Modern Tillage Methods in Intensive Cropping Systems & Its Impact on Soil Health- A Review

Abstract

There is gradual increase in population and as a result of urbanization. The agricultural is land gradually decreasing. To fulfill the growing needs the challenge is to grow more food in lesser area leading to intensive agriculture increasing the cropping intensity by replacing sole and mono cropping with cropping systems. This Results in declining of soil fertility which is the inherent plant nutrient supplying capacity of a soil to match the crop requirement in proper form, quantity and proportion without any deficiency or toxicity problem. It is not simply the quantity of nutrient present in a soil as determined by a particular method. A soil is fertile for a crop if it is healthy physically, chemically and biologically. Currently to maintain soil fertility various management practices have been adopted in modern practices. In this review, we have been discussed about effect of cropping system and modern tillage on soil physical properties, chemical properties, soil fertility, soil microbial activities, soil carbon, crop yield and weed dynamics in terms of different soil indicators for evaluating soil health under different cropping systems and modern tillage methods. This knowledge will help to ensure sustainability under intensive cropping systems practiced looking at the need of the hour.