Soil Chemical Properties under Conservation Agriculture and Cereal-Based Cropping System in Eastern Tarai of Nepal

Field experiments were conducted for four years (2014-2017) at five locations namely Salbani, Bhokraha, Simariya, Bhaluwa and Kaptanganj of Sunsari district to assess the changes in soil chemical properties under conservation agriculture (CA)-based practices in two cropping systems namely rice-kidney bean-maize at Salbani and rice-wheat at rest of the locations. In rice-wheat cropping system, there were four treatments: (1) conventional tillage (CT) for rice transplantation and subsequent wheat sowing, (2) conventional tillage rice transplantation followed by zero tillage (ZT) wheat, (3) unpuddled rice transplantation followed by zero tillage wheat, (4) zero tillage in both rice and wheat. Similarly, in rice-kidney bean-maize cropping system, there were four treatments; (1) conventional tillage for rice transplantation and sowing of both kidney bean and maize, (2) conventional tillage rice transplantation followed by zero tillage in both kidney bean and maize, (3) unpuddled rice transplantation followed by zero tillage in both kidney bean and maize, (4) zero tillage in all three crops. Soil samples were taken at initial and every year after rice harvest.The soil samples were analyzed for total nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, pH and soil organic matter.Total nitrogen (N) showed a slightly decreasing trend in the first three years and showed a slight increase at the end of experiment under ZT in all locations. The total N under ZT changed from 0.12 to 0.13%, 0.05 to 0.06%, 0.10 to 0.12%, 0.11 to 0.08% and 0.09 to 0.13% in Salbani, Bhokraha, Simariya, Bhaluwa and Kaptanganj, respectively. All locations showed the positive values of available potassium; Salbani revealing considerable change of 64.3 to 78.5 mg/kg in CT while 68.4 to 73.3 mg/kg in ZT condition. The treatment where rice was transplanted in unpuddled condition and zero tilled to wheat, had a mean value of available phosphorus and potassium as 87.3 and 81.9 mg/kg respectively. Soil pH ranged from 4.8 to 7.1 in CT while it was 5.2 to 6.8 in ZT across the locations. The change in soil organic matter in CT of all locations except Salbani was narrower as compared to ZT.

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Soil Chemical Properties Changes under Alley Cropping in Terrace Ecosystem of Bangladesh

Asian Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition ◽

10.9734/ajsspn/2021/v7i430120 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 32-42

Author(s):

A. S. M. J. Alam ◽

S. R. Saha ◽

M. G. Miah ◽

M. M. Rahman ◽

M. R. Islam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alley Cropping ◽

Soil Health ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Cropping System ◽

Gliricidia Sepium ◽

Soil Chemical Properties ◽

Available Phosphorus ◽

Total N ◽

Sound Environment

Soil health needs to be improved for the sustenance of a productive agriculture and sound environment where alley cropping system might play a vital role. The study was composed of two factors viz. three alley widths of Gliricidia sepium (3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 m), and five nitrogen levels (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the recommended dose) along with pruned materials in a split-plot design with three replications. The soil chemical properties were examined in alleys of Gliricidia sepium tree over two consecutive seasons. Results displayed that pruned materials (PM) of G. sepium increased the soil pH, organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S), exchangeable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soil in different alley widths compared to the control. However, alley width 3.0 m and 100% N along with PM displayed the maximum OC (0.94%), total N (0.21%), available P (16.26 ppm), exchangeable Ca (2.54 meq/100 g) and Mg (0.90 meq/100 g), while maximum exchangeable K and CEC were noted in alley width 4.5 m and 100% N along with PM. The above results explicated that the improvement of the soil chemical properties by using pruned materials of G. sepium in alleys can be a promising option for uplifting the soil health condition as well as sustainable agricultural practices.

