Thumbnail Image

Theses

Browse

20161
Reset filters
Subject: Soil Science × Author: Anju × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2010 ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of long-term zero tillage in wheat on physical quality indices of different textured soils and rice yield under ricewheat cropping system
    (CCSHAU, 2016) Anju; Dahiya, Rita
    The rice–wheat cropping system is one of the most prevalent cropping systems in the Indo- Gangetic Plains (IGP) of India. Intensive cultivation resulted in slowdown in productivity of rice-wheat crops due to deterioration of the soil physical condition. Keeping in view the importance of the system for food security of the country, experiments were carried out at farmers’ field during 2015-16 to investigate the effect of zero tillage on physical fertility of texturally different soils under rice-wheat system of Haryana State. The long-term zero tillage (ZT) resulted in decrease in bulk density at 15-30 cm depth as compared to conventional tillage (CT). The adoption of ZT increased saturated hydraulic conductivity and soil organic carbon content over the conventional tillage. The continuous zero tillage for 20 years in wheat resulted in increase in SOC stock in 0-30 cm soil depth by 35.2, 27.6 and 17.6 % in sandy loam, loam and clay loam soils, respectively. Soil penetration resistance was lower under zero tillage as compared to conventional tillage reducing the effect of compact plough sole on root growth in 0-30 cm soil layer in rice-wheat growing areas. The zero tillage significantly increased aeration porosity of surface soil layer. The higher values of soil moisture at field capacity in zero tillage indicated a higher volume of medium-sized water-holding pores due to favourable conditions for enhanced aggregation. The effect was, however, more pronounced in clay loam followed by loam and sandy loam soils. The zero tillage resulted in higher least limiting water range in 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm soil depths in sandy loam, loam and clay loam soils. The practice of long-term zero tillage was found effective in increasing yield of wheat in fine textured soil as compared to coarse textured.