Pearl Millet-wheat Cropping Research Articles

Different cropping systems impact soil health by improving soil biological activities and total organic carbon content

ABSTRACT This study assesses the impact of different cropping systems on changes in total organic carbon (TOC), its fractions and biological activities to evaluate the changes in soil health. The rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) had significantly higher total organic carbon (TOC) (38.8%) and soil organic carbon (SOC, 43.6%) compared to the pearl millet-mustard cropping system (PMCS). Active C pools were significantly higher in soils under cotton-wheat (CW) and pearl millet-wheat cropping systems (PWCS) than RWCS, whereas passive C pools (63% of TOC), the microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and dehydrogenase activity (DHA) were highest under RWCS than other systems. Soils under these cropping systems exhibited a significant polynomial relationship of TOC with SOC and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Two significant canonical discriminant functions involving TOC, SOC, DOC, very labile carbon (CVL), labile carbon (CL), less labile carbon (CLL), recalcitrant carbon (CR), MBC and DHA could distinguish the different cropping systems and contributed 94.7%. The principal component analysis identified that TOC, SOC, pH and EC were the most reliable and contributing variables for assessing soil health under different cropping systems. Three PCs explained the 79.2% variability of the total variance of the original data set.

Long-Term Manuring and Fertilization Influence on Soil Properties and Wheat Productivity in Semi-Arid Regions

Information on the long-term effects of the addition of organics and fertilizers to wheat under the pearl millet–wheat cropping system with semi-arid conditions in north-western India is still lacking. The present research was conducted in an ongoing field experiment initiated during Rabi 1995 at the Research Farm of Chaudhary Charan Singh at Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. After 25 years, the impacts of nutrient management practices on soil fertility and wheat productivity were evaluated. The experiment comprised a total of eight treatment combinations viz. half and full doses of recommended fertilizers (N and P), organic manures (FYM: farmyard manure, POM: poultry manure, and PRM: press mud) alone and in combination with NP fertilizers. The conjoint application of organic manure and chemical fertilizers resulted in a positive influx of nutrients via increasing total organic carbon (TOC), available N, P, K, and S, which ranged from 0.46 to 1.42%, 122.70 to 194.70, 15.66 to 74.92, 340.5 to 761.2, and 15.26 to 54.63 kg ha−1 in surface soil (0–15 cm), respectively. Carbon fractions and crop yield were significantly improved by adopting integrated nutrient management (INM). The TOC showed a positive and significant correlation with C fractions (r > 0.92) and with soil-available N, P, K, and S (r > 0.77) content. The data also revealed a strong relationship between TOC and soil-available (0–15 cm) nutrients i.e., available N (R2= 0.769), available P (R2 = 0.881), available K (R2 = 0.758), and available S (R2 = 0.914), respectively. Thus, practices that increased TOC were also beneficial in enhancing the availability of the nutrients in the soil. A positive and highly significant correlation was also found among wheat yield, nutrient (NPKS) content, and uptake. A polynomial relationship between grain yield and grain N (R2 = 0.962), P (R2 = 0.946), and K (R2 = 0.967) content, and between straw yield and straw N (R2 = 0.830), P (R2 = 0.541) and K (R2 = 0.976) content was obtained. Integrated use of PRM7.5 followed by FYM15 and POM5 coupled with NP fertilizers proved best, which could be beneficial for obtaining nutritious and highest wheat yield (grain: 6.01 t ha−1 and straw: 7.70 t ha−1) coupled with improved fertility within a sustained manner under the pearl millet–wheat sequence in prevailing semi-arid conditions of the North Indian state of Haryana.

Ten Year Impact of Soil Test Crop Response Based Integrated Plant Nutrient Supply on Nutrient Use Efficiency and Productivity for Sustainability of Pearl Millet-wheat Cropping System

Ten Year Impact of Soil Test Crop Response Based Integrated Plant Nutrient Supply on Nutrient Use Efficiency and Productivity for Sustainability of Pearl Millet-wheat Cropping System

Long-term application of organic manures and chemical fertilizers improve the organic carbon and microbiological properties of soil under pearl millet-wheat cropping system in North-Western India

