Long-term effect of pulses and nutrient management on soil carbon sequestration in Indo-Gangetic plains of India

Abstract

Venkatesh, M. S., Hazra, K. K., Ghosh, P. K., Praharaj, C. S. and Kumar, N. 2013. Long-term effect of pulses and nutrient management on soil carbon sequestration in Indo-Gangetic plains of India. Can. J. Soil Sci. 93: 127–136. As an important component of crop diversification, pulses/legumes are known to improve soil quality through their unique characteristics of biological N2 fixation, root exudates, leaf litter fall and deep root system. Changes in the soil organic carbon pool due to the inclusion of pulses in an upland maize-based cropping system were evaluated after seven cropping cycles. The results indicate that inclusion of pulses in an upland maize-based cropping system improved the total soil organic carbon content, being greater in surface soil (0–0.2 m) and declining with soil depth. Of the four carbon fractions of total soil organic carbon (C frac 1 –C frac 4 ) measured in the upland maize-based system, the most labile C fraction (C frac 1 ) was dominant. Distribution of the carbon pool varie...