Residue Management Practices Research Articles

Response of mineral soil carbon storage to harvest residue retention depends on soil texture: A meta-analysis

Abstract Harvest residue retention or removal can influence soil carbon (C) sequestration during forest management. Many studies have explored the factors that affect the direction and extent of changes in soil C after different harvest residue management practices. However, the effect of soil properties, especially soil texture, on the difference in mineral soil C storage between harvest residue retention and removal treatment are still not fully understood. Using a meta-analysis approach, we investigated the factors that influence the change in mineral soil C stocks following stem-only harvest (SOH), when compared to whole-tree harvest (WTH). We found that the retention of harvest residues associated with the SOH treatment led to 8.2% greater soil C storage in 0–20 cm mineral soils, compared to the WTH treatment. Soil properties (soil clay content and C concentrations) were the most important factors mediating soil C response to residue retention. Relative to the WTH treatment, the SOH treatment showed smaller mineral soil C pools in some high clay content soils, possibly by increasing the mineralization of existing soil organic matter stocks via a priming mechanism. Climate was a poor predictor of differences in treatment effects, with no significant difference between temperate and tropical forests. There were no significant relationships between the treatment effect on mineral soil C and mean annual temperature or precipitation. Both coniferous and broadleaf forests exhibited a significantly higher mineral soil C storage in the 0–20 cm soil layer with the SOH relative to the WTH treatment. Compared to WTH treatment, the higher soil C contents in upper mineral soils after the SOH treatment appeared to last about one decade after harvesting. The findings of this analysis suggest that soil texture and C concentrations in mineral soils should be considered when assessing the impact of forest harvest residue management on soil C pools.

Impact of Agropastoral Management on Wind Erosion in Sahelian Croplands

AbstractIn the Sahel, climate change and demographic growth are raising major concerns about the ability of crop yields to support the local population. Agropastoral management affects wind erosion (e.g., through crop residue management and tillage practices, which modify surface characteristics), which itself substantially affects soil fertility and thus crop yields. There is therefore a need to assess the potential impact of the main Sahelian cropping practices – like sowing, manuring, and crop residue management – on wind erosion. Using a modeling approach adapted to an experimental site located in southwestern Niger over the period 2006–2012, and scenarios that describe a set of agropastoral practices, the impacts of these practices on wind erosion are simulated and compared. The results indicate that horizontal fluxes differ by a factor of 10 among scenarios, with annual horizontal fluxes ranging from 121 to 1,317 kg m−1. Modeled wind erosion is most sensitive to the mass of crop residues in the late dry season, but different practices dealing with crop growth or with crop residue management may result in fluxes of the similar magnitude. The collection of the crop residues after grain harvest increases wind erosion, whereas grazing might have mixed effects, probably further mediated by the mobility of livestock as a response to forage availability. The seasonal dynamics of the monthly cumulated horizontal fluxes vary depending on practice; however, the annual cumulated horizontal fluxes are closely correlated with meteorological conditions such as wind speed and rainfall in the previous year. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Native earthworm population dominance after seven years of tillage, burning, and residue level management in a wheat-soybean, double-crop system

