Living Mulch Research Articles

Restoring soil carbon in marginal land of Indian Himalayas: Impact of crop intensification and conservation tillage.

Soil carbon (C) loss is the prime sign of land degradation, and C pools have a great impact on soil quality and climate change mitigation. Hence, a field experiment was conducted for three consecutive years to assess the impact of crop intensification and conservation tillage practices on changes in the C pool at different soil depths of marginal land of the Indian Himalayas. The experiment consisted of two intensified cropping systems viz., CS1-Summer maize (Zea mays L.) -rainy season maize-lentil (Lens esculenta L.) and CS2-Summer maize-rainy season maize-mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern) and five tillage practices viz., No-till (NT); NT+live mulch of cowpea (NT+LMC); reduced tillage (RT); RT+LMC and conventional tillage (CT). Results revealed that CS2 produced significantly higher biomass, C retention efficiency (9.85%), and sequestrated greater C (0.42Mgha-1 yr-1) in the soil system than CS1. Of the various tillage practices, RT+LMC registered higher biomass and recycled greater biomass and C than those under other tillage practices. However, the highest soil organic carbon (SOC) content (7.03gkg-1) and pool (9.62Mgha-1) in 0-10cm depth were observed under NT+LMC. The non-labile C pool size under NT in 0-10cm and 10-20cm depths was significantly greater than those under CT. The NT+LMC sequestrated significantly higher SOC (0.57Mgha-1 yr-1) than other tillage practices. Thus, the study indicated that the adoption of an intensified maize-based system under RT+LMC or NT+LMC would increase SOC storage and C sequestration in marginal lands of the Indian Himalayas.

Cowpea Living Mulch Effect on Soil Quality and Grain Yield in Smallholder Maize-Based Cropping System of Northern Ghana

Low soil fertility is a major constraint for maize production in West Africa, the use of legumes as living mulch improves soil fertility and yield of main crops. However, there is limited literature on the appropriate time to plant living mulch in maize-based cropping system in West Africa. A 2-year (2017–2018) study was conducted to determine the effect of cowpea living mulch (CPLM) on soil quality and grain yield in maize-based cropping system of northern Ghana. A factorial treatment combination of three maize maturity types (extra-early, early and medium) and four CPLM methods (control, CPLM with maize planted on the same day, CPLM planted 1 week after maize and CPLM planted 2 weeks after maize) was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications in Northern and Upper East regions of Ghana. Principal component and correlation matrix analyses were used to select minimum data set for soil quality index (SQI) calculation. The SQI for CPLM improved by 50–100% relative to that of the control in both seasons and regions. The CPLM significantly increased maize grain by 34–37% during both seasons in Northern Region and 84% during 2017 in the Upper East Region compared with that of the control. The effect of time of planting CPLM on grain yield showed negative correlation with amount of rainfall received during vegetative growth of CPLM. The results suggest that smallholder maize-based farmers in northern Ghana and similar agro-ecologies in West Africa can plant CPLM 1–2 weeks after planting maize to improve soil quality and increase maize grain yield.

Yield and economic response of Rabi maize (Zea mays L.) to different mulching and nutrient management

An experiment was conducted during Rabi season of 2019-20 with the objective of evaluating the effect of mulching and nutrient management practices on growth, yield and economics of maize (Zea mays L.) at Balindi Research Complex, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Nadia, West Bengal, India on clay loam soil. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with nine treatment (T) combinations such as T1- Live mulch (Trifolium alexandrium)+50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) [120:60:40 kg /ha N, P2O5 and K2O], T2- Live Mulch+75% RDF, T3- Live Mulch+100% RDF, T4- Straw Mulch (rice straw)+ 50 % RDF, T5- Straw Mulch+75% RDF, T6- Straw Mulch+100% RDF, T7- No Mulch+50% RDF ,T8- No Mulch+75% RDF and T9- No Mulch+100 % RDF, replicated thrice. Experimental results revealed that different mulching and nutrient levels exerted significant influence on growth, yield, net return and benefit-cost ratio (B:C). Application of straw mulch+100% RDF (T6) resulted in the highest plant height (164.57 cm), grain yield (5.28 tonnes /ha), stover yield (7.65 tonnes/ha) and B: C (2.16), however, treatment T7 recorded the lowest grain and stover yield. So, the integrated application of straw mulch along with 100% RDF could be recommended for better yield and higher profit of Rabi maize. Integration of organic mulch might be useful for long-term soil health benefits for the nutrient exhaustive maize crop.

