The study of several soil series of Tista Floodplain soils were carried out to find the changing trend of nutrients status from 1996 to 2016. The studied values of different soil quality variables were changed likewise pH 5.87 ± 0.47 to 5.95 ± 0.33, organic matter 1.37 ± 0.31% to 1.47 ± 0.41%, ,total nitrogen 0.49 ± 0.13 cmol/kg to 0.64 ± 0.07 cmol/kg , phosphorous 0.10 ± 0.04 cmol/kg to 3.19 ± Hassan et al.; ARJA, 5(3): 1-9, 2017; Article no.ARJA.34365 2 0.34 cmol/kg, potassium 0.31 ± 0.29 cmol/kg to 2.93 ± 0.26 cmol/kg, sulfur 0.19 ± 0.05 cmol/kg to 8.66 ± 2.74 cmol/kg, iron 1.09 ± 0.46 cmol/kg to 2.07 ± 0.99 cmol/kg, manganese 0.10 ± 0.02 cmol/kg to 0.31 ± 0.30 cmol/kg, copper 0.03± 0.01 cmol/kg to 0.02 ± 0.01 cmol/kg, zinc 0.01 ± 4.8E-20 cmol/kg to 0.01 ± 0.01 cmol/kg in 1996 and 2016 respectively. Almost all variables changed over significantly at 5% (P < 0.05) level except pH, organic matter, total Nitrogen and Copper content whose were not significant at 5% (P < 0.05) level not even 10% (P < 0.10) level. The increasing trends of total Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Iron were positively correlated from 1996 to 2016 than other variables. The copper and zinc content did not showing any effective change over these 20 years. The overall nutrients were adequate except organic matter and total nitrogen content. But, the trends had positive direction of all nutrients due to application of organic and inorganic fertilizer that might be correlated with increasing concern about nutrients management concept among the farmer. Original Research Article

Declining water resources and soil degradation have significantly affected agricultural sustainability across the world. In the southern High Plains of USA, buffer strips of perennial grasses alternating with cultivated corn strips were introduced in center-pivot irrigated crop fields to increase agronomic production and ecosystem services. A study was conducted to evaluate soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and soil health benefits of integrating circular grass buffer strips in the center-pivot irrigated corn production system. Multiple parameters were assessed in the grass buffer strips, and at distances of 1.52, 4.57, and 9.14 m away from the edges of grass strips in corn strips. While grasses in the buffer strips depleted N compared to corn strips, potential C mineralization (PCM) was 52.5% to 99.9% more in grass strips than in corn strips. Soil microbial biomass C (MBC) content was 36.7% to 52.5% greater in grass strips than in corn strips. Grass buffer also reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from corn strips. Grass buffer strips can improve soil health and sustainability in center-pivot irrigated cropping systems by increasing soil C components and reducing GHG emissions.

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] serves as a low‐cost alternative to corn (Zea mays L.) in semi‐arid regions of the world because of its high N and water use efficiencies. However, there has been a concern regarding N loss to the atmosphere as nitrous oxide (N2O) from semi‐arid drylands. This study investigated various soil C and N components, including CO2 and N2O emissions, and crop yield with a dairy compost (13.5 Mg ha−1) and four rates of chemical N fertilizer (0, 22.4, 44.8, and 67.3 kg ha−1) in dryland sorghum. There was no significant difference in soil C and N fractions among N fertilizer rates, although compost addition numerically increased soil C storage and 67.3 kg ha−1 N rate resulted the highest yield in both years. Potential nitrogen mineralization (PNM) was negatively related to crop yield and positively related to grain N content. Soils with greater inorganic N and PNM had a lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, while soils with greater potential C mineralization (PCM) had lower N2O emissions. The results of this study show no significant improvements in yield of dryland sorghum in the semi‐arid environment of southern Great Plains in the short term. However, compost and 44.8 kg N ha−1 applications appeared to be beneficial when both yield and quality were compared.