Effects Of Crop Residue Management Research Articles

Effect of Crop Residue Management and Weed Management Practices on Nutrient Content and Nutrient Uptake in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

The field experiment was carried out during two successive Rabi seasons of 2021-22 and 2022-23 at the Agronomy Research Farm of Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P.).The treatment combinations of 4 crop residue management, viz. conventional tillage without residue, conventional tillage with residue (3 t/ha rice residue), zero tillage without residue, zero tillage with residue (3 t/ha rice residue) and 5 weed management practices, viz. Triallate 50% EC @ 1250 g a.i. ha-1, Triallate 50% EC @ 2500 g a.i. ha-1, Clodinafop propargyl 15% + Metsulfuron methyl 1% (60 g + 4 g a.i. ha-1), hand weeding at 20 and 40 days after sowing (DAS) and weedy check in wheat were tested with 3 replications in split-plot design, keeping crop residue management in main plots and weed management practices in subplots. Among the different crop residue management, zero tillage with residue was found most effective in maximizing nutrient content and nutrient uptake followed by conventional tillage with residue. Conventional tillage without residue showed lowest values of on nutrient content and uptake by crop. While in case of weed management practices hand weeding at 20 and 40 days after sowing (DAS) had a significant impact on maximizing nutrient content and nutrient uptake followed by post-emergence application of Clodinafop propargyl 15% + Metsulfuron methyl 1% (60 g + 4 g a.i. ha-1).

Interactive effects of long-term management of crop residue and phosphorus fertilization on wheat productivity and soil health in the rice–wheat

In the context of degradation of soil health, environmental pollution, and yield stagnation in the rice–wheat system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains of South Asia, an experiment was established in split plot design to assess the long-term effect of crop residue management on productivity and phosphorus requirement of wheat in rice–wheat system. The experiment comprised of six crop residue management practices as the main treatment factor with three levels (0, 30 and 60 kg P2O5 ha–1) of phosphorus fertilizer as sub-treatments. Significant improvement in soil aggregation, bulk density, and infiltration rate was observed under residue management (retention/incorporation) treatments compared to residue removal or residue burning. Soil organic carbon (SOC), available nutrient content (N, P, and K), microbial count, and enzyme activities were also significantly higher in conservation tillage and residue-treated plots than without residue/burning treatments. The residue derived from both crops when was either retained/incorporated improved the soil organic carbon (0.80%) and resulted in a significant increase in SOC (73.9%) in the topsoil layer as compared to the conventional practice. The mean effect studies revealed that crop residue management practices and phosphorus levels significantly influenced wheat yield attributes and productivity. The higher grain yield of wheat was recorded in two treatments, i.e. the basal application of 60 kg P2O5 ha–1 without residue incorporation and the other with half the P-fertilizer (30 kg P2O5 ha–1) with rice residue only. The grain yield of wheat where the rice and wheat residue were either retained/incorporated without phosphorus application was at par with 30 and 60 kg P2O5ha–1. Phosphorus levels also significantly affected wheat productivity and available P content in the soil. Therefore, results suggested that crop residue retention following the conservation tillage approach improved the yield of wheat cultivated in the rice–wheat cropping system.

The Effect of Crop Residue Management and Nitrogen Supply on Canopy Light Interception and N Distribution

The Effect of Crop Residue Management and Nitrogen Supply on Canopy Light Interception and N Distribution

Long-term Influence of Crop Residue Management and Tillage Practices on Distribution of C and N within Aggregate Size Fractions in Alluvial Soils

