The game changing role of traditional ecological knowledge based Agri amendment systems in nutrient dynamics in the stress prone semi arid tropics

Seema B Sharma,G A Thivakaran,Mahesh G Thakkar

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-88801-8

Abstract

The major crop nutrients determine the nutritional content and vigor of crops. The deficiency or occurrence below minimal level of any of the nutrients are often seen as a cause of poor growth or complete crop failure. The present study was an attempt to understand the impact of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) (A1)vis-à-vis conventional chemical intensive (A2)agriculture amendment systems in altering/modifying the nutrient dynamics of the soil with respect to nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) levels in the pre, mid and post-harvest phases of crop in six cropping seasons spread across four years. The study area was a geo-ecologically unique terrain of Kachchh, Western India, a typical representative of allied arid and semi-arid tropics that are prone to various natural threats and stressors like drought, salinity and erratic rainfall pattern that affect the agri-management activities. Seasonal amendment data, clearly depicts that TEK based systems were efficient in soil organic carbon (SOC) accrual over seasons, an important trait required in challenging settings of tropical aridisols. The major primary (N, P, K) and secondary (S, Ca, Mg) nutrients were at par or higher than integrated chemical intensive systems. TEK based amendments ensured proper and timely management of nutrients in the soil. This inherent value addition offered by indigenous manure applications is an important step in climate change mitigation measures and overall agricultural sustainability.

Highlights

MethodsSalinity, unpredictable rainfall pattern are the features that alter the agriculture scenario of this zone
In India, the enormous wealth of traditional knowledge can be traced to ancient ‘Vedic’ era. This inherent value addition offered by indigenous manure applications is an important step in climate change mitigation measures
The indigenous knowledge based rich cultural heritage in the agriculture sector of Asia, Australia, Africa, America, and many other parts of the globe is an immense storehouse of adaptive methodologies and systems that are suited to the microenvironment, and yet hold promising chances of replicability in similar climatic zones

Summary

Methods

Salinity, unpredictable rainfall pattern are the features that alter the agriculture scenario of this zone. The soils in the present study sites belong to great group typic camborthids and are in general c alcareous[22]. The upcoming damming projects have altered the rain dependent feature of agri systems here over the past decade[14]. The selected sample sites are geomorphically secured farmlands made on the alluvial formations resting on the Cretaceous fluvial sandstones as bedrocks while the southern Katrol hill range provides the alluvium from the marine Jurassic rocks with higher inherent salinity[19,27] (Fig. 1)

Results

Discussion

Conclusion