Residue Management for Sustainable Crop Production in Summer Moong-Maize-Wheat Sequence

Abstract

ABSTRACT A five-year field experiment evaluated the effects of wheat and summer moong (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) residue incorporation in summer moong-maize-wheat rotation on yield of crops and some soil properties. Wheat residue was incorporated before sowing of summer moong whereas residue incorporation treatments for maize included no residue, wheat residue (WR) incorporated before sowing of summer moong, summer moong residue (SMR) incorporated before maize sowing, and both WR and SMR incorporated before summer moong and maize sowing, respectively (WR+SMR). These residue treatments were superimposed with four levels of N (0,60,120 and 180 kg N ha−1). Residual effect of residue treatments was studied on following wheat at two levels of N (60 and 120 kg N ha−1). In a laboratory study, the release of mineral N increased substantially with SMR and WR+SMR but was prolonged with combined residue incorporation. The WR and SMR incorporation improved organic C, available P and available K content of soil estimated after five crop sequences. WR and WR+SMR incorporation decreased bulk density in 0-15 cm soil profile and improved available water content of soil. Summer moong yield was increased by wheat residue incorporation. Mean increase in maize yield with SMR and WR+SMR was 39 and 44 per cent, respectively, over no residue. Residue incorporation also increased potential maize yield. Sustainable yield index (the minimum guarantee that a given practice can provide in terms of yield over a period of time) of maize improved with SMR and WR+SMR incorporation and also with increase in fertilizer N. The wheat yields increased by 9 and 11.5 percent, respectively, with SMR and WR+SMR incorporation. Residues thus increased yields and improved soil quality in the Punjab region of India.