Aims: The goal of this experiment is to observe the variations in soil aggregate fractions and the change in percentage of carbon and nitrogen stored in the fractions due to the effect of crop residue management and tillage practices in Rice-Wheat cropping system.
 Study Design: An experiment was set up in Randomized Block Design with five treatments, i.e, T0-control, T1- zero-tillage+ no residue application, T2- zero-tillage+ residue application, T3- conventional tillage + no residue application, T4- conventional tillage+ residue application.
 Place and Duration of Study: It was conducted in a long-term experimental plot situated in University Research Farm at Pundibari in Coochbehar district of West Bengal. The data was taken in the 9th and 10th year of the experiment, i.e, 2018 and 2019.
 Methodology: Samples were collected from three different depths, i.e., 0-5 cm, 5-15 cm and 15-30 cm from four cropping seasons, i.e., wheat 2018, rice 2018, wheat 2019 and rice 2019 and were prepared and analyzed for physico-chemical factors. Dry stable aggregates were obtained by the method of sieving and change of carbon, nitrogen and C/N ratios in various fractions were observed.
 Results: Mostly for all the soil depths the total organic carbon content was highest for the treatment with zero-tillage and application of residues (T2). Total nitrogen content also followed the similar trend. Whereas in most of the crop seasons, the C/N ratio was observed to be higher in the treatment where conventional tillage was followed along with residue incorporation (T4). Within the short span of two years positive changes in total organic carbon and total nitrogen content was observed for almost all the treatments, across the depths.
 Conclusion: The optimum percentage of decrease in C/N ratio of the control as well as the treatment with zero-tillage and residue application (T2) in the large aggregate fractions (<2mm) indicates the suitability of the soil for higher productivity.

Effect of Crop Residues Management on Soil Fertility and Sugar Beet Productivity in Western Morocco

Effect of Crop Residues Management on Soil Fertility and Sugar Beet Productivity in Western Morocco

English

Crop residues' inappropriate management is the main constraint causing the decline in soil fertility and crop yields in Burkina Faso. This study was conducted at the Farako-Bâ Research Station from 2014 to 2019 to assess the effects of crop residue management to improve the sustainability of the cotton-cereal based production systems. The experimental design was complete randomized blocks of Fischer with four replications. Three different crop residue management practices were investigated: (i) Crop residue exportation and conventional tillage (T1); ii) Composted crop residues and conventional tillage (T2); and (iii) Crop residues used for soil mulching and no-tillage (T3). Soil chemical characteristics and crop yields were assessed as parameters in this study. Crop yields were improved by 17 to 34% on maize, from 18 to 38% on cotton and from 6 to 14% on sorghum, respectively, with residues recycled into compost (T2) and residues used for soil mulching (T3) compared to residues exported (T1). Crop residue management and soil tillage technics significantly increased the yields of maize, sorghum, and cotton after the first three years of experimentation. Soil chemical properties were not statistically influenced, except for SOM, nitrogen, and available K content. The highest decrease in soil carbon content induced by crop residue exportation (T1) should not be recommended to farmers. Key words: Crop residues, tillage, soil fertility, cotton-cereals, yield, Burkina Faso.

Preliminary Effects of Crop Residue Management on Soil Quality and Crop Production under Different Soil Management Regimes in Corn-Wheat Rotation Systems

Strategic management of crop residues is essential to enhance soil quality for sustainable agriculture. However, little is known about the specific amounts of crop residues needed to improve soil quality characteristics which are key to develop economic plans. In this study, we investigated the effects of applying crop residue at five rates, including 100% (R100), 75% (R75), 50% (R50), 25% (R25), and 0% (R0), on wheat yield and soil properties. Field experiments were conducted for two cropping seasons in a wheat-corn rotation under conventional (CT) and no-till (NT) systems to observe the first results obtained during short-term periods (one-year application). During the study, the wheat and corn fields were irrigated. Application of plant residue resulted in increased soil organic carbon (SOC) and available nutrients and improved soil physical properties, i.e., aggregates mean weight diameter in wet (MWDw) and dry (MWDd) conditions, water-stable aggregates (WSA), dry-stable aggregates, (DSA), soil water infiltration (SWI), soil available water (SAW), and yield of wheat and corn. The effects were stronger at higher residue application rates. In the CT system, compared to R0, R100 resulted in the highest increase equal to 38, 29, 23, 34, 35, 41, and 11% for SOC, MWDw, MWDd, WSA, DSA, SAW, and wheat grain yield, respectively. This was equivalent to 28, 19.5, 19, 37, 44, 52, and 6% for the NT system, respectively. Generally, the NT system resulted in a stratification of the soil properties within 0–10 cm compared to 10–20 cm soil depth, but a uniform distribution for both depths under CT system. Overall, these results show that crop residue application can improve soil quality and yield in cereal production systems under semi-arid conditions during the first year of application. It will be key to monitor these changes in along-term field studies.

Effect of crop residue management on damage by Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), its egg parasitoids and the ants associated with sugarcane.

