Assessing soil quality under long-term organic vis-a-vis chemical farming after twelve years in north-western India

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Dina Nima ◽  
C. S. Aulakh ◽  
Sandeep Sharma ◽  
S. S. Kukal
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Western India ◽  
North Western

Long term effect of legume intensified crop rotations and tillage practices on productivity and profitability of maize vis-a-vis soil fertility in North-Western Indo-Gangetic Plains of India

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Yadav ◽  
C. M. Parihar ◽  
S. L. Jat ◽  
A. K. Singh ◽  
Rakesh Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Term Effect ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Western India ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
Net Returns ◽  
Long Term Effect ◽  
Stover Yield ◽  
North Western

The present study was planned to evaluate the long term effect of legume intensified maize based crop rotations and tillage practices on productivity, profitability of maize vis-a-vis soil health. The experiment consisted of three tillage practices i.e. zero tillage (ZT), permanent bed (PB) and conventional tillage (CT) as main plot treatments and four crop rotations (MWMb; maize-wheat-mungbean, MCS; maize-chickpea-Sesbania, MMuMb; maize-mustard-mungbean, MMS; maize-maize-Sesbania) as sub plot treatments. Results revealed that ZT and PB resulted into significantly (P less than 0.05) improvement in grain (7.7-14.2%) and stover yield (7.4-13.0%) of maize over CT. Similarly, maize grain and stover yield were invariably higher in MCS and MWMb systems compared to MMuMb and MMS rotations. The total soil carbon (TSC) content increased by 15.4-17.4 and 20.32-20.91% with ZT and PB over CT in 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil depths, respectively. However, MCS and MWMb rotations registered 11.3-18.0% (0-15 cm) and 8.4-11.0% (15-30 cm) higher TSC over MMuMb rotation. Similarly, ZT and PB resulted into significantly (P less than 0.05) improvement in available soil nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) compared to CT. ZT/PB under MCS crop rotations registered higher net returns and BC ratio compared to rest of the treatment combinations. Interaction effect of tillage and crop rotations were significant (P less than 0.05) for stover yield, net returns, BC ratio and TSC and all these parameters were reported maximum with ZT-MCS. Thus, the present study suggests that CA based crop management practices can be advocated as sustainable intensification strategy in north-western India.

Effects of Long Term Application of Organic and Mineral Fertilizers on Soil Enzymes

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (10) ◽  
pp. 2608-1612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alina Dora Samuel ◽  
Simona Bungau ◽  
Delia Mirela Tit ◽  
Carmen Elena Melinte (Frunzulica) ◽  
Lavinia Purza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Soil Enzymes ◽  
Farmyard Manure ◽  
Enzymatic Activities ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Soil Biology ◽  
Soil Biological Activity ◽  
Organic And Mineral Fertilizers

Long term productivity and conservation of soils is critical for sustaining agricultural ecosystems. The specific objective of the work reported was to determine the effects of long term application of organic and mineral fertilizers on soil enzyme activity as an index of soil biology and biochemistry. Three key soil enzymes involved in intracellular metabolism of microorganisms and two soil enzymes involved in phosphorus metabolism were selected. Actual and potential dehydrogenase, catalase, acid and alkaline phosphatase activities were determined in the 0-20 cm layer of an eroded soil submitted to a complex fertilization experiment. Results showed that addition of mineral fertilizers to organic (green manure and farmyard manure) fertilizers led to a significant increase in each activity because of increased plant biomass production which upon incorporation stimulates soil biological activity. The enzymatic indicators of soil quality calculated from the values of enzymatic activities depending on the kind of fertilizers showed that by the determination of enzymatic activities valuable information can be obtained regarding fertility status of soils. A weak positive correlation between enzymatic indicators of soil quality and maize yield was established. The yield data demonstrate the superiority of farmyard manure which provided greater stability in crop production. Substantial improvement in soil biological activity due to application of organic fertilizers with mineral fertilizers contribute in maintaining the productivity and soil health.

Gastrointestinal Protective Effect of Zizyphus xylopyrus (Retz) Willd Leaf Extract Against Indomethacin and HCl-EtOH Induced Ulcers

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-146
Author(s):  
Shweta Jain ◽  
Sourabh Jain ◽  
Nagendra S. Chauhan ◽  
Ankur Vaidya
Keyword(s):  
Protective Effect ◽  
Ethanolic Extract ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
Gastric Epithelium ◽  
Gastric Ulcers ◽  
Western India ◽  
Skin Infections ◽  
Ulcer Index ◽  
Digestive Disorders ◽  
North Western

Background: Zizyphus xylopyrus (Retz.) Willd. (Rhamnaceae) is a straggling shrub or a small tree, armed with spines, found throughout north western India, Pakistan and China. Methods: The aerial and root barks, leaves and fruits of Zizyphus species are used in medicine for the treatment of various diseases such as weakness, liver complaints, obesity, diabetes, skin infections, fever, diarrhea, insomnia and digestive disorders. Ethanolic extract of leaves of Zizyphus xylopyrus (Retz) Willd was prepared by solvent extraction and subjected to study the protective effect against Indomethacin and HCl-EtOH induced ulcer using Ranitidine (100 mg/kg) and Omeprazole (8 mg/kg) as standard respectively. Results: Histopathological lesions with marked disorientation of the gastric epithelium was observed in negative control, while extract treated rats showed a better protected mucosa with intact epithelium in comparison to standard treated rats. Ulcer index and percentage ulcer protection also represent protecting effects of the extract. Conclusion: Ethanolic extract of Z. xylopyrus (Retz) Willd leaves extract was found to be significantly protective against gastric ulcers.

scholarly journals Effects of Management and Hillside Position on Soil Organic Carbon Stratification in Mediterranean Centenary Olive Grove

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 650
Author(s):  
Jesús Aguilera-Huertas ◽  
Beatriz Lozano-García ◽  
Manuel González-Rosado ◽  
Luis Parras-Alcántara
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Olive Grove ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Degradation Degree

The short- and medium—long-term effects of management and hillside position on soil organic carbon (SOC) changes were studied in a centenary Mediterranean rainfed olive grove. One way to measure these changes is to analyze the soil quality, as it assesses soil degradation degree and attempts to identify management practices for sustainable soil use. In this context, the SOC stratification index (SR-COS) is one of the best indicators of soil quality to assess the degradation degree from SOC content without analyzing other soil properties. The SR-SOC was calculated in soil profiles (horizon-by-horizon) to identify the best soil management practices for sustainable use. The following time periods and soil management combinations were tested: (i) in the medium‒long-term (17 years) from conventional tillage (CT) to no-tillage (NT), (ii) in the short-term (2 years) from CT to no-tillage with cover crops (NT-CC), and (iii) the effect in the short-term (from CT to NT-CC) of different topographic positions along a hillside. The results indicate that the SR-SOC increased with depth for all management practices. The SR-SOC ranged from 1.21 to 1.73 in CT0, from 1.48 to 3.01 in CT1, from 1.15 to 2.48 in CT2, from 1.22 to 2.39 in NT-CC and from 0.98 to 4.16 in NT; therefore, the soil quality from the SR-SOC index was not directly linked to the increase or loss of SOC along the soil profile. This demonstrates the time-variability of SR-SOC and that NT improves soil quality in the long-term.

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