Efficient Tillage and Nutrient Management Practices for Sustainable Yields, Profitability and Energy Use Efficiency for Rice-Based Cropping System in Different Soils and Agro-Climatic Conditions

Abstract

Long-term tillage and fertilizer experiments were conducted in rice in kharif followed by lentil in dry subhumid Inceptisols at Varanasi and Faizabad; horse gram at Phulbani and linseed at Ranchi in moist subhumid Alfisols in rabi during 2001 to 2010. The study was conducted to assess the effect of conventional tillage (CT), low tillage + interculture (LT1) and low tillage + herbicide (LT2) together with 100% N (organic) (F1), 50% N (organic) + 50% N (inorganic) (F2) and 100% N (inorganic) (F3) on productivity, profitability, rainwater and energy use efficiencies. The results at Varanasi revealed that CT was superior with mean yield of 2389 kg ha −1 , while F1 was superior with 2378 kg ha −1 in rice. At Faizabad, CT was superior with mean rice yield of 1851 kg ha −1 and lentil yield of 977 kg ha −1 , while F1 was superior with 1704 and 993 kg ha −1 of rice and lentil, respectively. At Phulbani, F2 was superior with rice yield of 1170 kg ha −1 . At Ranchi, F2 with rice yield of 986 kg ha −1 and F3 with linseed yield of 224 kg ha −1 were superior. The regression model of crop seasonal rainfall and yield deviations indicated an increasing trend in rice yield over mean (positive deviation) with increase in rainfall at all locations; while a decreasing trend (negative deviation) was found for lentil at Faizabad, horse gram at Phulbani and linseed at Ranchi. Based on economic analysis, CTF1 at Varanasi and Faizabad, CTF2 at Phulbani and LT2F2 at Ranchi were superior.

Meta-Analysis Approach to Assess the Effects of Soil Tillage and Fertilization Source under Different Cropping Systems

“…In the last decades, the transformation to industrial society determined changes in agricultural practices from their basic function of providing food and labour to becoming a supplier of raw materials in agro-industrial and agri-business systems. However, the industrial agriculture system is heavily dependent on fossil fuels and synthetic agrochemicals as the main source of energy and material to manage the cultivated plant in the agro-ecosystems [1]. In addition, it is managed by large-scale monoculture and cultivation based on intensive soil tillage operations.…”

Changes in Rainfall and Temperature and Its Impact on Crop Production in Moyamba District, Southern Sierra Leone

“…Besides intercropping, 44.8% of farmers are also currently planting short-duration crops, 44.0% of them use organic fertilizer, 42.8% of them practice minimum tillage, and 37.5% of them adapt their cropping calendar to prevailing weather conditions. Results from previous research studies have shown that farmers need to plant at different dates as a coping strategy to adapt to the erratic pattern of rainfall, and in cases where their crops repeatedly failed, they need to replant their fields many times depending on the commonly forecast weather indicators [26] and the use of weed residues to replenish soil fertility through minimum soil tillage practices and reduces surface runoff and erosion [27]. In addition, 32.2% of the farmers are using/ planting drought-resistant crops, 20.2% practicing in-field rainwater harvesting, 36.5% are practicing mulching, 16.2% are practicing reduced rates of the application of agrochemicals, 26.0% practice integrated pest management (IPM) and 31.2% practice integrated soil fertility management.…”