In the American continent, the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (F.) is the main pest in sugarcane producing areas. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of crop residue management on damage by D. saccharalis, its egg parasitoids and the ants associated with sugarcane. The study was carried out during 2011-2012, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 crop cycles, in three commercial fields located in different regions of Tucumán state, Argentina. Two types of crop residue management (= treatments) were compared: conservation of trash at the soil surface (CT) and trash burning (TB). In 'trash conservation' treatment, crop residue was allowed to remain over the soil surface during the whole sugarcane growing season, while the second treatment consisted of complete burning of trash blanket approximately 2 weeks after harvest. The injury level was measured by recording the number of stalks bored and internodes bored. Parasitism was estimated by counting the total number of eggs and number of black eggs (which indicates the occurrence of egg parasitoids). Ants (Formicidae) richness was calculated by two estimators; abundance-based coverage estimator and incidence-based coverage estimator, using the non-parametric richness estimators: Chao 2 and Jackknife. Finally, the indicator value was estimated through the measurement of specificity and fidelity. In all the parameters studied no significant difference was found between TB and CT treatments.

Tillage, Crop Rotation and Crop Residue Management Effects on Nutrient Availability in a Sweet Sorghum-Based Cropping System in Marginal Soils of South Africa

The low soil fertility status of South African marginal soils threatens sustainable production of biofuel feedstock in smallholder farmers. It is therefore imperative to development sustainable and optimal management practices that improve soil fertility. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of tillage, rotation and crop residue management on nutrient availability in a bioenergy sweet sorghum-based cropping system in marginal soils. Two tillage levels, no-till (NT) and conventional tillage (CT); two crop rotations, sweet sorghum–grazing vetch–sweet sorghum (SVS) and sweet sorghum–fallow–sweet sorghum (SFS); and three crop residue retention levels, 0%, 15% and 30%, were tested. No-till enhanced total nitrogen, total organic nitrogen (TON), magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na) by 3.19% to 45% compared to CT. SVS rotation increased ammonium (NH4+-N) and nitrate (NO3−-N) by 3.42% to 5.98% compared to SFS. A 30% crop residue retention increased NH4+-N, NO3−-N, available phosphorus (Available P), cation exchange capacity (CEC), calcium (Ca), Mg and potassium (K) by 3.58% to 31.94% compared to crop residue removal. In the short term, a 30% crop residue retention was the main treatment that enhanced soil fertility. The application of NT−30% was a better practice to enhance soil fertility. However, research on inclusion of crop diversity/intercropping can add more value to the NT–30% practice in enhancing soil fertility.

Effect of crop residue management on soil organic carbon, soil organic matter and crop yield: An overview

Soil is a very important factor of the plant growth and crop yield. But now a days, very small area of the soil can actually be fertile for agriculture, and if we manage improperly it can be depleted. So the big problem, how we manage and increase the fertility of soil. It has been reported that soil organic carbon and soil matter is the most important indicator of soil quality and soil health. It is also beneficial for agricultural sustainability. In this review, we summarized how crop residue management affects soil organic carbon (SOC), soil organic matter (SOM), soil aggregation, effect of residue burning and crop productivity in different cropping system. Proper use of crop residue can increase or maintain the physical and chemical properties of SOM and improve the quality of soil. Manure or crop residue alone may not be adequate to maintain SOC levels. Knowledge and assessment of changes (positive or negative) in SOC and SOM with time is still needed to evaluate the impact of different management practices.

