaluate the sustainability of the crop production in three varying AESs in India, namely sub-humid, semi-arid and arid. Thirteen indicators were utilized to develop the SQI from the properties measured from the surface soil layer (0–15 cm). Each indicator of the MDS was transformed into a dimensionless score based on scoring functions (linear and non-linear) and integrated into four SQIs. The weighted non-linear index (WNLI) was identified as the most sensitive for all the AESs and was recommended as an index for future assessments. Based on this index, the quantification of soil quality under several cropping systems was carried out for sub-humid, semi-arid and arid AESs and the most suitable cropping system was identified. WLNI was positively and significantly correlated (R2= 0.79,p< 0.01) with wheat equivalent yield for all the cropping systems. This clearly indicated that the index may be used satisfactorily for quantifying soil quality.

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Effects of Conjunctive Use of Organic and Inorganic Sources of Nutrients on Soil Quality Indicators and Soil Quality Index in Sole Maize, Maize + Soybean, and Sole Soybean Cropping Systems in Hot Semi-arid Tropical Vertisol

Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis ◽

10.1080/00103624.2014.929696 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 45 (16) ◽

pp. 2118-2140 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

K. L. Sharma ◽

G. R. Maruthi Shankar ◽

D. Suma Chandrika ◽

J. Kusuma Grace ◽

S. K. Sharma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Quality ◽

Quality Indicators ◽

Quality Index ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Conjunctive Use ◽

Soil Quality Indicators ◽

Soil Quality Index ◽

Semi Arid

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Wheat Yield Improvement in Eroded Semi-Arid Areas of China

Outlook on Agriculture ◽

10.5367/000000003101294415 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 155-159 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Deng Xi-Ping ◽

Shan Lun ◽

Inanaga Shinobu ◽

Keren Rami

Keyword(s):

Water Conservation ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Conservation Tillage ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Global Climate ◽

Wheat Yield ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Wheat Growth ◽

Drought Tolerant ◽

Semi Arid

The greatest fear from global climate change is drought, and water is the most important factor influencing wheat growth. Soil and water conservation are, therefore, key requirements for sustaining productivity and environmental quality in semi-arid cropping systems. Great attention has been paid to the management of, demand for, and more efficient use of water. The comprehensive technical strategies reviewed in this paper include conserving water to combine both increased agricultural productivity and resource conservation; enquiries into how wheat plants respond to drought through morphological, physiological and metabolic modifications that occur in all plant organs; breeding for drought tolerance where there is a delineated stress environment and genotype × environment interactions are stable; and effective conservation of rainfall and high efficiency of use. Valuable techniques such as conservation tillage, mulch cultivation, limited irrigation, introduction of drought-tolerant varieties and rotation systems can be adjusted to local agricultural practices.

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Growth and Economic Profitability of Castor Cultivation in the Semi-arid Zone of Haryana

Indian Journal of Economics and Development ◽

10.35716/ijed/ns20-011 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 300-305

Keyword(s):

Arid Zone ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Market Price ◽

Transportation Cost ◽

Castor Seed ◽

Production Constraints ◽

Net Profit ◽

Semi Arid ◽

Extract Information

The present study was carried out in three districts viz; Rewari, Sirsa and Hisar of Haryana state. A survey of 60 sampled farms was conducted to extract information pertaining to various expenses incurred in cultivation of castor and output attained as well as to ascertain the perception of farmers for various problems encountered in production and marketing of castor seed. The descriptive analysis was employed to draw valid inferences from the study. The results revealed that net profit accrued from cultivation of castor seed was ₹ 46331 ha -1 in the study area. The value of B: C ratio of castor cultivation was more than one and also higher as compared to prevalent cropping systems indicated that cultivation of castor seed is economical viable entity. However, production constraints like retention of F2 seed in the field over year, grain scattering, shortage of irrigation water, frost effect on crop yield and marketing constraints like absence of MSP, higher transportation cost sale of castor seed in distant markets, frequent fluctuation in market price, non-availability of processing units were observed.

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