Earthworm density is often reduced in low organic matter soils that are intensively managed for row-crop production, but earthworms can serve as a sensitive bioindicator of response to residue management. This study relates earthworm density and community composition to residue management after seven years of consistent management practices in a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), double-crop system in the Lower Mississippi River Valley delta region of eastern Arkansas. Residue management practices included conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT), N fertilization to produce HIGH and LOW wheat residue levels, and BURN compared to unburned (NO BURN) wheat residue remaining on the soil surface. Total mean earthworm densities ranged from 271 to 508m−2 in the top 20cm across treatments. Both exotic Aporrectodea trapezoides (Dugès) and native Diplocardia sylvicola Gates adult earthworms were present with little difference in diversity among sampled communities; however, more than 65% of adults were D. sylvicola in all treatments. Native, total, or juvenile earthworm densities in different treatment combinations were correlated to different soil properties, including pH, electrical conductivity, and Mehlich-III-K, Ca Mg, S, Cu, and Mn concentrations. Residue level and burning influenced total, juvenile, and native earthworm densities differently in CT and NT. Tillage presumably influenced earthworm density through effects of residue placement at the surface (NT) or within the soil profile (CT). Earthworm densities were greatest in the BURN-HIGH treatment combination under NT, which contrasted with greatest densities in the NO BURN-HIGH which did not differ from the BURN-LOW treatment under CT. Native earthworms predominated with a common exotic species in a wheat-soybean double-crop system in Arkansas where earthworm densities were dependent on the interaction of tillage with burning and fertilization to influence wheat residue amount. Differences in earthworm abundances may serve as a bioindicator of long-term sustainability of common residue management practices in the highly agriculturally productive delta region in the Lower Mississippi River Valley.

Effect of crop residue and potassium management practices on productivity and economics of conservation agriculture based maize (Zea mays)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system

A field experiment was conducted in kharif and rabi seasons of 2014-2016 at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi to study the effect of crop residue and potassium (K) on productivity and economics of maize (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under conservation agriculture (CA) based maize-wheat cropping system. The experiment was conducted in split plot design with four levels of crop residue in main plot, viz. no crop residue (CR), 2.0 tonnes/ha CR, 4.0 tonnes/ha CR, 6.0 tonnes/ha CR and five potassium levels, viz. no K, 50% RDK, 100% RDK, 150% RDK, 50% RDK+KSB in sub-plots. Results revealed that the yield attributes, grain and stover/straw yield were significantly influenced by the crop residue and K management practices over the control in both crop during both the years. Treatment with 50% RDK+KSB showed the significantly highest values of all yield attributes like, number of grains/cob, grain weight/cob, test weight and grain (4.91, 5.39 tonnes/ha) and stover yield (8.41, 9.07 tonnes/ha) in maize. In wheat also number of spikes/m2, grains/spike, spike weight, test weight and yield (5.16, 5.45 tonnes/ha) and straw yield were significantly higher over the control and 50% RDK. However this treatment was at par with 100% RDK and 150% RDK. Among the residue management practices 4.0 tonnes/ha CR registered significantly higher yield attributes, grain yield and stover/straw yield over no crop residue and 2.0 tonnes/ha CR and it was on par with 6.0 tonnes/ha CR in maize and wheat crops. The highest cost of cultivation was reported in 150% RDK and lowest cost of cultivation, highest gross returns, net returns and B: C ratios in maize and wheat were recorded in 50% RDK+KSB. Among residue management practices no CR registered the highest net returns and these were on par with 2 tonnes/ha CR in both the years of maize. However, in wheat highest returns were reported with 4.0 tonnes/ha CR and this was statistically at par to all the residue management practices except no CR. In both the crops, no CR showed highest B: C ratio followed by 2.0 tonnes/ha CR and 4.0 tonnes/ha CR. Lowest B: C ratio was recorded with 6.0 tonnes/ha CR. The strong correlation was observed between different yield attributes and yield in both the crops. Thus, application of 4.0 tonnes/ha CR and 50% RDK+KSB was cost effective, eco-friendly and sustainable K management practices under CA based maize-wheat cropping system and this may be recommended to farmers for adaptation.

Use of LCA indicators to assess Iranian rapeseed production systems with different residue management practices