Unraveling Crop Residue Harvest Effects on Soil Organic Carbon

Core Ideas The workshop demonstrated ASA‐CSSA‐SSSA capabilities to address complex problems. Corn is an important crop with regard to soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. Crop residue management (CRM) effects on SOC stocks are complex and multi‐dimensional. Quantifying CRM effects on SOC is very important. Accurate but simple on‐farm measurement and monitoring techniques for SOC are needed. Crop residues protect soil resources, sustain soil organic carbon (SOC), cycle nutrients, support microbial communities, and provide bioenergy feedstock. Herein we (i) summarize the origin of the “Crop Residues for Advanced Biofuels: Effects on Soil Carbon” workshop; (ii) review the workshop structure; and (iii) present consensus points, unanswered questions, and outcomes of the workshop. Initiated by a farmer/ethanol investor’s letter to the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) President, an ASA Working Group (WG) was established to make a recommendation to the ASA Board on how to respond. The WG concluded a Tri‐Society sponsored workshop involving farmers, ethanol production and marketing groups, agronomists, crop scientists, soil scientists, engineers, non‐governmental organizations, life cycle analysis (LCA) experts, and regulatory personnel was needed to address the complex question that had been posed and to ensure all viewpoints were fully represented. The WG was expanded to an ASA Task Force who organized the workshop in Sacramento, CA. Eighty workshop attendees identified four consensus areas (crop residue management [CRM]; severity of soil erosion; tillage, CRM and erosion linkages; and the importance of simulation [LCA] models) and four unresolved themes (carbon sequestration, CRM effects on SOC stocks, changing climate effects, and the need to focus on ecosystem services rather than single endpoints). The workshop resulted in three direct outcomes: (i) development of a stakeholder funded SOC database, (ii) LCA and SOC model improvements, and (iii) development of this special section in Agronomy Journal. Dale and Ong (2014) concluded that large scale, renewable energy systems are no longer just a “good idea”; but essential, and during the next few decades society must develop systems capable of producing clean energy at the multi‐terawatt scale. Crop residues such as corn (Zea mays L.) stover, and other cellulosic materials were identified as potential feedstocks to meet this demand and have been rigorously evaluated for the past decade (e.g., Perlack et al., 2005; U.S. Department of Energy, 2011 and 2016). However, it is also well established that crop residues have important ecosystem service and productivity functions (Larson, 1979; Johnson, 2018; Ibrahim et al., 2018).

Long-term crop residue application maintains oil palm yield and temporal stability of production

Crop residue management is an important agricultural practice that has a high potential to improve soil health and optimize crop production. Compared to annual crops, relatively little is known about crop residue management effects on the yield and temporal stability of perennial crop production. This study focused on oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), an important tropical crop that had expanded rapidly over the past decades. We aimed to understand the effects of applying a major oil palm residue, the empty fruit bunch, on crop yield and temporal stability of production. We compared 15 years of crop yield performance from a field trial in Sumatra, Indonesia. The treatments included empty fruit bunch application of three application rates (30, 60, and 90 t ha−1 year−1), and a reference treatment of chemical fertilizers with no addition of empty fruit bunch. Compared to the reference treatment, the cumulative crop yield over 15 years under low, medium, and high application rates of empty fruit bunch increased by 2.4, 5.9, and 4.8%, respectively. The annual crop yield and temporal stability in production were not significantly different between treatments. Soil organic carbon was significantly higher under medium application rate of empty fruit bunch compared to that under the chemical fertilizer treatment. Soil organic carbon and relative humidity were positively associated with annual crop yield with a time lag of 2 years. This study is the first to show that both crop yield and temporal variability of oil palm production can be maintained under crop residue application, compared to chemical fertilizer treatment. Furthermore, climatic conditions had strong effects on the temporal variability of oil palm production. These findings will inform the design of optimal empty fruit bunch application schemes that enhance sustainable intensification of oil palm cultivation.

Effects of crop residue management on winter durum wheat productivity in a long term experiment in Southern Italy

A long-term experiment comparing different crop residue (CR) managements was established in 1977 in Foggia (Apulia region, southern Italy). The objective of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of different types of crop residue management on main yield response parameters in a continuous cropping system of winter durum wheat. In order to correctly interpret the results, models accounting for spatial error autocorrelation were used and compared with ordinary least square models. Eight crop residue management treatments, based on burning of wheat straw and stubble or their incorporation with or without N fertilization and irrigation, were compared. The experimental design was a complete randomized block with five replicates. Results indicated that the dynamics of yield, grain protein content and hectolitric weight of winter durum wheat did not show any decline as usually expected when a monoculture is carried out for a long time. In addition, the temporal variability of productivity was more affected by meteorological factors, such as air temperature and rainfall, than CR management treatments. Higher wheat grain yields and hectolitric weights quite frequently occurred after burning of wheat straw compared with straw incorporation without nitrogen fertilization and autumn irrigation and this was attributed to temporary mineral N immobilization in the soil. The rate of 50 kg ha−1 of N seemed to counterbalance this negative effect when good condition of soil moisture occurred in the autumn period, so yielding the same productive level of straw burning treatment.

