Improvement of Soil Health and System Productivity through Crop Diversification and Residue Incorporation under Jute-Based Different Cropping Systems

Crop diversity through residue incorporation is the most important method for sustaining soil health. A field study was conducted over five consecutive years (2012–2017) to see the impact of residue incorporartions in Inceptisol of eastern India. The main plot treatments had five cropping systems (CS), namely, fallow−rice−rice (FRR), jute−rice−wheat (JRW), jute−rice−baby corn (JRBc), jute−rice−vegetable pea (JRGp), jute−rice−mustard−mungbean/green gram (JRMMu), which cinsisted of four sub-plots with varied nutrient and crop residue management (NCRM) levels, namely crops with no residue +75% of the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) (F1R0), crops with the residue of the previous crops +75% RDF (F1R1), crops with no resiude +100% RDF (F2R0), and crops with residue +100% RDF (F2R1). The highest system productivity was obtained for JRBc (15.3 Mg·ha−1), followed by JRGp (8.81 Mg·ha−1) and JRMMu (7.61 Mg·ha−1); however, the highest sustainability index was found with the JRGp cropping system (0.88), followed by JRMMu (0.82). Among the NCRMs, the highest productivity (8.78 Mg·ha−1) and sustainability index (0.83) were recorded in F2R1. Five soil parameters, namely, bulk density, available K, urease activity, dehydrogenase activity, and soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), were used in the minimum data-set (MDS) for the calculation of the soil quality index (SQI). The best attainment of SQI was found in the JRGp system (0.63), closely followed by the JRMMu (0.61) cropping system.

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Effect of Residue Management and Cropping System on Direct Deeded Rice and System Productivity

Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology ◽

10.9734/cjast/2020/v39i2030832 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 132-137

Author(s):

Alisha Kumari ◽

Vinod Kumar ◽

Rajan Kumar ◽

Mukesh Kumar

Keyword(s):

Production Efficiency ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Residue Management ◽

System Productivity ◽

Land Use Efficiency ◽

Matter Production ◽

Moisture Regimes ◽

Green Pea ◽

Direct Seeded

A field experiment was conducted during three seasons of 2018-19 at RPCAU, Pusa to evaluate the Effect of Residue Management and Cropping Systems on direct seeded rice and System productivity. Treatments comprised cropping systems in main plots: C1 - Rice - Wheat - Fallow, C2 - Rice - Wheat - Green Gram, C3 - Rice - Maize - Dhaincha, C4 - Rice - Maize + Potato - Dhaincha, C5 - Rice - Maize + Green Pea - Dhaincha and moisture regimes in sub plots with 3 days disappearance of ponded water in kharif season, three levels of IW/CPE ratio in rabi season I1 - IW/CPE = 0.6, I2 - IW/CPE = 0.8, I3 - IW/CPE = 1.0. Maximum number of tillers (273.55/m2), dry matter production (1464.91g/m2), number of panicles/m2 (267.80 m2), grain yield (52.21q/ha) of rice was observed in C5 cropping system and panicle length (23.99 cm cm), number of grains /panicle (160.05), straw yield (69.58 q/ha) in C4 which was significantly superior than C1 cropping system. Plant height and 1000 grain weight, harvest index and Land Use Efficiency (LUE) were non significantly affected by different cropping systems. Maximum Rice Economic Yield (REY) of 24.26 t/ha and Production efficiency (PE) 73.97 kg/ha/day was observed in C4 which was significantly superior to rest of treatments. In sub plot maximum REY (15.905 t/ha) and PE (49.81 kg/ha/day) were observed in IW/CPE ratio 1 which was significantly superior to IW/CPE ratio 0.6 and 0.8.

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Productivity and Resource Use Efficiency of different Jute based Cropping Systems under Nutrient and Crop Residue Management Practices

Journal of AgriSearch ◽

10.21921/jas.v3i2.11264 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Mukesh Kumar ◽

A.K. Ghorai ◽

S Mitra ◽

B Majumdar ◽

M Ramesh Naik ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crop Residue ◽

Production Efficiency ◽

Management Practices ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Leafy Vegetable ◽

