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Soil physical and hydraulic properties in a rice‐wheat cropping system in India: effects of rice‐straw management
Author(s) -
Singh G.,
Jalota S.K.,
Sidhu B.S.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
soil use and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.709
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1475-2743
pISSN - 0266-0032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-2743.2005.tb00101.x
Subject(s) - straw , loam , agronomy , bulk density , environmental science , total organic carbon , rice straw , porosity , water retention , soil carbon , soil water , soil science , chemistry , biology , environmental chemistry , organic chemistry
. The effects of rice‐straw management (incorporation, burning or removal) on soil organic carbon content and physical and hydraulic properties were determined after five years of rice–wheat cropping in a sandy loam soil in northwest India. Soil organic carbon content was greater with straw incorporation and straw burning than with straw removal, and aggregation status, total porosity, pore‐size distribution, bulk density, dispersion ratio and soil strength were correspondingly improved. The treatment effects were confined mainly to the 0–5 cm depth. Water retention was less with straw burning than straw removal, owing to increased water repellency of the soil surfaces. Cumulative infiltration and its rate after five hours were greater with straw incorporation than straw burning or removal. Air entry values were unaffected by straw management; however, the values were greater after rice harvest than after wheat harvest.