Effects of Conservation Tillage and Nutrient Management Practices on Soil Fertility and Productivity of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)–Rice System in North Eastern Region of India

Abstract

Over centuries and even today, traditional farming practices are well performed without any ecological degradation. However, management practice such as conservative tillage combined with nutrient and residue could increase the crop production as well as soil fertility. A three-year replicated study was conducted to assess the effects of agronomic modification of traditional farming practices on productivity and sustainability of rice (wet season)-rice (dry season) system (RRS). The replacement of farmers practice (T 2 ) with conservation effective tillage (no-till (NT)) and integrated nutrient management (INM) practice along with 30% residue retention (T 5 ) enhanced the straw, root and biomass yield of both wet season rice (WR), dry season rice (DR) and system as a whole over T 2 . Treatment T 5 recorded significantly lower soil bulk density ( b ) and higher pH than the T 2 after three years of the experiment. Further, treatment T 5 increased total soil organic carbon (2.8%), total soil organic carbon stock (2.8%), carbon sequestration rate (336.5 kg ha −1 year −1 ), cumulative carbon stock (142.9%) and carbon retention efficiency (141.0%) over T 2 of 0-20 cm depth after three year. The soil microbial biomass carbon concentration was significantly the highest under T 5 . Similarly, the dehydrogenase activity was the maximum under T 5 . Adoption of conservation tillage and nutrient management practice involving NT and INM along with residue retention can enhance the system productivity, and C and N sequestration in paddy soils is thereby contributing to the sustainability of the RRS.

The Effects of Tillage and Straw Incorporation on Soil Organic Carbon Status, Rice Crop Productivity, and Sustainability in the Rice-Wheat Cropping System of Eastern China

“…Kabiri et al [32] and Muhammad et al [33] reported that water-logged conditions in paddy fields generate anaerobic environment and reduce the rate of SOM mineralization by limiting the microbial population and their growth; also, Zhou et al [34] demonstrated that wheat straw incorporation is the best approach to maximize C accumulation and reduce atmospheric carbon, which improves the physical conditions of the soil and subsequently enhances the root development for crop production. Other studies [24,35] reported that paddy soils play a crucial role in total carbon sequestration and a sink for global C. The results in our study demonstrated that wheat residue incorporation significantly increased the SOM level by 3.08-17.07% compared to the treatments without straw at depths of 0-30 cm after two rice growing seasons (Figure 3). This trend was most likely associated with the amount of crop straw incorporated in the treatments, as suggested by other studies [36,37].…”

Phosphorus Nutrient Management through Synchronization of Application Methods and Rates in Wheat and Maize Crops

“…This study was conducted at a new developmental farm (NDF), the University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan, during the years 2014–2015. The physical and chemical characteristics of the soil prior to the experiment were determined in a composite soil sample as soil characteristics vary with land use [ 57 , 58 , 59 ]. The soil was silt loam in texture, alkaline (pH = 7.97), calcareous (Lime = 16.4%) and non-saline (0.43 dS m −1 ) in nature, low in organic matter (0.83%), available N (0.035%) and AB-DTPA available P content (2 mg kg −1 ).…”

Impact of Agrochemicals on Soil Microbiota and Management: A Review

“…The detrimental effects of applied chemical herbicides on soil microbial diversity depend on the degradability, adsorption and desorption, bioavailability, bioactivity, persistence, concentration, and toxicity of agrochemicals along with soil factors such as texture, vegetation, tillage system, and organic matter [18,24]. The reduction in soil microbial functionaries is more under conventional tillage than in no-till (NT) system.…”