Land configuration and nutrient management model increased the productivity through improved soil enzyme activities in an organic cotton wheat production system

Abstract

Suitable land configuration and nutrient approach are essential for sustaining crop production under semi-arid Inceptisols of India. The study aimed to assess the effect of land configuration (raised bed [RB] and flat bed [FB]) and nutrient approach, viz., organic (Organic), inorganic (soil test crop response [STCR]), and integrated nutrient management (STCR-Integrated plant nutrient supply [IPNS]) along with farm yard manure (FYM) and control (CK) on soil’s physicochemical and biological properties after two consecutive cycles of cotton-wheat. Results showed that land configuration did not impact the pH, organic carbon, and its stock at 0–15 and 15–30 cm soil. However, bulk density was reduced (2.03%) and microbial biomass carbon increased (5.12%) significantly under RB at 0–15 cm soil compared to FB planting. The RB significantly increased the available N (4.06%), P (8.40%) and K (4.22%) and urease (8.37%), alkaline phosphatase (6.10%), and dehydrogenase activity (8.28%) of soils compared to FB. Soil physicochemical and biological properties were highly impacted under STCR-IPNS treatment and least under control at both depths. Integrated treatment showed the highest seed cotton (3097 kg ha−1) and wheat grain yield (6085 kg ha−1); however, land configuration did not impact the yield of both crops. Further, RB increased the protein content of wheat by 1.1% and the ginning percentage and lint index of cotton by 2.4% and 5.5%, respectively compared to FB. In terms of nutrient management, cotton and wheat quality parameters were found higher for STCR-IPNS treatment. Thus, the study suggests that RB planting with an integrated nutrient approach could be a sustainable and feasible practice for quality food and fiber production for semi-arid Inceptisols.