Effect of long-term zero tillage in wheat on C and N fractions of different textured soils under rice-wheat cropping system
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Date
2016
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Publisher
CCSHAU
Abstract
Information about soil organic carbon and nitrogen fractions under different tillage systems is
essential for sustainability of agricultural systems. The long-term impact of zero tillage in
wheat under rice-wheat cropping system at farmers’ fields was evaluated during 2015-2016 for
monitoring changes in different fractions of soil organic carbon and nitrogen, and wheat
productivity parameters in three texturally different soils. The zero tillage practice in wheat
increased the organic carbon content and carbon stock as compared to conventional tillage in
soils. Reduction in the intensity of tillage from conventional to zero resulted in decrease in
bulk density of sub- surface soil. The zero tillage increased dissolved organic carbon, microbial
biomass carbon light and heavy fractions of carbon in soils at both the depths. The light and
heavy fraction carbon values were observed to be lower in lighter textured soil which increased
with increase in fineness of the texture. The total nitrogen was highest in clay loam under zero
tillage at 0-15 cm depth as compared to conventional tillage. Total hydrolysable nitrogen was
found highest in clay loam followed by loam and sandy loam soils. Highest values of nonhydrolysable
nitrogen, amino acid nitrogen, hydrolysable ammonium nitrogen were observed
in zero tillage practice as compared to conventional practice. The practice of zero tillage found
to be effective in increasing yield of wheat in fine textured soils as compared to coarse
textured.
The results of the study indicated that the practice of zero tillage in wheat under rice-wheat
cropping system may be adopted for sustaining the productivity of the cropping system