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Soil Chemical Property Variation under Different Conservation Agriculture Practices, in Bako Tibe District, West Shoa, Ethiopia

International Journal of Plant & Soil Science ◽

10.9734/ijpss/2019/v29i330143 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Regassa Terefe ◽

Bekele Lemma

Keyword(s):

Crop Residue ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Block Design ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Soil Chemical Properties ◽

Available Phosphorus ◽

Grazing Land ◽

Total N ◽

The Impact

Conservation agriculture is claimed to be one of the solutions for the problems of poor agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan countries. The impact of conservation agriculture depends on environmental factors such as slope, vegetation, soil type, rain fall pattern and intended crops. This study was conducted from 2013 to 2014 with the objective of assessing the impact of conservation agriculture practices on soil chemical properties. Five main treatments were selected for the study: Monocropping (maize) without crop residue, Monocropping (maize) with crop residue, Crop rotation (maize and haricot bean) with crop residue, Intercropping (Haricot bean with maize) with crop residue and a grazing land as a control. A Randomized complete block design with four replications was used. A total of 40 composite soil samples (4 replication * 5 treatments * 2 soil depth) were collected and analysed for selected soil chemical properties. Results showed that soils in the study area were moderately acidic, and contained medium level of available phosphorus (AP) (7.33±0.58 mg/kg), but low concentration of total N (0.176±0.02%). Soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), C/N, and AP did not significantly differ (p=0.958, p=0.998, p=0.219, p=0.140 and 0.568) respectively, among the treatments following the four year of conservation agricutural practices. Thus, conservation agriculture has little effect on soil properties in short term, but it may take longer time to influence on different soil chemical properties in the study area.

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Effects of conservation agriculture on productivity and Economics of maize-wheat based cropping systems in midwestern Nepal

SAARC Journal of Agriculture ◽

10.3329/sja.v17i1.42761 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 49-63

Author(s):

K Pariyar ◽

A Chaudhary ◽

P Sapkota ◽

S Sharma ◽

CB Rana ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Net Income ◽

Zero Tillage ◽

Higher Plant ◽

Equivalent Yield

The effects of two tillage methods (zero tillage and conventional tillage), two residue managements (residue kept and residue removed) and two levels of cropping system (maize + soybean and sole maize) were studied over 3 years (2015-2017) at Dailekh district of Nepal. Arun-2 and Puja were the varieties of maize and soybean used respectively, followed by winter wheat. The results revealed that the maize + soybean system had significantly higher plant population and ear population (34.83 thousands ha-1 and 34.35 thousands ha-1, respectively), grains per row (37.1), ear length (16.6 cm) and 20.5% higher grain yield as compared to sole maize. The highest maize equivalent yield (7.92 t ha-1) was recorded in maize + soybean as compared to the lower grain yield equivalent (7.06 t ha-1) in sole maize. Zero tillage accounted relatively higher benefits (high net income and B:C ratio) as compared to conventional tillage. The residue kept plot resulted significantly higher B:C ratio (2.41) than the residue removed (2.11) and the maize + soybean recorded 82.5% greater B:C ratio compared to sole maize. Net annual income was significantly higher in zero tillage, residue kept and maize + soybean system (NRs. 223072.00, 222958.00 and 269016.00 ha-1 respectively). Such combinations are recommended for Dailekh district of Nepal to have profitable crop productivity. SAARC J. Agri., 17(1): 49-63 (2019)

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Effect of Tillage, Residue Management and Cropping System on the Properties of Soil

International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology ◽

10.3126/ijasbt.v6i2.20433 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 164-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Bibek Thapa ◽

Keshab Raj Pande ◽

Baburam Khanal ◽

Santosh Marahatta

Keyword(s):

Cropping System ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Residue Management ◽

Zero Tillage ◽

Tillage Practices ◽

Residue Removal ◽

Main Plot ◽

Residue Retention

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of tillage practices, residue management and cropping system on soil properties at NMRP, Rampur, Chitwan from November 2015 to April 2016. The experiment was laid on Strip split design with combination of 12 different treatments i.e, zero tillage & conventional tillage as main plot in the strip, residue retention & residue removal as sub-plot factor and maize – wheat, maize + soybean – wheat & soybean – wheat cropping system as sub-sub plot factor. Three replications of the treatments were made. Soil sample before experiment and after harvest of wheat was taken (0-15cm). The experiment showed significant effect of zero tillage on organic carbon (2.169%) and on total soil nitrogen (0.112 %). Zero tillage with retention of residues is valuable tool for the conservation agriculture and helps in sustainability of soil however long-term research for the tillage management and residue retention should be conducted to highlight the major effects on change in properties of soil.Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 6(2): 164-168

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Cropping system influences on soil chemical properties and soil quality in the Great Plains

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1079/rafs2005123 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 26-35 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

M.M. Mikha ◽

M.F. Vigil ◽

M.A. Liebig ◽

R.A. Bowman ◽

B. McConkey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Great Plains ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Cropping System ◽