The Effects of Leguminous Living Mulch Intercropping and Its Growth Management on Organic Cabbage Yield and Biological Nitrogen Fixation

In organic horticulture, living mulches (LM) are used for weed suppression and erosion prevention. In addition, leguminous LM can contribute to higher nitrogen (N) import into vegetable cultivation systems via biological N2 fixation (BNF). In order to investigate the effect of LM systems, a two- as well as three-year field experiment was conducted between 2019 and 2021 at two locations in Southwest Germany. White cabbage was intercropped with two different clover varieties (Trifolium repens cv. ‘Rivendel’, with regular growth and T.repens cv. ‘Pipolina’, a micro clover) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. ‘Premium’). Bare soil (with spontaneous vegetation) without intercropping was the control treatment. The second factor was the growth management of the LM: incorporation by rototilling before planting the cabbage, intercropping with the cabbage and no LM growth management, and intercropping with mulching of the LM during the cabbage growing. The results show that rototilling LM before planting the cabbage did not lead to higher weight of cabbage residues or differences in total head yield among the treatments for growth management. Intercropping without further LM growth management did not result in a reduced total head yield of cabbage compared to mulching. The micro clover ‘Pipolina’ showed no reduced competition with cabbage compared to the regular-growing white clover ‘Rivendel’. Therefore, we conclude that leguminous LM systems, regardless of growth management, can achieve high yields with sufficient irrigation and additional fertilization while increasing the inputs of N via BNF into the entire cropping system.

Combining Cultural Tactics and Insecticides for the Management of the Sweetpotato Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci MEAM1, and Viruses in Yellow Squash

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and the complex of viruses it transmits are major limiting factors to squash production in the southeastern United States. At this time, insecticides are extensively relied upon for the management of whiteflies and, indirectly, whitefly-transmitted viruses. The development of a multi-faceted, integrated pest management (IPM) program is needed to increase the sustainability and profitability of squash production. Experiments in 2018 and 2019 evaluated the effects of insect exclusion netting (IEN) in combination with selected pesticides on whitefly population dynamics and virus incidence in greenhouse-grown squash seedlings. Field experiments from 2018 to 2021 evaluated the effects of mulch type (UV-reflective mulch, live mulch, and white plastic mulch), row covers, and insecticides on whitefly population dynamics, silver leaf disorder (SSL) intensity, virus symptom severity, and marketable yield. IEN significantly reduced whiteflies and virus incidence on squash seedlings in the greenhouse study. In the field mulch study, lower whitefly abundance and SSL intensity, as well as reduced virus symptom severity, were observed in plots with reflective mulch compared with white plastic or live mulch. In the insecticide/row cover study, whitefly abundance, SSL intensity, and virus symptom severity were lowest in the row cover and cyantraniliprole- and flupyradifurone-treated plots. Field plots with row covers and those with UV-reflective mulch consistently produced the greatest marketable yields. These findings demonstrate that growers can reduce whitefly and virus pressure and preserve yields in squash production in the southeastern United States by combining cultural and chemical tactics, including row covers, UV-reflective mulch, and select insecticides.

Innovative Living Mulch Management Strategies for Organic Conservation Field Vegetables: Evaluation of Continuous Mowing, Flaming, and Tillage Performances

