Long term effect of rice straw incorporation on soil physical properties and crop productivity in rice-wheat system
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Date
2019
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The sustainability of rice-wheat cropping system in recent some years, has come into question because of multiple reasons and most recently the burning of huge amount of crop residue. From the perspective of managing surplus rice straw and an alternative to residue burning, the present study evaluated the long term (2008-2018) effect of different rates of rice straw incorporation (0, 5, 7.5 and 10 t ha-1) and nitrogen levels (0, 90, 120 and 150 Kg ha-1) on soil physico-chemical properties and crop productivity. Soil samples were analysed for different physico-chemical properties of soil and biochemical properties within soil aggregates. The study resulted that, incorporation of rice straw @ 7.5 and 10 t ha-1 along with 150 Kg N ha-1 significantly improved the soil physical properties by increasing bulk density, aggregation status, infiltration rate, soil moisture retention, and decreasing total porosity, penetration resistance and saturated hydraulic conductivity as well as increased the fertility status of soil. The biochemical properties within soil aggregates were significantly higher in macro-aggregates fraction under 10 t ha-1 rice straw incorporation rate. In simulation study with DSSAT CERES-wheat, yield, water and nitrogen balance components of wheat with changed soil properties were evaluated. Simulation study revealed that, there would be an increase in precipitation, evapotranspiration, evaporation, nitrogen leaching and decrease in uptake of nitrogen in future compared to past and present time scenarios. However, wheat grain yield would yield decline in future, which could be sustained with incorporation of rice residue over a longer period of time.