Soil Chemical Properties ◽

Total N ◽

Organic C ◽

General Chemical ◽

Study Sites

AbstractSoil management and cropping systems have long-term effects on agronomic and environmental functions. This study examined the influence of contrasting management practices on selected soil chemical properties in eight long-term cropping system studies throughout the Great Plains and the western Corn Belt. For each study, soil organic C (SOC), total N (TN), particulate organic matter (POM), inorganic N, electrical conductivity (EC), and soil pH were evaluated at 0–7.5, 7.5–15, and 15–30 cm within conventional (CON) and alternative (ALT) cropping systems for 4 years (1999–2002). Treatment effects were primarily limited to the surface 7.5 cm of soil. No-tillage (NT) and/or elimination of fallow in ALT cropping systems resulted in significantly (P<0.05) greater SOC and TN at 0–7.5 cm within five of the eight study sites [Akron, Colorado (CO); Bushland, Texas (TX); Fargo, North Dakota (ND); Mandan, ND; and Swift Current, Saskatchewan (SK), Canada]. The same pattern was observed with POM, where POM was significantly (P<0.05) greater at four of the eight study sites [Bushland, TX, Mandan, ND, Sidney, Montana (MT), and Swift Current, SK]. No consistent pattern was observed with soil EC and pH due to management, although soil EC explained almost 60% of the variability in soil NO3-N at 0–7.5 cm across all locations and sampling times. In general, chemical soil properties measured in this study consistently exhibited values more conducive to crop production and environmental quality in ALT cropping systems relative to CON cropping systems.

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Effect of application compost and vermicompost from market waste on soil chemical properties and plant growth

Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management ◽

10.15243/jdmlm.2022.092.3379 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 3379-3386

Author(s):

S Syarifinnur ◽

Yulia Nuraini ◽

Budi Prasetya

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Total Phosphorus ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Soil Chemical Properties ◽

Available Phosphorus ◽

Total N ◽

Shoot Dry Weight ◽

Total Potassium ◽

Time Of Harvest

This study was conducted to determine the effect of compost and vermicompost from market organic waste on the soil chemical properties and the growth of maize. The treatments tested were three doses of compost (2.5, 5, and 10 t/ha), three doses of vermicompost (2.5, 5, and 10 t/ha), and one control (without compost or vermicompost). At the time of harvest (10 weeks after planting), maize shoot dry weight, root dry weight, cob length, cob diameter, cob with husk, and cob dry weight, as well as the soil chemical properties organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), total phosphorus (P), available P, total potassium (K), and pH were observed. Maize plant height, leaf number, and stem diameter were observed at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after planting. The results showed that the application of compost and vermicompost significantly affected soil chemical properties and the yield of maize. The application of 10 t vermicompost/ha resulted in the highest yield of maize and highest increase of soil organic carbon, total phosphorus available phosphorus, total potassium, and pH by 7.21%, 112.41%, 287.44%, 85.44% and 17.58%, respectively. The application of 10 t compost/ha resulted in the highest increase of soil total N by 44%.

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Effect of Conservation Tillage on Soil Chemical Properties in Rice-Maize Cropping System

The Agriculturists ◽

10.3329/agric.v13i2.26589 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 62-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

A K M Saiful Islam ◽

M A Saleque ◽

M M Hossain ◽

A K M Aminul Islam

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Cropping System ◽

Soil Chemical Properties ◽

Zero Tillage ◽

Tillage Practices ◽

Strip Tillage ◽

Residue Retention

Soil organic matter, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) nutrition of rice-maize cropping systems are important for sustaining crop productivity and food security. An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of tillage practices and residue retention on soil chemical properties in rice-maize cropping system. Conventional tillage, single pass wet tillage in rice (rotated with zero tillage in maize), bed planting (unpuddled rice transplanting) and strip tillage (unpuddled rice transplanting) in vertical plots and residue retention (0, 50 and 100%) in horizontal plot were tested for three consecutive years (2009-12). Rice was grown as transplanted irrigated crop and maize as upland crop. After third crop, strip tillage increased soil organic matter compared to bed and zero tillage at 07.5 cm soil depth. After three years, retention of crop residues, irrespective of tillage treatments, increased soil organic matter (SOM) at 7.515.0 cm soil depth. Tillage practices (puddled or unpudled) showed no significant changes in SOM. Neither tillage nor residue management had any significant effect on soil pH, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/agric.v13i2.26589The Agriculturists 2015; 13(2) 62-73