Organic vegetable production is particularly affected by weed pressure and mechanical weeding is the major tactic implemented by growers to keep weeds under economic thresholds. Living mulch (LM) has been shown to provide several environmental services; however, LM management is required to avoid competition between service crops and cash crops. The aim of this trial was to evaluate two innovative LM-based management systems: a system that provided LM growth regulation by means of flaming (LM-FL) and a system where the LM was regularly mowed by an autonomous mower (LM-AM), both compared with a control without LM and based on standard tillage operations (TILL). The three management systems were evaluated in terms of crop production, weed control, and energy consumption on a 2 yr organic crop rotation of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var botrytis) and eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). LM-AM produced an acceptable fresh marketable yield for both vegetable crops. Moreover, the weed dry biomass obtained in LM-AM-managed plots was lower compared to the LM-FL plots and ranged approximately from 200 to 300 kg ha−1. Furthermore, LM-AM management resulted in lower energy consumption (−2330 kWh ha−1 with respect to the TILL system and −7225 kWh ha−1 with respect to the LM-FL system). The results of this trial suggest that autonomous mowers have a great potential to improve LM management and help with implementing sustainable organic vegetable systems.

The Effects of Different Undergrowth Vegetation on the Types and Densities of Functional Ground-Dwelling Arthropods in Citrus Orchards

<p>In agricultural lands, citrus orchards, pest feeding and weed seed predation by ground-dwelling arthropods are essential ecosystem services. This research aims to investigate the effects of different undergrowth vegetation, including weed area, bare land, rattail fescue and white clover fields, on the types and densities of functional ground-dwelling arthropods in citrus orchards, using pitfall traps. The captured organisms included carnivorous beetles (<em>Pheropsophus jessoensis</em>,<em> Chlaenius naeviger</em> and <em>Dolichus halensis</em>), wolf spiders (<em>Lycosidae</em> sp.), earwigs (<em>Anisolabididae</em> sp.), house centipedes (<em>Scutigeromorpha</em> sp.), herbivorous ground beetles (<em>Amara</em> sp., <em>Harpalinae</em> sp.), crickets and millipedes. Furthermore, the population of the functional ground-dwelling arthropods was significantly increased by the presence of a live mulch, where a higher number was seen in the rattail fescue or white clover compared to the weed or bare land fields. The cover crops also affected the types of arthropods identified, with the rattail fescue field including more <em>Pheropsophus jessoensis</em> while the white clover had an elevated number of wolf spiders, earwigs and <em>Amara sp. </em>(a weed seed predator). This discovery indicates that the type of undergrowth vegetation plays an important role in enhancing functional biodiversity. The kind of pests and weeds that these arthropods are effective against, as well as the extent to which their densities can be decreased, is also unknown. Therefore, further research on the feeding habit and predation of these arthropods should be conducted.</p>

Impact of mulching and nutrients on soil water balance and actual evapotranspiration of irrigated winter cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.)

An optimal nutrient prescription along with favorable water management through mulching is key to high horticultural productivity, efficient water use, and minimizing soil nutrient loss. A field experiment was conducted in the Balindi Research Complex, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya in the Indo-Gangetic Plains of India, to evaluate the impact of mulching and balanced fertilization on actual evapotranspiration (ETa), crop coefficients (Kc), yield and yield attributes of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. cv. Green Express) during the winter seasons of 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 in the cabbage-fallow upland system under surface irrigated conditions. The experiment was laid out in a factorial strip plot design where no mulch (M1), live mulch [M2, Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.)], and paddy straw mulch (M3) were in strips with cabbage. Each treatment contained nutrient levels of 75% (N1), 100% (N2), and 125% (N3) of the recommended dose of an NPK fertilizer (RDF) with 200 N:100 P2O5:100 K2O. Higher soil water conservation under M3 incited 60% and 46% lower profile water change than M1 and M2 treatments, respectively. Paddy straw mulch produced 10.1% and 22.3% more yield and achieved 29.5% and 15.1% higher water productivity (WP) as compared to M1 and M2, respectively. Treatment N3 produced the highest yield and the least partial factor productivity of fertilizer (PFPf) compared to N2 and N1 treatments. Maximum ETa loss was from the M1N3 treatment (226.30 mm) and the highest yield (25,695 kg ha−1), yield attributes, and WP (120.1 kg ha−1 mm−1) were obtained from the M3N3 combination. The average estimated Kc values were 0.5 for initial, 1.0 for crop development, and 1.2 for mid-season, and 0.6 for maturity stages. The results suggest that the application of straw mulch with 125% RDF of chemical fertilizer under surface irrigated conditions improved cabbage yield, water productivity and soil fertility, however, living mulch achieved a higher economic return to the Indo-Gangetic alluvial clay loam Inceptisol of India.

Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Fluxes Under Different Cover Crop Systems

Cultivated lands that support high productivity have the potential to produce a large amount of GHG emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4). Intensive land management practices can stimulate CO2, N2O, and CH4 emissions from the soil. Cover crop establishment is considered as one of the sustainable land management strategies under warm and humid environmental conditions. To better understand how the incorporation of cover crops affect three major GHGs, we compared trace gas fluxes in a no-till maize field over the whole growing season in 2018 in a no cover crop (Tr) system and three cover crop systems: crimson clover (CC), cereal rye (CR), and living mulch (LM) using white clover. In 2019, we further explored potential differences in the three GHGs between in-row (IR) and between-row (BWR) of maize for LM and Tr systems during the early growing season. Measurements were taken using a cavity ring-down spectroscopy gas analyzer in Watkinsville, GA. In 2018, the highest CO2 flux (7.00 μmol m−2 s−1) was observed from BWR of maize for LM. The maximum N2O flux observed in LM on June 20th in 2018 was when soil N increase rate was the largest. Soils served as sinks for CH4 and Tr system served as the smallest CH4 sink compared to the other three cover crop systems. For N2O, the highest fluxes were observed from the TrIR plot (4.13 μmol m−2 hr−1) in 2019 with the greatest N inputs. In 2019, we observed a smaller CH4 sink in TrIR (−0.13 μmol m−2 hr−1) compared to TrBWR (−0.67 μmol m−2 hr−1) due potentially to greater NH4+ inhibition effects on CH4 consumption from greater N fertilizer inputs. The net carbon equivalent (CE) from May 23rd to Aug 16th in 2018, taking into account the three GHG fluxes, soil carbon content, and fertilizer, irrigation, and herbicide application, were 32–97, 35–101, 63–139, and 40–106 kg ha−1 yr−1 for CC, CR, LM, and Tr, respectively. LM had the lowest net CE after removing white clover respiration (−16–60 kg ha−1 yr−1). Our results show that implementing different types of cover crop systems and especially the LM system have some potential to mitigate climate change.

The food-energy-water-carbon nexus in a maize-maize-mustard cropping sequence of the Indian Himalayas: An impact of tillage-cum-live mulching

Amid the current environmental crises that exert enormous pressure on the arable lands, there is a need to adopt environment-friendly effective but highly productive conservation agriculture practices to feed the growing world population. Thus, a study was conducted to test the hypothesis that the inclusion of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) live mulch under no-till and reduced tillage in the summer maize (Zea mays L.) – rainy season maize-mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) czern) sequence would enhance agronomic productivity, energy use efficiency, and water productivity while reducing greenhouse gases emissions. Five tillage treatments viz., no-till, no-till-live mulch, reduce tillage, reduce tillage-live mulch, and conventional tillage were evaluated in three times replicated randomized complete block design. Land productivity for maize–maize–mustard system was the highest under reduced tillage-live mulch. No-till-live mulch had 36.4% lesser energy requirement, 2.4 times more energy productivity than that under conventional tillage. Reduced tillage-live mulch and no-till-live mulch had higher water productivity compared to all other treatments. The conventional tillage had the highest net CO2-eq emission while no-till-live mulch had the lowest. Inclusion of cowpea as live mulch enhanced C sequestration which has the potential to offset approximately half of the total CO2 emission, enhance energy use efficiency, land and water productivity. The findings of this study might be useful to develop a policy for sustainable high productivity through efficient resource use in the Eastern Himalayan Ecosystems that have the potential to become the corn belts of India.