In this study the environmental profile of Iranian rapeseed cultivation was analysed with a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, in order to identify the hot spots of the system. Also, in order to apply environmental indicators for agricultural decision making purposes, the environmental burden of different residue management practices were compared. Primary data were collected from 150 rapeseed farms from the Iranian Mazandaran province. The system considers a cradle-to-farm gate boundary, and the functional unit was regarded as being one Mg of rapeseed production. The LCA results indicate that the global warming potential amounts to 1181.6kg CO2eqMg−1. Also, the acidification and eutrophication potentials were found to be 23.3kg SO2eqMg−1 and 18kg PO43eqMg−1, respectively. The results also reveal that environmental emissions of crop production were significantly affected by residue management practices. Specifically, rapeseed residue removal from the field is the most environmentally-friendly practice. This is followed by a scenario involving residue incorporation in the soil. The practice of burning such residue entails the highest environmental emissions. In conclusion, reducing the consumption of chemical fertilisers, especially nitrogen based ones, is important for decreasing the environmental footprints in the area. Furthermore, avoiding crop residue burning and developing rapeseed-bean rotation are favourable management strategies for establishing more environmentally-friendly rapeseed production systems in the region.

Assessment of N2O emissions from a fertilised vegetable cropping soil under different plant residue management strategies using 15N tracing techniques

Combined application of plant residues and N fertilisers strongly affect soil mineral N dynamics and N2O emissions depending on the quality of the plant residues, their application methods and other management strategies. We investigated the effect of combined application of two vegetable plant residues (cauliflower and sweet corn) and 15N fertiliser on N dynamics and N2O emission in a glasshouse pot study. The experiment was conducted under two residue management practices (soil incorporation vs surface mulching) over 98days with growing basil (Ocimum basilicum) plants. We also assessed the efficacy of applying the nitrification inhibitor, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) to the plant residues, for reducing N loss and mitigating N2O emissions. Application of plant residues, both on the soil surface or into soil, resulted in net N mineralisation and increased cumulative N2O emission compared with the application of N fertiliser alone. Soil surface mulching of sweet corn decreased total and residue-induced cumulative N2O emission compared with the incorporation method, while it showed opposite effect on N2O emissions from cauliflower residue. The application of DMPP with sweet corn residue reduced total, residue- and fertiliser-induced N2O emissions; however its application with cauliflower residue did not show any mitigating effect on the N2O emissions. The residue application methods and the use of DMPP did not significantly affect 15N recovery by the basil plants. In contrast, soil incorporation of these residues doubled the microbial immobilisation of applied 15N into soil organic matter. Linear regression analysis of N2O emission during the experimental period indicated that in the treatments without DMPP application, soil NO3−-N concentration was the most important factor in controlling the magnitude of N2O emissions, while the application of DMPP changed the dominant regulating factor from NO3−-N to NH4+-N concentration.

Residues Management Practices and Nitrogen-Potassium Fertilization Influence on the Quality of Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merrill) Sugarloaf Fruit for Exportation and Local Consumption

Heterogeneity in pineapple fruit quality explains the low export volume of fruits from Benin to international markets. This work aims to investigate the influences of residues mulching or burying and N-K fertilization on (1) fresh fruit juice quality and the proportion of fruit meeting European standards and (2) fruit acceptability for fresh local consumption, as well as to identify morphological characteristics most related to fruit chemical quality attributes. The experimental design was a split-plot with three replications, where the main factor was N-K fertilization (T1 = 1.6 N and 1.6 K, T2 = 5.8 N and 6.6 K, T3 = 10 N and 11.6 K, T4 = 1.6 N and 11.6 K, T5 = 10 N and 1.6 K in g·plant−1) and the sub-plot factor was mulching with pineapple residues (no mulching = 0, surface mulching = 10, buried = 10 in t·ha−1). The results suggested that residues mulching and N-K fertilization has improved the percentage of fruit meeting European standards and local acceptability. The treatments T2B (T2 + burying) and T4B (T4 + burying) gave a higher proportion of fruits meeting European standards and were also promising for producing highly acceptable fruits by local consumers. Finally, the results revealed that the ratios of crown length: fruit length, crown length: infructescence length and crown length: median diameter were significantly associated with fruit quality, which has not yet been reported.