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Effect of homegarden and parkland agroforestry practices in Ethiopia on selected soil properties

African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development ◽

10.18697/ajfand.100.19220 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (05) ◽

pp. 18115-18130

Author(s):

HS Wolle ◽

◽

P Barberi ◽

S Carlesi ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Soil Chemical Properties ◽

Home Garden ◽

Available Phosphorus ◽

Shrub Species ◽

Agroforestry Practice ◽

Agroforestry Practices

Ethiopian agricultural lands are fragile due to inherent unfavourable soil properties, over-exploitation, mismanagement (deforestation, over-grazing and inappropriate land use systems) and harsh weather conditions. These factors are worsened by changing climatic conditions, leading to significant problems in terms of soil erosion and loss of soil fertility. The consequences of such processes can be detected at the economic (agricultural production is currently being jeopardized)and biological (risks of biodiversity loss and habitat fragmentation)levels. However, the use of tree/shrub species in various agroforestry practices can increase soil nutrient supply through nitrogen fixation, improve soil structure, reduce soil erosion and nutrient losses. A study was carried out in the Amhara region, Ethiopia to evaluate the effect of home garden and parkland agroforestry practices on selected soil chemical properties. Soil samples were taken from 20x20m square plots established in home garden agroforestry and adjacent agricultural land without trees (control). In parkland agroforestry practice, two dominant tree species in each of the five villages were chosen. Soil samples were taken from the tree at the midpoint of the canopy projection, at 0-15 and 15-30 cm depths. The collected soil samples were air-dried, homogenized and passed through a 2 mm sieve for subsequent soil chemical analysis. The results indicated that all soil chemical properties except total nitrogen were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected by the agroforestry practices.Higher soil organic carbon, organic matter, available phosphorus,and exchangeablepotassium were found in the home garden agroforestry practice, while the lowest values were recorded in without-tree fields (control). All soil chemical properties except soil pH decreased as the soil depth increased. Higher value of organic carbon, available phosphorus, and exchangeable potassium were found in the home garden agroforestry likely because of a higher proportion of deep-rooted tree/shrub species and species belonging to the legume functional group. Therefore, the home garden agroforestry practice can be used as an ecologically friendly and sustainable alternative to maintaining soil fertility.

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Tillage intensity and crop rotation affect weed community dynamics in a winter wheat cropping system

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/p01-023 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 81 (4) ◽

pp. 805-813 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

R. E. Blackshaw ◽

F. J. Larney ◽

C. W. Lindwall ◽

P. R. Watson ◽

D. A. Derksen

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Crop Rotation ◽

Community Dynamics ◽

Cropping System ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Amaranthus Retroflexus ◽

Zero Tillage ◽

Downy Brome ◽

Canada Thistle ◽

Long Term Study

Development of improved weed manage ment systems requires more knowledge on how various weed species respond to changing agronomic practices. A long-term study was conducted to determine weed population responses to various tillage intensities and crop rotations in a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) dominated cropping system. Weed density and species composition differed with tillage, rotation, year, and date of sampling within years. Weed community dynamics were most affected by year-to-year differences in environmental conditions, followed by crop rotation, and then tillage intensity. Russian thistle (Salsola iberica Sennen & Pau) and kochia [Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad.] densities increased in years of low rainfall and above average temperatures. Winter annual weeds such as downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) and flixweed [Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl], as well as the perennial weed dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber in Wiggers), increased in years where higher than average rainfall was received in fall or early spring. Continuous winter wheat facilitated a dense downy brome infestation to develop over time. Trifluralin is not efficacious on stinkweed (Thlaspi arvense L.) or Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.] and its use in canola resulted in an increase in these species in a winter wheat-canola rotation. Total weed densities were often greater in zero tillage than in either minimum or conventional tillage. Russian thistle, downy brome, kochia, and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) were associated with zero tillage while wild buckwheat (Polygonum convolvulus L.), lamb’s-quarters (Chenopodium album L.), flixweed, and wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.) were associated with conventional tillage. Perennials such as dandelion and perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis L.) were associated with zero tillage but Canada thistle was associated with conventional tillage. Information will be utilized to implement more effective weed management programs in winter wheat production systems. Key words: Conservation tillage, fallow, multivariate analyses, weed populations, weed shifts, zero tillage

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