Strawberry Living Mulch in an Organic Vineyard

A living mulch system can provide beneficial biodiversified phytocoenoses and spatial competition against weeds; however, it may also compete for water with the main cultivated crop under Mediterranean climate conditions. Strawberries employed as living mulch in a rain-fed hill vineyard of central Italy were evaluated for two years through a participative approach involving the farmer. A local wild strawberry was propagated by stolons to obtain small plantlets easily uprooted after the summer and then transplanted to a one-year-old vineyard. The densities of two and four strawberry plants per grapevine were compared with no living mulch in a randomized complete block design. A horizontal blade weeder was used once a year in all treatments. The results showed that strawberries as living mulch plus application of a blade weeder avoided the need for further soil tillage and assured a full soil cover during winter for both initial planting densities. The strawberry living mulch did not alter the grapevine transpiration during an incident of water stress in summer. Moreover, the yield per vine and the grape quality were comparable with those of the soil without living mulch. The growth of strawberry mulch was relevant in the area surrounding the vines. Furthermore, the living mulch guaranteed a constant soil cover reducing the risk for soil erosion while increasing the vineyard’s biological diversity. This may imply a higher resilience.

Effects of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) as a Live mulch on weed management in maize cropping

Weed interference is a major constraint in maize cultivation. Living mulch as an alternative weed control strategy has been established to be environmentally safe but has not been widely used in maize cultivation. The aim of this research was to evaluate the weed management attributes of Vigna unguiculata in maize cropping. A field study was carried out in the crop garden of the Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The treatments were maize interplanted with Cowpea at 20,000 (M1), 30,000 (M2), 40,000 (M3) plants/hectare, hoe weeding (M4), weedy check (M5) and Primextra-2.5 L/ha (M6). The treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design, each replicated four times. Weed Dry Weight (WDW) and Weed Control Efficiency–WCE (%) were calculated following standardized methods. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α0.05. The treatment plots were dominated by weed species in the Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae families. The M5 accounted for the highest WDW (126.30 g). The WCE was highest in M3 (94.8%) and least in M5 (66.4%). Maize and cowpea interplant at 40,000 plants/hectare suppressed weed. Hence, cowpea is an ideal weed suppressant and can be inter-planted as a cover crop in maize cropping systems.

White clover living mulch enhances soil health vs. annual cover crops

AbstractCover crops can improve soil health by increasing soil organic matter, soil porosity, permeability, and crop yield. Yet, land planted to cover crops are often limited by economic constraints. Perennial living mulch (LM) cover crops may provide better benefits to soil health because they are actively growing throughout the year and self‐regenerate without reseeding. The objective of this study was to compare the impact of a white clover (Trifolium repens L.) LM vs. annual cover crops on soil health traits. Treatments were established on a Cecil sandy loam soil in the fall of 2014 and annual cover crop treatments re‐established each fall of the following 3 yr. White clover re‐established in the LM without reseeding. Corn (Zea mays L.) was planted into the treatments in the spring of each year. Soils were sampled at the V4/V5, V12, and R5 stages of corn development and analyzed for chemical traits. Surface soil characteristics were measured after corn harvest in 2018. Soils in the LM system had lower lime buffering capacity and greater pH, base saturation, cation exchange capacity (CEC), Ca, K2O, Mg, P2O5, and total organic C concentrations than other treatments. Soil NH3 and NO3 had seasonal fluctuations associated with mineral N fertilizer and were lower in the LM treatment. After 3 yr, the soil bulk density was lower and porosity, water infiltration, and labile C were greater in surface soils from the LM treatment than in the surface soils of the other treatments. Use of a perennial LM cover crops expedited soil health regeneration compared to other treatments.

Intercrop mulch affects soil biology and microbial diversity in rainfed transgenic Bt cotton hybrids

Growing live mulch between the wide-row spaced transgenic Bt cotton hybrids is a low-cost option to control weeds compared to the use of plastic mulch. However, nothing is known about their effects on soil biology. Therefore, soil samples were collected from a long-term field study (2014–15 to 2018–19) to investigate the soil biological activities as well as the microbial diversity (soil metagenomic analysis). In general, mulching enhanced soil biological activity and influenced the microbial diversity in Bt-cotton. Mulch of sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), desmodium (Desmodium triflorum L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and plastic sheet recorded significantly higher soil biological activities such as, basal respiration, microbial biomass carbon, and soil enzymes than the other mulch treatments. Aromatic crops (bitter cumin (Centratherum anthelminticum (L.) Kuntze), carom (Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague ex Turrill), coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) had a significant adverse effect on soil biological activity compared to the farmers' practice (no mulch or intercrop). The rarefaction curves as a measure of alpha diversity indicated higher species richness in plastic and newspaper sheet mulch treatments compared to the intercrop mulch. The soil metagenome data indicated Proteobacteria (28%–36%), Actinobacteria (10%–35%), and Acidobacteria (10%–26%) were highly abundant phyla in the mulch treatments. The phyla, Chloroflexi (4%–5%), Gemmatimonadetes (2%–6%), Planctomycetes (2%–4%), and Bacteroidetes (2%–3%) were recorded at lower frequencies in all mulch treatments. The sunnhemp and newspaper mulch treatments recorded low frequency (0.06%–0.07%) of the fungal phyla, Ascomycota. Compared to the bare soil, mulching positively improves soil biological activity. Furthermore, our study identifies some crops that could be grown as an intercrop with a viewpoint to improve soil biology and provide an alternative to the expensive plastic mulch.

