Effect of farming practices on maize-wheat productivity, nitrogen dynamics, carbon sequestration and soil health in an acid Alfisol
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Date
2023-07-13
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Publisher
CSK HPKV, Palampur
Abstract
Imbalanced and sole application of chemical fertilizers has been found to adversely affect the crop
productivity as well as the soil health. There is a ample scope to improve the production potential by
manipulating nutrient management systems in such a way that these are more effective, environmental friendly, and largely acceptable. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of
farming practices on productivity of maize and wheat, nitrogen dynamics, carbon sequestration and soil
health. The experiment consisted of eleven treatments replicated thrice in a completely randomized
block design, involving recommended NPK dose, 100% NPK+FYM@ 10 t ha-1
, 100% NPK+lime,
organic farming practices, three natural farming systems involving formulations prepared using excreta
of desi and crossbred cows, and buffalo, and their integration with 25% of recommended NPK dose.
Application of 100%NPK + FYM@ 10 t ha-1
resulted in better crop growth and yield attributes, and
registered the highest grain and stover/straw yield of maize and wheat, but these were statistically
similar to 100% NPK + lime during both the years. For comparison of different treatments, maize grain
equivalent yield and wheat grain equivalent yield were computed as NFS treatments included
intercrops. Grain and stover/straw equivalent yield of maize and wheat were significantly higher under
100% NPK+ FYM@ 10 t ha-1
, which were however, statistically similar to 100% NPK+lime during
both the years. Application of 100% NPK+ FYM@ 10 t ha-1
recorded 51.7% and 113.9% higher mean
maize grain and stover equivalent yield, respectively, and 23.0% and 57.6% higher mean wheat grain
and straw equivalent yield, respectively, than NFS-Desi cow. Integration of 25% NPK in these
treatments significantly enhanced the yield over pure organic/natural farming treatments. The NPK and
cationic micronutrient uptake by grain and stover/ straw of maize and wheat was highest in100%NPK +
FYM@ 10 t ha-1
, and lowest in NFS-Buffalo treatment. Application of 100% NPK + lime increased the
soil pH. Water holding capacity, mean weight diameter, organic carbon, available S, microbial count,
microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen and enzyme activities were recorded highest in organic farming
+ 25% NPK treatment, however, available NPK were recorded highest under 100% NPK+FYM@ 10 t
ha-1
, at both 0-0.15 m and 0.15-0.30 m soil depth. The highest content of inorganic N fractions were
recorded under 100% NPK+FYM, while organic farming+ 25% NPK recorded the highest organic N
fractions, and mean weight diameter at both the soil depths. Carbon sequestration was highest under
100% NPK+ FYM, while lowest was recorded under 100% NPK. Integration of 25% NPK with organic
/natural farming systems significantly improved the soil physico-chemical properties at both soil depths
over pure organic/natural farming systems. Among natural farming systems, NFS-Desi cow performed
better in all the parameters as compared to NFS-Crossbred cow and NFS-Buffalo. Therefore, there was
a notable effect of farming practices on maize-wheat productivity, nitrogen fractions, carbon
sequestration and soil properties in an acid Alfisol, with conventional integrated nutrient management
system giving the better results for most of the parameters under study.