Crop residue incorporation can mitigate negative climate change impacts on crop yield and improve water use efficiency in a semiarid environment

Abstract Mitigation of the deleterious impacts of climate change on agriculture is a crucial strategy for securing food resources to meet the future demand of the world with a steadily increasing population. We used a pre-validated Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) to explore the implementation of crop residue incorporation (RI) to mitigate the impacts of climate change on water use and crop yield for four winter crops at six sites in eastern Australia. Various residue management practices were simulated under current climate data and statistically downscaled climate data from 28 GCM simulations of RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 for the period 1900–2100. The results showed that increasing future temperature shortened crop growth duration ranged from 7.4 ± 0.9 days °C−1 for barley to 3.9 ± 1.9 days °C−1 for canola. Under projected increases in the CO2 concentration and associated climate change, the overall average crop yield for 2021–2100 in eastern Australia without RI could change by −28 ± 5% for wheat, −22 ± 6% for barley, −6 ± 6% for canola and +7 ± 17% for chickpea relative to 1951–2000 yields. With RI, crop yields could be changed by +16 ± 14% for wheat, 11 ± 12% for barley and 7 ± 8% for canola and +9 ± 17% for chickpea. Further analysis showed that greater crop transpiration was the major advantage of RI. WUE in wheat and barley also increased significantly under RI due to reduced soil evaporation and surface runoff. This effect increased under future climate changes, but the effectiveness of RI varied by location. In general, the positive effects of RI on water balance and crop yield were higher at dry sites than at wet sites. Therefore, RI can be an effective adaptation option for mitigating the impacts of climate change on winter crops by improving WUE, but is more effective in narrow-leaf cropping systems in hot and dry environments.

Application of DSSAT Model to Simulate Corn Yield under Long-Term Tillage and Residue Practices

Long-term (1991-2013) field experiments were conducted to study the effects of different tillage and residue management practices on grain corn production in eastern Canada. Three different tillage practices, namely conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and no tillage (NT), along with two residue management practices, namely with residue (R) and without residue (NR), were considered. Field measurements of grain yield, biomass, soil organic carbon (SOC), soil moisture, and mineral nitrogen were used to evaluate the performance of the DSSAT model and to understand the impacts of long-term tillage and residue management practices. The observed corn yield, biomass, LAI, and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) were not found to be significantly different under the various tillage and residue practices. The observed soil moisture showed a significant difference in the upper 10 cm soil layer. The SOC pool at 0-20 cm depth was reduced by 9.5% for CT and increased by 17.3% and 7.6% for RT and NT treatments, respectively. The DSSAT model was able to simulate corn and biomass yield, LAI, soil moisture, and SOC with RMSE ranging from 2% to 31%, indicating reasonable model performance. The model did not provide accurate results for NO3-N and soil moisture simulations, with RMSE ranging from 34% to 78%. Further improvements in the model are needed to better simulate soil moisture and N dynamics under different tillage and residue practices.

Corn Residue Use by Livestock in the United States

Core Ideas USDA‐ERS surveyed 2250 producers from 19 states on corn residue grazing and mechanical harvests in 2010. Approximately 4.06 million ha was grazed by 11.7 million head of livestock. Approximately 0.81 million ha of corn residue was mechanically harvested in 2010. Corn residue is a significant resource for integrated crop–livestock systems in the western Corn Belt. Corn (Zea mays L.) residue grazing or harvest provides a simple and economical practice to integrate crops and livestock, but limited information is available on how widespread corn residue utilization is practiced by US producers. In 2010, the USDA Economic Research Service surveyed producers from 19 states on corn grain and residue management practices. Total corn residue grazed or harvested was 4.87 million ha. Approximately 4.06 million ha was grazed by 11.7 million livestock (primarily cattle) in 2010. The majority of grazed corn residue occurred in Nebraska (1.91 million ha), Iowa (385,000 ha), South Dakota (361,000 ha), and Kansas (344,000 ha). Average grazing days ranged from 10 to 73 d (mean = 40 d). Corn residue harvests predominantly occurred in the central and northern Corn Belt, with an estimated 2.9 Tg of corn residue harvested across the 19 states. This survey highlights the importance of corn residue for US livestock, particularly in the western Corn Belt.