Comparison of Organic and Inorganic Mulching for Weed Suppression in Wheat under Rain-Fed Conditions of Haripur, Pakistan

Weeds pose a great threat to crop production subsequently distressing the equilibrium of agro-ecological systems globally. Instead of relying on chemical weed control, there is a dire need to explore alternative eco-friendly agricultural practices for weed suppression and sustainable wheat production. Mulching being eco-friendly could potentially serve the purpose towards weed suppression organically. To check the usefulness of mulching, two-year studies were conducted under field conditions in Haripur, Pakistan, during 2014 and 2015 to elucidate the response of various mulching materials for weed control in wheat. Six mulch material treatments were used along with Buctril super (used as check) at the rate of 1.235 L ha−1 to control the most problematic weed species of wheat in Pakistan. Experiments were designed under randomized complete block design with four repeats. The analysis of data revealed a significant decrease in weed density, relative weed density, fresh and dry plant biomass at 25, 50 and 75 days after sowing (DAS) where Buctril super at 1.235 L ha−1 and mulch of black plastic were used followed by sugarcane bagasse and dry leaves of mulberry, as compared with control (untreated). Higher density of weed, relative weed density, fresh and dry plant biomass were observed in test weed species of wheat where lentil was applied with wheat and dry leaves of mulberry were incorporated. Net economic benefits in the form of benefit cost ratio (2.55) were higher where grass clippings were applied followed by sugarcane bagasse (2.43), mulberry leaves (2.49), while the lowest net economic benefits (1.72) were obtained when lentil (grown as live mulch crop) with wheat was intercropped. It was concluded from the study that sugarcane bagasse and grass clippings could be a source to control weeds in the wheat with a minimum cost of production at Haripur, Pakistan, and similar agro-climatic environment.

Effect of crop geometry and in situ soil moisture conservation practices on yield attributes and yield of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice is the most widely grown crop in India. With the decreasing availability of water for irrigation, farmers are now switching towards water efficient production systems such as upland rice. Moisture stress at critical stages is one of the major reasons for low productivity of upland rice. So, the present study was conducted at college of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Agricultural University, Kerala, India. The experiment was conducted in RBD with nine treatments including two crop geometries viz., normal planting (20 cm x 10 cm) and paired row planting (10 cm x 10 cm) with 40 cm between paired rows, three rows of cowpea are grown in between two paired rows and in situ soil moisture conservation practices viz., live mulching of cowpea, hydrogel application and coirpith compost application were compared and analysed statistically on yield parameters and yield. Results revealed that, the treatment T9 (Paired row planting with live mulching of cowpea, hydrogel and coir pith compost application) favorably influenced the yield characters and yield of upland rice through proper conservation of moisture and improved availability of nutrients. The treatment T9 recorded the highest grain and straw yields of 3825 and 7700 kg ha-1 respectively with a harvest index (0.48) and was significantly superior to other treatments. It also recorded the highest moisture content in the soil as well as the maximum uptake and availability of nutrients.

