EFFECT OF CROPPING SYSTEMS AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON YIELD AND SOIL PROPERTIES UNDER MID-HILLS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2017-09
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CSKHPKV, Palampur
Abstract
Long-term experiments on nutrient management in cropping systems can be more useful for studying the changes in soil properties and processes over time and for obtaining information on sustainability of agricultural systems for developing future strategies to maintain soil health. The current study on “Effect of cropping systems and nutrient management practices on yield and soil properties under mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh” was carried out at the experimental farm of Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Hill Agricultural Research and Extension Centre, Bajaura, Kullu (India). This study is a part of ICAR-Network Project on Organic Farming which was initiated in 2004. The experiment had four cropping systems (tomato-cauliflower-frenchbean; tomato-cauliflower; black gram-cauliflower-squash and okra-garden pea) and three nutrient management practices (organic; inorganic and integrated), which were evaluated in a split plot design. The sowing/transplanting schedule for different crops selected for study was followed as per state package of practices. Triplicate soil samples from three soil depths (0-0.15, 0.15-0.30 and 0.30-0.45 m) collected at the initiation of trial in 2004 and after 11th cropping cycles during 2016, were analyzed for soil physical, chemical and microbiological properties following standard procedures. The yield of crops was recorded and sum up after final picking/harvesting and expressed in q ha-1. The total system productivity was calculated by summing up the yield of each crop. The economic analysis of different experimental treatments was carried out, taking into consideration the prevailing market prices of inputs used. The results indicated that regular addition of organic amendments increased some soil chemical properties like organic carbon and availability of micronutrients besides, soil physical fertility, mainly by decreasing soil bulk density. However, other characteristics such as soil pH and availability of major and micronutrients was the maximum for integrated practice of nutrient management. Cropping systems increased organic carbon and status of major and secondary nutrients, whereas soil pH and concentration of micronutrients was not influenced among variable cropping systems. The results showed that continuous long-term use of organic manures increased soil organic carbon stock, carbon sequestration and its rate in comparison to fertilizer alone or combination of both. The intensive cropping recorded higher value of these parameters as compared to less intensive cropping. The growth of soil microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes), total microbial biomass carbon and enzyme activity increased due to organic amendments for 11 years; however cropping systems had no effect of growth of such organisms. The combined application of organic and fertilizers (50:50) gave maximum yield and profit for black gram-cauliflower-squash crop rotation as compared to other practices and crop rotations. However, benefit cost ratio was the maximum for tomato-cauliflower system.
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