No-till and direct seeding agriculture in irrigated bean: Effect of incorporating crop residues on soil water availability and retention, and yield

Brazil is one of the top world producers of the staple commodity common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Irregular distribution of rainfall and the lack of rain during the crop reproductive phases affect its yield and increase the demand of water for irrigation. However, in recent years, water resources have decreased and water saving has become an issue. Thus, soil management techniques, which reduce evaporation, and efficient irrigation programming, through the monitoring of soil water content, could be adopted in water scarcity scenarios. This study assesses the effect of crop residues management (incorporated IR or left on soil surface NR) in soil water availability (and its retention in the soil pore space), and yield in common beans cultivated under no-till and directly seeded in an irrigated farm located southwest of São Paulo state. Soil water content was monitored with TDR probes installed within the 0–20cm layer and its retention was assessed through the soil water retention curve. For the same irrigation management, the IR led to soil water content was lower than NR but both soil managements had similar available water and their demand of water for irrigation was similar. For the same soil water content, NR soils could hold it tightly in the pore space and the root plant system would require higher energy to absorb it. Then, it is foreseen that the root system in IR soils will be shallower than in NR soils, since it will withdraw water easily within the first 20cm, however, in NR, the roots will extend deeper searching for available water. Considering 40kPa as a threshold value, the plants suffered water stress during all crop cycle at the same physiologic stages in both soils. The variables studied to assess yield presented no-statistical significance in the T test at significance level of 0.05.

Crop residue management in arable cropping systems under a temperate climate. Part 2: Soil physical properties and crop production. A review

Introduction. Residues of previous crops provide a valuable amount of organic matter that can be used either to restore soil fertility or for external use. A better understanding of the impact of crop residue management on the soil-water-plant system is needed in order to manage agricultural land sustainably. This review focuses on soil physical aspects related to crop residue management, and specifically on the link between soil structure and hydraulic properties and its impact on crop production. Literature. Conservation practices, including crop residue retention and non-conventional tillage, can enhance soil health by improving aggregate stability. In this case, water infiltration is facilitated, resulting in an increase in plant water availability. Conservation practices, however, do not systematically lead to higher water availability for the plant. The influence of crop residue management on crop production is still unclear; in some cases, crop production is enhanced by residue retention, but in others crop residues can reduce crop yield. Conclusions. In this review we discuss the diverse and contrasting effects of crop residue management on soil physical properties and crop production under a temperate climate. The review highlights the importance of environmental factors such as soil type and local climatic conditions, highlighting the need to perform field studies on crop residue management and relate them to specific pedo-climatic contexts.

Long term effect of crop residue management on yield, economics and soil fertility status in soybean based cropping system

A field experiment was carried out at Agricultural Research Station, Buldana, Maharashtra, India for 10 years (2003–04 to 2013–14) to study effect of soybean crop residue on the yield of succeeding rabi crops and soil health with special reference to organic carbon at fixed site in split plot design with three replications. The main plot treatments comprised four crop residue management viz., wheat with residue incorporation, wheat with no residue incorporation, chickpea with residue incorporation, chickpea with no residue incorporation and sub-plot treatments were fertilizers i. e. 50, 75 and 100% recommended doses of fertilizers for rabi crops. The results revealed that soybean crop residue incorporation significantly influenced grain yield of both the wheat and chickpea crops. The application of 100% recommended dose of fertilizer i. e. 120: 60: 60 kg NPK/ha for wheat and 25: 50: 00 kg NPK/ha for chickpea gave significantly highest grain yield, gross monetary and net monetary returns as well as improved soil organic carbon content.

Crop residue management in arable cropping systems under temperate climate. Part 1: Soil biological and chemical (phosphorus and nitrogen) properties. A review

Introduction. Interacting soil organisms support biological processes that participate in soil functions, organic matter decomposition, and nutrient cycling. Earthworms and microorganisms play a range of beneficial roles in agricultural systems, including increased organic matter mineralization, nutrient cycling, and soil structure stabilization. Literature. The following aspects of crop residue management effects are examined in this paper: (i) earthworm composition and structure; (ii) soil microbial communities; and (iii) phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) element availability and distribution in the soil profile. Conventional tillage (ploughing) is often reported to generate decreased soil organism abundance and diversity, primarily earthworms and microorganisms, as well as a uniform distribution of the nutrients P and N within the ploughed soil horizon. Soil residue incorporation of mineral particles can maintain P and N levels, however returning soil also increases aeration and the activation of microbial activity. Hence, comparisons of tillage effects on soil biological functioning and nutrient cycling remain unclear. Conclusions. This review highlights the challenges in establishing definitive evidence regarding the effects of crop residue management on soil organisms and nutrient dynamics. The studies examined reported variability in soil and climate, and the complexity of soil processes contributed to the absence of clear findings. Further research is required under temperate climate conditions.