Residue Management ◽

Garden Pea ◽

System Productivity ◽

Use Efficiency

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of nutrient and crop residue incorporation on productivity jute based cropping system in split plot design during 2012-14. The main plot comprised of five cropping sequences viz., rice-rice, jute-rice-wheat, jute-rice-baby corn-jute (for leafy vegetable), jute-rice-garden pea, jute-rice-mustard-mungbean andfour nutrient management practicesviz. 75% recommended doses of fertilizers (RDF) with and without crop residue (rice, wheat, corn, garden pea and mungbean with their respective cropping sequence) and 100 % RDF with and without crop residue in sub plot. Jute-rice-baby corn- jute(leafy vegetable) cropping system recorded the highest system productivity (192.36q/ha) followed by jute-rice-garden pea (88.6 q/ha), water use efficiency (34.86 kg/m3), production efficiency (65.9 kg/ha/day), and economic efficiency (Rs724/ha/day) followed by jute-rice-garden pea recorded those parameter were (89.4 q/ha), 27.01 kg/m3, 30.31 kg/ha/day and Rs.346/ha/day, respectively.The land use efficacy (94.5%) was higher in jute-rice-mustard- mungbean followed by jute-rice-baby corn-veg. jute(93.2%). The higher system productivity of all crop sequences was recorded with 100 % RDF with crop residue. However it was at par with 75% RDF with crop residue and100% RDF.

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Impact of Cropping Systems and Resource Conservation Techniques on Productivity and Profitability of Systems

Indian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.18805/ijare.a-5403 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shaukat Ali ◽

A. M. Patel ◽

Sangeeta Sharma

Keyword(s):

Crop Residues ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Farmyard Manure ◽

Cropping System ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Inorganic Fertilizer ◽

Continuous Increase ◽

System Productivity ◽

Residue Incorporation ◽

Equivalent Yield

Background: A suitable cropping system seem to be the possible solution to meet the continuous increase in demand for food, stability of income and diverse requirement of food grains. Selection of suitable cropping system for conservation of resources has prime importance now a day. The cropping systems selected in study have higher potential of production along with incorporable residues during winter. The residues of cotton, castor and mustard crops (Crops in selected cropping systems) have more potential to feed nutrients to soil as compared to burning. So incorporation of such crop residues in to soil helps to recycle the nutrients to correct their deficiencies. Farmyard manure is being used as major source of organic manure in field crops. Thus to maintain the soil health, integrated nutrient management approaches involving FYM and mineral source need to be standardized. So there is need to find out agronomically efficient and economically viable cropping system which can perform better for increasing productivity and profitability with association of conservation of natural resources. Methods: The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Sixteen treatment combinations comprising of four cropping system treatments viz, C1 : Cotton- Summer Pearlmillet, C2 : Greengram + Kharif Castor (Relay), C3 : Greengram - Mustard - Summer Pearlmillet and C4 : Greengram - Rabi Castor and two residue incorporation treatments viz, R0 : No residue incorporation and R1 : Residue incorporation as well as two fertilizer doses viz, F1 : 100% RDN through inorganic fertilizer and F2 : 75% RDN through inorganic fertilizer + 25% RDN through FYM were evaluated in the study. Result: Cotton - summer pearlmillet cropping system found significantly superior by recording higher pearlmillet equivalent yield, system productivity and system profitability while, total weed count/m2 and total weed dry weight were found the lowest under greengram- kharif castor (relay) cropping system. Residue incorporation secured top position by recording significantly the highest pearlmillet equivalent yield, system productivity and system profitability as well as lowest total weed count/m2 and total weed dry weight. Application of 75% RDN through inorganic fertilizer + 25% RDN through FYM recorded significantly highest pearlmillet equivalent yield, system productivity and system profitability. In case of weed count and weed dry weight, 100% RDN through inorganic fertilizer found significantly superior by recording lowest total weed count/m2 and total weed dry weight.

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Physiological and biochemical evaluation of varagu with blackgram intercropping competition and yield advantage

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL PLANT SCIENCES ◽

10.15740/has/ijps/16.2/147-154 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 147-154

Author(s):

K. Ananthi ◽

P. Parasuraman

Keyword(s):

Cropping Systems ◽

Block Design ◽

Soil Health ◽

Cropping System ◽

Spatial Arrangement ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Area Index ◽