Yield maximization through resource conservation technologies under maize-chickpea cropping system in vertisols of Tunga Bhadra Command Project Area of Karnataka

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of tillage, crop residue and fertilizer management on maize-chickpea cropping system from 2007–08 to 2013–14 at Agricultural Research Station, Siruguppa, Karnataka, India. The experiment was conducted in deep black soil with split-split plot design and treatments were replicated thrice. The experiment included 24 treatment combinations of four tillage practices viz., Conventional tillage (M1), Reduced tillage (M2), Zero tillage (M3) and Bed planting (M4) were assigned to main plots, three crop residue managements viz., Burning (S1), Retention (S2) and Retrieval (S3) were to sub-plots and three fertilizer managements viz., T1: Recommended N, P2O5K2O (150: 75: 37.5 kg/ha for maize and 25: 50: 00 kg/ha for chickpea), T2: T1+25% RDN and T3: T2+micronutrients (S-50 kg/ha and ZnSO4-20 kg/ha) for sub-sub plots. The hybrid maize (NK 6240) was sown in the first fortnight of July and after harvest of the maize crop, chickpea (JG 11) was sown during the fourth week of November or first week of December in each year. The pooled yield of maize and chickpea over six years was significantly influenced by tillage and fertilizer management practices. Among the different practices, the higher maize and chickpea grain yield of 6434 and 1236 kg/ha was recorded in bed planting in tillage practices and 6388 and 1192 kg/ha in 100% RDF+25% RDN+S+ZnSO4 application in fertilizer management practices, respectively, when compared to other management practices. Similarly, the significantly higher pooled total maize equivalent yield (TMEY, 8887 kg/ha) and system productivity (24.4 kg/ha/day) were recorded with bed planting compared to other tillage practices and it was at par with conventional tillage. Retrieval method of residue management practice recorded significantly superior TMEY (8590 kg/ha) and system productivity (23.5 kg/ha/day) compared to retention of residue on land. Application of 100% RDF+25% RDN+S+ZnSO4 produced significantly higher TMEY (8779 kg/ha) and system productivity (24.1 kg/ha/day) as compared to application of 100% RDF. Similar trend in N and K uptake by the system was noticed in bed planting (178 and 144 kg/ha/year), retrieval (173 and 141 kg/ha/year) and application of 100% RDF+25% RDN+S+ZnSO4 (177 and 145 kg/ha/year).

Effect of post-harvest forestry residue management practices on the diversity of epigeal coleopterans

The aim of this work was to study the effect of post-harvest forestry residue management practices on the epigeal coleopterans diversity and abundance in a 1-yr old Pinus radiata plantation. Approximately 25-yr old P. radiata plantation was available, which was harvested by clear-cutting at the beginning of 2010 in Constitución, central Chile. Three post harvest residue management treatments were installed in a fully randomized design in blocks: 1) a control, where residues were intact left; 2) residue removed (> 2.5 cm diameter); and 3) burned. The coleopterans were sampled in spring and summer, using linear transects with pitfall traps. The abundance and richness, and diversity index of coleopterans were determined. A total of 23 species of 13 families were obtained. Both in the springand summer, the treatment with residues left registered significantly greater abundance and species richness. In the residue management, the practices of intact leaving residue should be considered as the least impacting on diversity and abundance of epigeal coleopterans and is recommended for creating refugee areas to promote diversity of beetles in this area of study.