Productivity, soil health, and carbon management index of Indian Himalayan intensified maize-based cropping systems under live mulch based conservation tillage practices

• Cowpea as live mulch improves the productivity of intensified maize based system. • Live mulch based conservation tillage changes the soil carbon dynamics. • The NT-LM and RT-LM had higher CPI and CMI. • Soils of NT-LM and RT-LM had the maximum WHC and infiltration rate. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through agriculture, especially in the rainfed ecosystem, can be achieved by effective conservation management practices. Therefore, the study was conducted to test the hypothesis that the inclusion of intensified leguminous live mulch systems can improve system productivity, carbon management index (CMI), and soil health. Two cropping systems viz, summer maize-rainy season maize-lentil (SM-RM-L); and summer maize-rainy season maize-mustard (SM-RM-Ma) and five tillage and mulching practices such as 1) no-till (NT); 2) NT with live mulch (NT-LM); 3) reduced tillage (RT); 4) RT with live mulch (RT-LM); and 5) conventional tillage (CT) were tested in a split-plot design. Results revealed that yield attributes and yields of summer and rainy season maize, and cowpea were higher under SM-RM-L than the SM-RM-Ma cropping system. But in the winter, crop yields were higher under SM-RM-Ma than the SM-RM-L cropping system. NT-LM and RT-LM recorded 39.5 % and 48.4 % average higher grain yield of summer maize over the CT. The soil under the NT-LM had the maximum very labile C (2.32 g kg −1 ); the labile C fraction was the highest in soil under CT (1.72 g kg −1 ). The non-labile C fraction of soil organic carbon (SOC) was higher under NT and NT-LM than the rest of the tillage/mulch treatments in 0−10 cm depth. The soil under RT-LM had a higher lability index (LI,1.62) than the rest of the treatments in 0−10 cm depth. Conversely, in 10−20 cm depth, the soil under NT had higher LI (1.77) than the rest of the treatments. The soil under NT-LM and RT-LM had higher CPI and CMI than those in the rest of the treatments. Water holding capacity (WHC), infiltration rate, and cumulative infiltration were significantly higher under NT-LM and RT-LM than the other treatments. Thus, the study indicated the positive role of LM based conservation tillage practices in improving soil properties, carbon management indices, and productivity of maize-based cropping systems in the eastern Indian Himalayas.

Field evaluation of using coconut husk and fibre to control slope erosion

One of the most common temporary measures to control soil slope erosion is the placement of synthetic geotextile or biological cover over the sloping surface. However, synthetic geotextiles have some disadvantages. Firstly, they are much expensive compared to biological materials. Secondly, synthetic geotextiles made of polymeric materials are not biodegradable and are likely to cause soil pollution. The use of natural bio-resources, such as coconut husk and fibre, is less costly and they are readily available in tropical countries. It is environmentally friendly and also durable and will not decompose as fast as live mulches due to its high carbon to nitrogen ratio and lignin content. A field experiment is set up to test two designs of coconut mulches, coconut fibre net and coconut husk using onsite experimental erosion plots with a slope gradient of 27°. The results showed that the coconut husk placed in the correct orientation is effective in reducing soil loss (980 grams), produced two times less soil loss compared to the control plot of bare soil (2465 grams) and coconut fibre net (2410 grams). Both the mulch covers also enhanced soil and water holding capacity promoting vegetation growth.

Nutrient uptake as influenced by live mulching and nitrogen management practices in maize-groundnut sequence

A field experiment was carried out during two consecutive kharif and rabi seasons of 2015 and 2016 on sandy loam soils of dryland farm of S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications to study the direct and residual effect of live mulching and nitrogen management practices on nutrient uptake. The treatment with no mulching i.e. sole maize and treatment live mulching with sunhemp recorded higher total N uptake, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), higher total P and K uptake at harvest in maize during 2015 and 2016, respectively. Among the nitrogen management practices, substitution of 25 per cent of RDN through either poultry manure (PM) or FYM along with 75 per cent RDN through urea recorded higher total N uptake, NUE, total P and K uptake by maize at harvest than control. Residual effect of live mulching of sesbania and substitution of 25 per cent of RDN through either PM or FYM showed higher total N, P and K uptake by groundnut, respectively.

Response of live mulches and weed management practices on nutrient uptake by crop and nutrient depletion by weed under direct seeded rice

Response of live mulches and weed management practices on nutrient uptake by crop and nutrient depletion by weed under direct seeded rice