Randomized Block Design ◽

Biological Nitrogen ◽

The Impact

Intercropping increases in productivity per unit of land via better utilisation of resources, minimises the risks, reduces weed competition and stabilizes the yield. Many intercropping systems have proved to be better than sole crops in terms of yield because intercropping makes better use of one or more agricultural resources both in time and in space. The beneficial effect of pulse crops is improving soil health in the form of biological nitrogen fixation, leaf fall, addition of considerable amount of organic matter through root biomass, improving microbial biomass and they keep soil productive and alive by bringing qualitative changes in physical, chemical and biological properties and sustaining productivity. The principal advantage of intercropping system is the more efficient utilization of soil, water, nutrient and increased productivity compared with each sole crop under rainfed and irrigated ecosystem. Choice of ecologically sound crops as millets and adoption of intercropping systems are two of suitable options for maximization of productivity in drylands cropping system due to the reason that competition of plant could be minimized not only by spatial arrangement, but also by combining those crops which have best able to exploit soil nutrients. A field study was scheduled to estimate the impact of intercropping varagu with greengram and blackgram cropping system under rain-fed situation onleaf area, leaf area index, specific leaf weight, crop growth rate, chlorophyll content, no. of tillers per plant and grain yield at Centre of Excellence in Millets, Athiyandal, Tiruvannamalai. It was done in Kharif, 2018 and 2019. Randomized Block Design was used to conduct this experiment. It has three replications. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare varagu with blackgram and greengram inter cropping effects, as well as reveal which intercrops better adopts to rainfed cropping systems using these parameters to improve water use efficiency in the production. Highest returns were obtained from Sole Varagu with blackgram (1:1) due to greater productivity under this treatment with comparable cost of cultivation.

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Impact of Conservation Agriculture and Cropping System On Soil Organic Carbon and Its Fractions in Alluvial Soils of Eastern Gangetic Plains

10.21203/rs.3.rs-993858/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rakesh S ◽

Abhas K Sinha ◽

Mahesh Kumar Gathala ◽

Menzies ◽

Sudarshan Dutta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

West Bengal ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Soil Health ◽

Cropping System ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Alluvial Soils ◽

Strong Positive Correlation ◽

The Impact

Abstract Purpose A conservation agriculture-based sustainable intensification (CASI) practices have been proposed as a potential alternative management strategy for achieving the food, water and energy security while sustaining the soil health and climate resilience. In this study, we evaluate the performance of CASI technologies under two cropping systems on carbon (C) dynamics in the soils of recent and old alluvial nature of West Bengal in Eastern Alluvial Ganga Plains. Methods The on-farm field study was undertaken for four years during 2014-15 to 2018-19 with an objective of long-term setup at Coochbehar and Malda districts, West Bengal (subtropical eastern India). The two cropping systems (rice-wheat, RW and rice-maize, RM) and two tillage options (zero tillage, ZT and conventional tillage, CT) were evaluated on multi-location at farmers’ field to see the impact on soil total organic carbon (TOC) and its fractions, stratification, and stocks. Results About 20% higher TOC concentration was observed in the old alluvial soils (Inceptisols of Malda district) as compared to recent alluvial soils (Entisols of Coochbehar district). TOC and its fractions significantly (p<0.05) improved under RM cropping system than that under RW. The ZT system enhanced the TOC and its fractions by 16.8 and 9.8 % over CT at 0–5 and 5–10 cm respectively. All the C fractions showed strong positive correlation (r= >0.85; p < 0.01) with TOC except POC. Conclusions Our research indicated that ZT system increased the C turnover rate in both soil types which was found more prominent in RM system.

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Impact of land management system on crop yields and soil fertility in Cameroon

Solid Earth ◽

10.5194/se-6-1087-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 1087-1101 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