Physical and Chemical Properties of a Sandy Loam Soil Under Irrigated Rice-Wheat Sequence in the Indo-Gangetic Plains of South Asia

Resource conservation technologies (RCTs) such as zero tillage (ZT), dry direct seeded rice (DSR) and crop residues as mulch are known to increase productivity and profitability of rice-wheat system (RWS) in South Asia. There are, however, few studies on assessing the effect of RCTs on physical and chemical properties of soil under RWS. A field experiment on a sandy loam soil was conducted on RWS for two years at Modipuram, India involving six treatment combinations of three tillage and crop establishment methods in rice, (i) conventional puddled transplanted rice (CT-PTR), (ii) conventional dry tillage followed by direct seeding of rice (CT-DSR), and (iii) zero tillage followed by direct seeding of rice (ZT-DSR), and two green manuring options (with and without intercropping of Sesbania aculeata, -S or +S). In the succeeding wheat, rice residue (RR) was retained in sesbania green manure treatments and it was removed from no sesbania plots. Wheat was direct sown after ZT (DSW) in all the plots. Substituting PTR/ DSW without crop residues with ZT-DSR/DSW plus residue cycling reduced electrical conductivity from 0.146 dS mA¢Â€Â’1 to 0.128 dS mA¢Â€Â’1 and increased soil organic C from 5.72 g kg-1 to 6.25 g kg-1 in 0-15 cm layer. Similarly, water-stable aggregates (WSAs) >0.25 mm were 28% higher and their mean weight diameter increased by 11.9% in ZT-DSR/ DSW plus residues compared to PTR/DSW without crop residues plots. On average, there was a 23.6% increase in large (4.75-8.00 mm) aggregates and a reduction of 15.8% in finer (0.106A¢Â€Â’0.25 mm) aggregates in residue retention treatments over the no-residue treatments. In plots without puddling (ZT-DSR), the infiltration rates were higher (2.97-3.34 mmh-1) than in the CT-PTR (2.41-2.62 mmh-1). Residue retention compared to residue removal not only increased available K contents from 110.5 to 129.2 kg ha-1 but also showed favorable effects on soil matric potential and soil temperature during the wheat season. These beneficial effects on soil quality in just two years after introducing conservation tillage and residue management practices demonstrate potential to improve the long-term productivity and profitability of the RWS. However, the increased rate of infiltration under ZT with residue retention needs new irrigation techniques to minimize the loss of water through percolation during rice season.

Sensitivity analysis of the STICS-MACRO model to identify cropping practices reducing pesticides losses.

STICS-MACRO is a process-based model simulating the fate of pesticides in the soil-plant system as a function of agricultural practices and pedoclimatic conditions. The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of crop management practices on water and pesticide flows in contrasted environmental conditions. We used the Morris screening sensitivity analysis method to identify the most influential cropping practices. Crop residues management and tillage practices were shown to have strong effects on water percolation and pesticide leaching. In particular, the amount of organic residues added to soil was found to be the most influential input. The presence of a mulch could increase soil water content so water percolation and pesticide leaching. Conventional tillage was also found to decrease pesticide leaching, compared to no-till, which is consistent with many field observations. The effects of the soil, crop and climate conditions tested in this work were less important than those of cropping practices. STICS-MACRO allows an ex ante evaluation of cropping systems and agricultural practices, and of the related pesticides environmental impacts.

Bauxite residue neutralization with simultaneous mineral carbonation using atmospheric CO2

Simultaneous carbon mineralization during neutralization of bauxite residue, a caustic alkaline by-product of alumina refining, was tested using laboratory batch and a field pilot study in contact with atmospheric CO2. Since CO2 sequestration is limited by the Ca concentration in the bauxite residue, extra Ca sources were added in a semi-soluble mineral and salt form (flue gas desulfurization gypsum or CaCl2) to verify whether this Ca addition accelerated and enlarged the CO2 sequestration obtained as a consequence of neutralization. The results of 55 days of batch and longer-term field tests were in good agreement, and the neutralization rate was accelerated through the addition of both Ca sources. Without the addition of the extra Ca source, atmospheric CO2 contributed to neutralization of pore water alkalinity alone, while Ca addition induced further neutralization through mineral carbonation of atmospheric CO2 to CaCO3. This simple addition of environmentally benign Ca to bauxite residue may provide a feasible bauxite residue management practice that is cost-effective and easy to apply in the field.

