Premium
Soil Quality Effect of Conservation Practices in Maize–Rapeseed Cropping System in Eastern Himalaya
Author(s) -
Das Anup,
Ghosh Probir Kumar,
Lal Rattan,
Saha Ritesh,
Ngachan Shishomvanao
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
land degradation and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1099-145X
pISSN - 1085-3278
DOI - 10.1002/ldr.2325
Subject(s) - mulch , agronomy , rapeseed , tillage , straw , cropping system , environmental science , soil carbon , conventional tillage , stover , soil quality , soil water , biology , crop , soil science
Soil resources are prone to degradation in harsh hill environment. Conservation tillage and residue mulching play an important role in protecting and improving soil quality. A 4‐year study was conducted in Meghalaya, India, involving maize ( Zea mays L.)–rapeseed ( Brassica campestris L.) cropping system, to evaluate the impact of no till (NT) and mulching on productivity of maize–rapeseed system and to assess the effect of management on soil organic carbon (SOC) and quality. Two tillage practices, conventional tillage (CT) and NT, were compared under six mulching rates: control (no mulching); M, maize stover retention; MA5, M + ragweed (RW; Ambrosia artemisiifolia ) 5 Mg ha −1 ; MA10, M + RW 10 Mg ha −1 ; MF10, M + farmyard manure 10 Mg ha −1 ; and MA5P5, M + RW 5 Mg ha −1 + poultry manure 5 Mg ha −1 . Grain yields of maize and rapeseed under CT were similar to those under NT. Mulching had a significant effect on the productivity of maize and rapeseed. Mulching treatment MA5P5, MF10 and MA10 produced significantly ( p = 0·05) higher yield of maize and rapeseed than that of other treatments. Maize and rapeseed productivity under control was the lowest. There was a marked increase in SOC concentration (8·4%), water stable aggregates (9·3%), mean weight diameter (42·6%) and soil microbial biomass carbon (66·8%) under NT, with respect to CT. Mulching treatment MA5P5 enhanced mean SOC concentration by 30·4% and mean weight diameter by 100% compared with those under control. Thus, NT and mulching are recommended measures for protecting soil and improving its quality in the studied area. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.