D. Tsozué ◽

J. P. Nghonda ◽

D. L. Mekem

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Control Sample ◽

Cropping System ◽

Field Work ◽

Exchange Capacity ◽

Direct Seeding ◽

Ph Values ◽

The Impact

Abstract. The impact of direct-seeding mulch-based cropping systems (DMC), direct seeding (DS) and tillage seeding (TS) on Sorghum yields, soil fertility and the rehabilitation of degraded soils was evaluated in northern Cameroon. Field work consisted of visual examination, soil sampling, yield and rainfall data collection. Three fertilization rates (F1: 100 kg ha−1 NPK + 25 kg ha−1 of urea in DMC, F2: 200 kg ha−1 NPK + 50 kg ha−1 of urea in DMC and F3: 300 kg ha−1 NPK + 100 kg ha−1 of urea in DMC) were applied to each cropping system (DS, TS and DMC), resulting in nine experimental plots. Two types of chemical fertilizer were used (NPK 22.10.15 and urea) and applied each year from 2002 to 2012. Average Sorghum yields were 1239, 863 and 960 kg ha−1 in DMC, DS and TS, respectively, at F1, 1658, 1139 and 1192 kg ha−1 in DMC, DS and TS, respectively, at F2, and 2270, 2138 and 1780 kg ha−1 in DMC, DS and TS, respectively, at F3. pH values were 5.2–5.7 under DMC, 4.9–5.3 under DS and TS and 5.6 in the control sample. High values of cation exchange capacity were recorded in the control sample, TS system and F1 of DMC. Base saturation rates, total nitrogen and organic matter contents were higher in the control sample and DMC than in the other systems. All studied soils were permanently not suitable for Sorghum due to the high percentage of nodules. F1 and F2 of the DS were currently not suitable, while F1 and F3 of DMC, F3 of DS and F1, F2 and F3 of TS were marginally suitable for Sorghum due to low pH values.

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Effect of Cropping System and Rice Residue Retention on Crop Productivity and Soil Physical Properties in Rice Based Cropping System of Bangladesh

The Agriculturists ◽

10.3329/agric.v17i1-2.44693 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (1-2) ◽

pp. 14-30

Author(s):

M Jahangir Alam ◽

S Ahmed ◽

MK Islam ◽

R Islam ◽

M Islam

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Wheat Yield ◽

Cropping System ◽

Physical Property ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

System Productivity ◽

Transplanted Rice ◽

Residue Retention

Cropping systems of Bangladesh are highly diverse and cultivation costs of puddled transplanted rice (PTR) are high. Therefore, an improved system is needed to address the issues, a field experiment was conducted during 2011-2013 to evaluate system intensification with varying degrees of cropping systems and residue retention. Four cropping systems (CSE) namely CSE1: T. boro rice-T. aman rice (control), CSE2: wheat-mungbean-T. aman rice (wheat and mungbean sown using a power tiller-operated seeder (PTOS) with full tillage in a single pass; puddled transplanted aman), CSE3: wheat-mungbean-dry seeded DS aman rice (DSR), and CSE4: wheat-mungbean-DS aman rice (all sown by PTOS with strip tillage) were compared. Two levels of aman rice residue retention (removed; partial retention i.e. 40 cm of standing stubble) were compared in sub plots. Grain yield was significantly higher (by 11%) when wheat was grown after DSR than PTR. Similarly, PTR and DSR (aman rice) produced statistically similar crop yields. Rice residue retention resulted a significantly higher (by 10%) wheat yield and a slightly increased (by 6%) mungbean yield than that of residues removed. The system productivity of CSE4 was significantly higher (by 10%) than CSE1 when averaged of the two years data. Partial aman residue retention gave significantly higher system yield than residue removal (by 0.6 t ha-1). After two years, no effect of CSE or partial aman residue retention was found on soil physical property (bulk density) of the top soil. Therefore, CSE4 along with residue retention would be more effective for sustainable crop production. The Agriculturists 2019; 17(1-2) 14-30

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Contrasting agricultural management effects on soil organic carbon dynamics between topsoil and subsoil

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr19379 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 59 (1) ◽

pp. 24

Author(s):

Yui Osanai ◽

Oliver Knox ◽

Gunasekhar Nachimuthu ◽

Brian Wilson

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Nitrogen Availability ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Agricultural Management ◽

Agricultural Practice ◽

Organic Fraction ◽

Soc Stock ◽

The Impact

Agricultural practices (e.g. tillage, crop rotation and fertiliser application) have a strong influence on the balance between carbon (C) input and output by altering physicochemical and microbial properties that control decomposition processes in the soil. Recent studies suggest that the mechanisms by which agricultural practice impacts soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in the topsoil may not be the same as those in the subsoil. Here, we assessed SOC stock, soil organic fractions and nitrogen availability to 1.0 m in soils under a cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)-based cropping system, and assessed the impact of agricultural management (three historical cropping systems with or without maize (Zea mays L.) rotation) on SOC storage. We found that the maize rotation and changes in the particulate organic fraction influenced SOC stock in the topsoil, although the overall change in SOC stock was small. The large increase in subsoil SOC stock (by 31%) was dominated by changes in the mineral-associated organic fraction, which were influenced by historical cropping systems and recent maize rotation directly and indirectly via changes in soil nitrogen availability. The strong direct effect of maize rotation on SOC stock, particularly in the subsoil, suggests that the direct transfer of C into the subsoil SOC pool may dominate C dynamics in this cropping system. Therefore, agricultural management that affects the movement of C within the soil profile (e.g. changes in soil physical properties) could have a significant consequence for subsoil C storage.