An on-going long term field experiment started in Rabi 1995 at the Research Farm of the Department of Soil Science, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana (India) under the pearl millet-wheat cropping system was selected to study the effect of long-term application of organic manures and fertilizers on soil organic carbon and microbiological properties. Highest soil organic carbon (SOC: 1.18 %), dissolved OC (DOC: 64.74 mg kg−1) content, microbial biomass C (MBC: 618.40 mg kg−1), dehydrogenase (DHA: 72.83 μg TPF g−1 24 hr−1), alkaline phosphatase (APA: 685.44 μg PNP g−1 soil hr−1) and aryl sulfatase (ASA: 12.56 μg PNP g−1 soil hr−1) activities were observed with the application of 15 Mg FYM+150 kg N+30 kg P2O5 ha−1. Integrated application of chemical fertilizers with pressmud showed superiority in the improvement of microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN: 73.73 mg kg−1) and urease activity (69.54 μg NH4+ g−1 hr−1) than FYM or poultry manure plus NP. Beneficial impacts of the sole application of organic manures on SOC, DOC, MBC content, DHA, APA, and ASA were found in order as: FYM > pressmud > poultry manure. Impacts of nutrient management practices on soil carbon fractions decreased with depth. Poultry manure application, either alone or in combination with NP fertilizers was inferior to FYM and pressmud. The SOC had a positive relationship with MBC (R2 = 0.95) and MBN (R2 = 0.75) and, also showed a highly positive and significant correlation with microbiological properties of soil. This dynamic equilibrium among soil properties indicated that the nutrient management practices that improve SOC could lead to improve soil fertility and accrued microbiological properties in these soils. This study revealed that conjuctive use of organic manures and chemical fertilizers have positive impact on soil fertility and microbiological properties as compared to sole application of organic manures or fertilizers; and among organic manures, FYM was superior to pressmud followed by poultry manure.

Soil Test Based Balanced Fertilization (10 Years) for Improving Soil Nutrient Status and Use Efficiency Under Pearl Millet-Wheat Cropping System

Soil Test Based Balanced Fertilization (10 Years) for Improving Soil Nutrient Status and Use Efficiency Under Pearl Millet-Wheat Cropping System

Influence of sewage sludge and saline water irrigation on soil soluble ions and nutrient uptake under Pearl millet-Wheat cropping system in semi-arid region

Salinity is the most common problem in arid and semi-arid regions hindering nutrient accumulation in plants. A field trial (2017-18) was carried out to study the effect of sewage sludge (SS) and saline water irrigation on nutrient uptake under the pearl millet-wheat system and soluble ions in the soil. The experiment consisted of three irrigation levels (canal water, 8 and 10 dS/m ECiw saline water) and five fertilizer treatments i.e., control, sewage sludge (SS)- 5 t/ha, SS (5 t/ha) + 50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), SS (5 t/ha) + 75% RDF and 100% RDF where sewage sludge was applied in rabi season only. The results indicated that the saline water irrigation significantly increased the concentrations of soluble ions (Na+, K+, Ca2++Mg2+, HCO3-, SO42- and Cl-) in the soil, and also the increase was non-significant under sewage sludge application. Na+ and Cl- ions were dominated under saline conditions among the soluble ions in the soil. The nutrient (N, P and K) uptake by grain and stover/straw of pearl millet and wheat crops were significantly reduced under saline environment. However, the maximum uptake in both crops was obtained under canal water irrigation (0.35 dS/m). Among fertilizer treatments, the maximum uptake (NPK) in both crops was attained under RDF being at par with SS (5 t/ha) + 75 RDF except K uptake in pearl millet crop, where the highest K uptake was obtained with SS (5 t/ha) + 75 RDF which was remained statistically at par with RDF treatment. The interactive effect was however non-significant. It is concluded that incorporating SS would enhance nutrient uptake in crops under saline conditions besides solving its dumping problem.

Energy and carbon budgeting of the pearl millet-wheat cropping system for environmentally sustainable agricultural land use planning in the rainfed semi-arid agro-ecosystem of Aravalli foothills

Improvements in energy-use efficiency and carbon footprint reduction are critical for the sustainability of agricultural systems. The present study was aimed at evaluating the suitability of pearl millet-wheat cropping system as an environmentally sustainable land use option in the rainfed semi-arid ecosystem of the Aravalli foothills, India. The socio-economic survey was done in five land management units (LMUs) to collect real-world data using stratified random sampling technique. The results showed high yields of pearl millet and wheat (2.5 t ha−1 and 4.5 t ha−1) with high net return (1424 US $ ha−1) under large holdings of LMU5. The mean total energy consumed in the system was 32265 MJ ha−1, wherein non-renewable and renewable energy sources contributed 77% and 23%, respectively. Large holdings of LMU5 produced significantly high net energy return (243989 MJ ha−1), energy-use efficiency (9.8), carbon efficiency (11.9), and carbon sustainability index (10.9). The carbon footprint was high under marginal and small holdings, which necessitates soil and water conservation measures to achieve high yields. In the pearl millet-wheat system, energy-smart and carbon-efficient approaches of crop cultivation need to be popularized to attain sustainable productivity in the semi-arid ecosystem.