How does crop residue removal affect soil organic carbon and yield? A hierarchical analysis of management and environmental factors

The current advancement of the bioenergy sector along with the need for sustainable agricultural systems call for context-specific crop residue management options – implying variable degrees of removal – across climatic regions, soil types and farming systems around the world. A large database (n = 660) on the effects of crop residue management on soil organic carbon (SOC) and crop yields was compiled from studies published in the last decade and analyzed using descriptive and multivariate statistics and data mining techniques. Removing crop residues from the field led to average SOC contents that were 12 and 18% lower than in soils in which crop residues were retained, in temperate and tropical climates respectively. The dataset showed a wide variability as a result of the wide range of biophysical and management factors affecting net changes in SOC. In tropical climates the effect of crop residue management on SOC was subject to local climate and soil texture. In these regions the addition of C via crop residues was crucial in sustaining SOC especially in coarse textured soils. Yields increased following residue retention in tropical soils, while low SOC corresponded with lower crop production in temperate areas. Our results suggest that crop residue removal is not recommended in tropical soils, particularly in coarse-textured ones, and in SOC-depleted soils in temperate locations. Partial residue removal can be considered in temperate climates when soils are well-endowed in SOC. Future policies must consider the role of residues within different agro-ecosystems in order to advance agriculture and the bio-energy sector sustainably.

Multicriteria Analysis of the Effects of Field Burning Crop Residues

Burning crop residues is frequently used by Romanian land users to clean agricultural fields after crop harvest for ease in post-harvest soil tillage. Huge amounts of crop residues biomass, on very large areas, were burned in Romania in the last twenty years, as compared to other countries. There are several reasons (e.g. the lack of equipment to gather the crop residues and to transport and store them, the diminishing of the livestock after 1990, the absence of other alternatives, especially in the 1990s, but also the lack of information regarding the good practices) that are advocated to support the use of this method. However, this method is not a sustainable one since it can cause many environmental damages, especially related to soil properties (physical, chemical and biological), greenhouse gas emission and crop yields. Contrary to the above stated, crop residues' addition to the soil may restore damaged soil structure, improve aggregate stability, soil water retention, soil fertility, increase total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) etc. The purpose of this paper is to make a multicriteria analyze of the effects of crop residue management on the soil, agricultural productivity and environment. At the same time, the use of crop residues biomass as a source of energy is presented as an alternative, given its potential ability to offset fossil fuels and reduce CO2 emissions.

Soil profile distribution of total C content and natural abundance of 13C in two volcanic soils subjected to crop residue burning versus crop residue retention

Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays a key role in crop productivity and soil quality. Conservation agriculture has a positive effect on SOC accumulation in the surface soil horizons, but little information is available regarding the effect of the removal of crop residues by burning. This study aimed to assess the impact of different types of crop residue management practices on the total C distribution and natural abundance of 13C (‰, δ13C). Two volcanic soils, located in the Mediterranean temperate zone of Southern Chile, were studied: an Ultisol (Collipulli Series, CPL) and an Andisol (Santa Bárbara Series, SBA). Both soils had been cultivated under direct-drilling and a typical annual crop rotation system for a long period of time. Two different types of crop residue management practices were imposed in both soils: (i) crop residue burning (CPL-B; SBA-B) and (ii) crop residue retention over the soil (CPL-R; SBA-R), corresponding to treatments B and R, respectively. Soil profile distribution of the C content and natural abundance of 13C were analysed for bulk soils (down to 100 cm depth) and three particle-size fractions of the soils (down to 20 cm of soil depth): (a) ≤ 53 µm, (b) 53-212 µm and (c) ≥ 212 µm. It was found that the effect of crop residue management can be observed in the variations of C content and δ13C in the soil profile in both volcanic soils. Crop residue burning (B treatment) increased the C content in bulk soil and the particle-size fractions. On the other hand, soil organic matter of crop residue retention (R treatment) showed higher natural abundance of 13C (δ13C) compared with residue burning (B treatment) in the two volcanic soils. R treatment enriched the particle-size fractions (except ≥ 212 µm fraction of CPL soil) with 13C. Factors that could account for these findings are also discussed here.