Improvement of Soil Health through Residue Management and Conservation Tillage in Rice-Wheat Cropping System of Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

In South Asia, soil health degradation is affecting the sustainability of the rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS). Indeed, for the sustainability of the soil quality, new adaptive technologies, i.e., conservation tillage and straw management resource conservation, are promising options. This investigation was focused on the interaction of tillage and straw management practices and their effects on Aridisols, Yermosols soil quality, and nutrients dynamics with different soil profiles within RWCS. The long-term field experiment was started in 2014 with the scenarios (i) conventional tillage (SC1), (ii) residue incorporation (SC2), (iii) straw management practices (SC3 and SC4) and conservation tillage (SC5). Conservation tillage practice (SC5) showed significant impact on properties of soil and availability of nutrients in comparison with that of conventional farmers practice (SC1) at the studied soil depths. The SC5 showed significant results of gravitational water contents (25.34%), moderate pH (7.4), soil organic-matter (7.6 g kg−1), total nitrogen (0.38 g kg−1), available phosphate (7.4 mg kg−1), available potassium (208 mg kg−1) compared to SC1 treatment at 0 to 15 cm soil depth. Whereas, DTPA-extractable-Cu, Mn, and Zn concentration were significantly higher, i.e., 1.12 mg kg−1, 2.14 mg kg−1, and 4.35 mg kg−1, respectively under SC5 than conventional farmer’s practices, while DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid) extractable Fe (6.15 mg kg−1) was more in straw management practices (SC4) than conventional and conservation tillage. Therefore, conservation tillage (SC5) can surge the sustainability of the region by improving soil assets and nutrients accessibility and has the potential to minimize inorganic fertilizers input in the long run.

Effects of conservation tillage strategies on soil physicochemical indicators and N2O emission under spring wheat monocropping system conditions

“…Previous studies have shown that conservation tillage has increased soil bulk density and pH compared with traditional tillage in South Asia rice and wheat planting system 30 . Another study showed that NT helped to increase soil bulk density in soybean fields in central India, and different tillage management could significantly affect soil physical properties 31 .…”

Rising Atmospheric Temperature Impact on Wheat and Thermotolerance Strategies

“…Crop management stabilizes the physiological process and metabolic pathways through mulches, extra irrigation, inorganic fertilizers, early sowing, exogenous application of micronutrient, osmoprotectants, and bioregulators. Integrating crop management practices with molecular genetics tools can ameliorate the adverse effects of high temperature, but need to further explore the strategies associated with high yield under heat stress [ 246 , 247 , 248 , 249 , 250 , 251 , 252 , 253 , 254 , 255 , 256 , 257 , 258 ]. The tolerance development can be achieved through a selection based on thermotolerant traits from existing germplasm and breeding utilizing land races and their wild relatives.…”

Integrated Analysis of Osmotic Stress and Infrared Thermal Imaging for the Selection of Resilient Rice Under Water Scarcity

“…The nurseries of 28 genotypes were sown. For the healthy seedlings, recommended management practices were done ( Zahid et al, 2020 ). Earthen pots (12-inch diameter, 14-inch heigh) were filled with homogenized 12 kg soil (textured loamy, non-sterilized, EC 3.1 mS cm –1 , and pH 6.45).…”