Sixteen-years application of organic manures and fertilizers in pearl millet-wheat cropping system on soil fertility and soil carbon management index in an inceptisol of subtropical India

A study was undertaken in a long-term experiment on effect of organic manures and nutrient management on soil fertility and soil organic carbon (SOC) after 16 years cycles of pearl millet-wheat cropping system in a coarse loamy, Typic Haplusterts of subtropical India. Significant build-up of soil fertility in terms of alkaline KMnO4-N, Olsen-P, NH4OAc-K as well as SOC namely, total organic carbon (TOC), Walkley and Black organic carbon (WBC), labile organic carbon (LBC) and periodical changes of SOC during cropping season were maintained under different organic manures (FYM, poultry manure and pressmud) alone or integrated nutrient management over control plot in different depths (0–15, 15–30 and 30–45 cm) of the soils. The highest values of TOC (13.2 g kg−1), WBC (11.2 g kg−1) and LBC (1.22 g kg−1) were maintained in 15 t FYM + 150 kg N ha−1 + 30 kg P2O5 ha−1 treated plot. The magnitude of change in WBC in subsurface (15–30 and 30–45 cm) soil was low compared to surface soil (0–15 cm). Highly strong relationships were exhibited between LBC with yield, indicating that these pools are more important for nutrient turnover and their availability to plants than total SOC. Carbon management index revealed that integrated nutrient management could be followed for enhancement of crop productivity, nutrient availability and soil carbon pools for long-term. These results conclude that for sustainable crop production and maintaining soil quality, input of organic manure like FYM is of major importance and should be advocated in the nutrient management of intensive cropping system for improving soil fertility and biological properties of soils.

Micronutrients accumulation under pearl millet-wheat cropping system in response of salinity levels amended with sewage sludge

Aim: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of sewage sludge and saline water irrigation on micronutrients concentration in pearl millet- wheat cropping system. Methodology: The trial was conducted during 2017-2019 at Soil Research Farm, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Haryana in a factorial random block design with three replications. There were three salinity levels of irrigation water, i.e., canal water (0.35 dS m-1), 8 and 10 dS m-1 EC of saline water; and five fertilization levels, i.e., control (no fertilizer), sewage sludge(5 t ha-1), SS (5 t ha-1) + 50% RDF, SS (5 t ha-1) + 75% RDF and 100 % RDF. However, sewage sludge was applied in Rabi seasons only. Results: Based on pooled analysis of two years, micronutrients (Fe, Mn and Cu) concentration in grain and stover/straw of pearl millet and wheat crops significantly reduced on application of saline water irrigation (ECiw 8 and 10 dS m-1) whereas, Zn concentration was non significantly affected with salinity levels. However, highest concentration of Fe, Mn and Cu was recorded with canal water irrigation. There was a significant increase in micronutrients (Fe, Mn and Cu) concentration in both crops with sewage sludge application in comparison of RDF and control treatments but in case of zinc treatment SS (5 t ha-1) + 75% RDF and 100% RDF were at par with each other. Among treatments, significantly higher concentration of micronutrients was recorded with SS (5 t ha-1) + 75% RDF treatment being at par with SS (5 t ha-1) + 50% RDF. Interpretation: Salinity affects micronutrient availability adversely. However, zinc content was not affected significantly. In such case, sewage sludge application may prove a feasible option that serves as a supplement of nutrients as well as sorting out the problem of dumping waste.

Effect of Integrated Use of Nutrients on Soil Properties and Productivity of Pearl Millet–Wheat Cropping System Irrigated with Saline Water in Northwestern India

Effect of Integrated Use of Nutrients on Soil Properties and Productivity of Pearl Millet–Wheat Cropping System Irrigated with Saline Water in Northwestern India

Effect of precise levelling and crop establishment options for wheat based systems on soil quality, system- and water productivity in scarce irrigated areas

ABSTRACT In scarce-irrigated areas of India, pearl millet-wheat cropping system is depleting soil quality, system productivity and resources. The objective of study was to restore soil quality and sustain productivity. It was considered necessary to diversify cereal through legume-based wheat system and shift of traditional to conservation technologies. A field experiment was assessed the rainy season cereal crop pearl millet (PM) and three legumes- pigeon pea (PP), green gram (GG) and cluster bean (CB)-based winter wheat (W) systems under two land levelling methods viz. traditional (TLL) and precision laser assisted (PLL), and three establishment methods- traditional tillage (TT), zero tillage (ZT) and permanent broad bed- furrow (PBBF) on various parameters. Results of PLL and PBBF crop establishment was significantly enhanced the soil quality parameters, growth characters, less plant mortality of rainy season crops and lodging of wheat compared with traditional practices. Overall improvement in soil quality, system- and water productivity (WP) and net returns were in ordered: PP-W > CB-W > GG-W > PM-W and PBBF > ZT > TT. Results indicated that PBBF crop establishment in PLL conditions can be made more sustainable productive, economic profitable, ameliorate soil quality and save resources in scarce/canal support irrigation system.