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Competition Indices of Safflower and Faba Bean Intercrops as Affected by Fertilizers

Notulae Scientia Biologicae ◽

10.15835/nsb11110340 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 130-137

Author(s):

Mahmoodreza SAEIDI ◽

Yaghoub RAEI ◽

Rouhollah AMINI ◽

Akbar TAGHIZADEH ◽

Bahman PASBAN-ESLAM ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Faba Bean ◽

Yield Components ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Block Design ◽

Cropping System ◽

Productivity Index ◽

Crop Species ◽

System Productivity ◽

Yield And Yield Components ◽

Sole Cropping

Cropping systems of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) with faba bean (Vicia faba L.) under different fertility were compared with sole cropping of each crop during 2015 and 2016 at the Research Farm of Tabriz University in Iran. The treatments were cropping systems (safflower and faba bean sole croppings, intercropping systems of safflower and faba bean with ratios of 1:1 and 2:1), and nutrient levels (100% chemical fertilizers, 60%, 30% chemical + biofertilizers and no fertilizer). A factorial set of treatments based on a randomized complete block design replicated three times was used. Cropping system and fertility effects were significant for yield and yield components of each crop. Yield and yield components were increased with the integrated use of 60% chemical plus biofertilizers for both years, while seed yield was reduced by intercropping. Maximum land equivalent ratio (LER), relative value total (RVT), system productivity index (SPI) and monetary advantage index (MAI) were achieved in nutritive level of 60% chemical plus biofertilizers as intercropped plants in ratio of 1:1 for both years. The total actual yield loss (AYL) values were positive and greater than zero in all mixtures, indicating an advantage from intercropping over sole crops. Intercropped safflower had a higher relative crowding coefficient (RCC) than intercropped faba bean, indicating that safflower was more competitive than faba bean in intercropping systems. From this study, it is inferred that intercropping (safflower and faba bean) with integrated use of the reduced chemical and biofertilizers may give better overall yield and income than sole cropping of each crop species.

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How to Value the Ecosystem Services Provided by a Field? Parallel Between the Indicators Used by Scientists and the Empirical Observations of Belgian Farmers

Proceedings ◽

10.3390/proceedings2019030082 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 82

Author(s):

Lola Leveau ◽

Pierre Bertin ◽

Hugues Falys

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Soil Aggregates ◽

Research Question ◽

Collaborative Study ◽

Cropping System ◽

Measurement Methods ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Empirical Measurement ◽

The Impact

When it comes to assessing the agronomic and environmental performances of a cropping system, collaborative research with real farms can provide a lot of information that is not easily available when working in experimental plots. For example, this makes it possible to observe the long-term effects of certain farming practices or to evaluate the impact of the landscape surrounding a plot. This type of collaborative study involves a specific research methodology, particularly with regard to the choice of indicators and measurement methods that will be applied to the participants’ fields. In addition to the traditional criteria of relevance to the research question, scientific rigor and feasibility, the value that the indicators have for the farmers should be considered (Lebacq et al., 2013). The value an indicator has for a farmer can be deduced from various criteria: is the indicator understandable to him? Does he know any reference values that will allow him to interpret the results? Does he feel able to change the result via his agricultural practices? As part of a collaborative study on the agro-ecological nature of cropping systems applied by Belgian farmers, we conducted preliminary interviews with 20 future participating farmers. Our objectives were to assess the value farmers placed on the indicators usually used by scientists to measure the ecosystem services provided by a field, and to identify empirical measurement methods used by farmers to assess their performance on these same indicators. This poster presents, for each ecosystem service, the indicators usually used by scientists (Boerema et al., 2017) and, in parallel, the empirical measurement methods developed by farmers. For example, for the “stability of soil aggregates” indicator, some farmers told us they use a simplified test immersing fresh soil blocks in water, while others observe the soil particle load in water leaving their field after a storm, assess the amount of soil left under the beet cleaner during the harvest or wait for a heavy rain to walk in their fields and see how much mud gets stuck to their shoes. These results will serve as a basis in the continuation of our research for developing measurement methods that combine scientific rigorousness, proximity to the field and potential of appropriation of the results by participants.

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