Soil microbial properties influenced with long term application of manures and fertilizers

An ongoing long-term field experiment established in 1995 at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (India) under pearl millet-wheat cropping system was selected to examine the impact of organic manures and fertilizers on soil microbiological properties. After 19 years of experiment, the samples were collected after wheat harvest in April, 2014. Under different combinations of treatments, the microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) content in soil ranged from 202–491 and 35.0–79.8 mg/kg, respectively. The lower content of MBC and MBN was observed in farmyard manure (FYM) treated plots as compared to pressmud or poultry manure. Soil microbial quotient (SMQ) ranged from 3.18– 5.61% and higher SMQ was observed with pressmud and poultry manure application as compared to FYM application. The highest dehydrogenase activity (DHA) was reported with FYM15 (63.71 μgTPF/g/24 hr) which was statistically at par with FYM15N150 (59.75 μg TPF/g/24 h) and pressmud7.5 (58.14 μg TPF/g/24 h). Among organic manures applied alone alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) followed the order: poultry manure>FYM>pressmud. The highest urease activity (97.6 μg NH4 +-N/g/h) was observed with pressmud7.5 and this may be attributed to higher N content (3.23%) in pressmud. The dehydrogenase and urease activity decreased in the plots where organic manures were applied in conjunction with NP fertilizers as compared to solitary application of organic manures. However, reverse trend was observed in case of alkaline phosphatase. Overall, pressmud applications exhibited favorable impacts on soil properties under pearl millet wheat cropping. Therefore, continuous application of pressmud could lead to long term maintenance of soil microbial properties in these sandy loam soils.

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Crop diversification of predominant Pearl millet based cropping system for higher productivity, resource-use efficiency and profitability in Semi-Arid Rajasthan

Continuous adoption of Pearl millet-Wheat cropping system led to reduction in productivity which put a serious threat to its sustainability in semi-arid eastern plain zone of Rajasthan, India. Crop diversification with wider choice with a variety of crops is being promoted as an alternative to profit maximization with enhanced soil fertility status. Therefore, a long term experiment was initiated to evaluate the production potential, sustainability, resource-use efficiency and economics of nine Pearl millet based cropping systems. Result revealed that system productivity in terms of pearl millet equivalent yield (PMEY) was highest (30488 kg ha-1) with groundnut-wheat-cluster bean-onion crop rotation. Moreover, groundnut-wheat-cluster bean-onion recorded the highest SYI and land use efficiency (0.65 and 73.97%) followed by pearl millet-wheat-cluster bean-barley sequence (0.63 and 65.75%). The groundnut-wheat-cluster bean-onion also generated highest number of man days/ha/year (405). The highest values of organic carbon were found under green gram-mustard-pearl millet-lentil and cluster bean-pea-pearl millet-lentil. The maximum value of available P was recorded with cluster bean-mustard-green gram-garden cress followed by the groundnut-wheat-cluster bean-onion sequence. Available K decreased significantly from their initial values in all the cropping systems except groundnut-wheat-cluster bean-onion crop rotation. Among the various systems, groundnut-wheat-cluster bean-onion realized the highest net returns ( 213000 ha-1), followed by pearl millet-wheat-cluster bean-barley ( 163254 ha-1). Overall, it can be concluded that under the semi-arid agro climatic conditions of Rajasthan, groundnut-wheat-cluster bean-onion, followed by pearl millet-wheat-cluster bean-barley, were more productive, sustainable, resource use efficient and remunerative than other cropping systems.

Performance Evaluation of IARI Wheat Seed-cum-Fertilizer Plot Drill for Pearl Millet-Wheat Cropping System on Permanent Raised Bed System

A four-row IARI seed-cum-fertilizer plot drill developed at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi for permanent raised bed system was evaluated under pearl millet-wheat cropping system. The machine was fitted with two Oyjord metering mechanisms with four outlets for metering seed and fertilizer. Successful seeding on raised beds with pearl millet crop residue was achieved by first cutting the plant residue with a plain disc coulter, followed by seed drilling in narrow slit furrows opened by double disk furrow openers. The plot drill required 33.56 kW tractor for its operation in sandy loam soils, and two operators to feed measured quantity of seed and fertilizer. Field capacity of the plot drill was 0.17 ha.h-1 at 1.5 km.h-1 forward speed of operation. Field machine index, field efficiency and cost of operation were 72.72, 80 % and ` 648/- per hour, respectively. The plant stands of wheat sown on permanent raised beds with the developed plot drill were significantly higher than with precision plot drill.

Performance Evaluation of IARI Wheat Seed-cum-Fertilizer Plot Drill for Pearl Millet-Wheat Cropping System on Permanent Raised Bed System

A four-row IARI seed-cum-fertilizer plot drill developed at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi for permanent raised bed system was evaluated under pearl millet-wheat cropping system. The machine was fitted with two Oyjord metering mechanisms with four outlets for metering seed and fertilizer. Successful seeding on raised beds with pearl millet crop residue was achieved by first cutting the plant residue with a plain disc coulter, followed by seed drilling in narrow slit furrows opened by double disk furrow openers. The plot drill required 33.56 kW tractor for its operation in sandy loam soils, and two operators to feed measured quantity of seed and fertilizer. Field capacity of the plot drill was 0.17 ha.h-1 at 1.5 km.h-1 forward speed of operation. Field machine index, field efficiency and cost of operation were 72.72, 80 % and ` 648/- per hour, respectively. The plant stands of wheat sown on permanent raised beds with the developed plot drill were significantly higher than with precision plot drill.

Yield and soil health studies in wheat in pearl millet-wheat cropping system as influenced by various nutrient sources

Yield and soil health studies in wheat in pearl millet-wheat cropping system as influenced by various nutrient sources

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English

Canopy temperature, excised leaf water retention, productivity and quality of wheat as affected by various nutrient sources in Pearl millet-wheat cropping system

A field experiment was conducted during the year 2013-14 at Agronomy Research Farm of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (India). The experiment consisting of twelve treatments was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. Grain yield of pearl millet (3012 kg/ha) was recorded highest in T6 (50 % RD-NP + 50 % N through FYM). Yield contributing characters were recorded highest in T6 (50 % RD-NP + 50 % N through FYM in pearl millet and 100 % RD-NP in wheat) in wheat crop. In wheat crop, treatment T6 recorded highest growth characters and yield contributing characters. Similarly, highest grain as well as biological yield was recorded in T6. Highest protein content, protein yield, sedimentation value and hectoliter weight was also recorded in T6. Highest grain yield of both pearl millet and wheat (5582 kg/ha) in pearl millet-wheat cropping system was obtained with the application of 50 % RD-NP + 50 % N through FYM in pearl millet and 100 % RD-NP in wheat while lowest yield of pearl millet (976 kg/ha) and wheat (1190 kg/ha) was recorded in T1 (control).

Productivity, Seed Quality and Nutrient Use Efficiency of Wheat (Triticum aestivum)under Organic, Inorganic and Integrated Nutrient Management Practices after Twenty Years of Fertilization

A long-term field experiment started in 1995 on Research Farm of Department of Soil Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University Hisar (India) was selected to study the effects of organic manures and chemical fertilizers on productivity, seed quality and nutrient use efficiency of wheat under pearl millet-wheat cropping system. The organic manures (15 Mg FYM, 5 Mg poultry manure and 7.5 Mg pressmud) were applied alone and in combination with fertilizers (150 kg N + 30 kg P2O5 ha−1) and compared with chemical fertilizers applied alone (150 kg N + 60 kg P2O5 ha−1 and 75 kg N + 30 kg P2O5 ha−1). The results showed that the application of organic manures in combination with N and P fertilizers significantly increased all yield attributes, i.e. plant height, number of tillers/m row length, spike length, number of grains/spike. Higher grain yield of wheat (61.4, 57.4 and 62.7 q ha−1) was observed when recommended dose of N and half of P was applied in conjunction with FYM, poultry manure and pressmud, respectively. Grain yield of wheat increased by 13.5, 6.1 and 15.9%, respectively, under same treatments when compared with recommended dose of N and P fertilizers. Among the organic manures, highest yield (32.9 q ha−1) was obtained with pressmud application. However, application of organic manures alone resulted in poor yield and even lower than 50% recommended dose of N and P fertilizer. All the seed quality parameters (standard germination, shoot length, root length, seedling dry weight, seedling vigour index-I and -II) improved with the combined application of organic manures and chemical fertilizers as compared to their individual application. The partial factor productivity of N and P increased with combined application organic manures and chemical fertilizer as compared to chemical fertilizers applied alone, however, nutrient harvest index and their utilization efficiency decreased with combined application of organic manures and fertilizers as compared to their individual application.