Crop Residue Retention and Nutrient Management Practices on Stratification of Phosphorus and Soil Organic Carbon in the Soybean–Wheat System in Vertisols of Central India

ABSTRACTThe long-term crop residue retention coupled with external nutrient inputs are crucial for maintaining soil phosphorus (P) and soil organic carbon (SOC) in Vertisols of Central India. A study was conducted to evaluate the long-term effect of three wheat residue management practices (residue burning, incorporation, and surface retention) in combination with three supplementary nutrient inputs (SNI) [control, fertilizer, and farmyard manure (FYM)] on stratification of P and SOC in the soybean–wheat system in Vertisol. The wheat residue either incorporated or retained on the soil surface increased the availability of P and SOC content as compared to the common practices of residue burning. Residue retention or incorporation increased stratification of P and soil organic carbon over the residue burning. Irrespective of the nutrient treatments, greater stratification ratio of SOC and P were registered under wheat residue incorporation or retention compared to residue burning. It is evident from the study that wheat residue incorporation or retention plus addition of FYM could be an effective strategy for increasing the soil fertility in a soybean–wheat system of Vertisols of Central India.

Soil Carbon Sequestration and Crop Yields in Rice–Wheat and Sugarcane–Ratoon–Wheat Cropping Systems Through Crop Residue Management and Inoculation of Trichoderma viride in Subtropical India

A field experiment was conducted at ICAR-IISR, Lucknow, in a split-plot design with two cropping systems and eight different crop residue management practices. In main plots, cropping systems, viz. CS1—rice–wheat (R–W) and CS2—sugarcane (plant crop)–ratoon–wheat (S–R–W) and subplots residue management practices, viz. residue removal (T1-RR); residue burning (T2-RB); residue incorporation (T3-RI); residue incorporation + Trichoderma (T4-RI + T), residue incorporation +25 % extra nitrogen application (T5-RI + N), partial residue incorporation (T6-PRI), partial residue incorporation + Trichoderma (T7-PRI + T) and partial residue incorporation +25 % extra nitrogen application (T8-PRI + N), were allocated. The observations on soil physical parameters indicated the lower mean bulk density (1.10 Mg m−3) in sugarcane–ratoon–wheat system than the rice–wheat system (1.145 Mg m−3). Increased porosity (58.68 %) was obtained in sugarcane–ratoon–wheat (S–R–W) system as compared to rice–wheat system (56.83 %). In S–R–W system, higher (19.51 %) SOC was recorded than the R–W system (16.31 Mg ha−1) at 0–15 cm depth. After harvesting of wheat in both the cropping systems, higher total carbon sequestered (@1.42 Mg ha−1) in S–R–W system than the R–W cropping system (0–15 cm soil depth). Higher contents of available nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium were recorded in S–R–W system than the R–W system after completion of crop cycle. The agronomic efficiency of rice, wheat and sugarcane crops indicated the higher level with residue incorporation along with Trichoderma application. Thus, it could be concluded that sugarcane–ratoon–wheat system acted as soil fertility restorer and crop reside management along with application of Trichoderma sustained the soil carbon level, crop productivity and agronomic/production efficiency of N for longer period.

Effects of Tillage and Residue Management Practices on Soil and Root Parameters in Soybean (Glycine max)–Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Cropping System

A field study was conducted during 2009–2011 to investigate the effect of tillage, crop establishment and residue management practices on soil and root parameters in soybean-wheat cropping system. The experiment was conducted with 4 main plot treatments of tillage and crop establishment techniques as conventional tillage-flat (CT-F), zero tillage-flat (ZT-F), conventional tillage-bed (CT-B) and zero tillage-bed (ZT-B); and 4 sub plot treatments of residue application as control, wheat residue (3 t ha−1), soybean residue (3 t ha−1) and soybean + wheat residue (3 t ha−1 each). The infiltration rate was significantly higher with ZT-F (1.22 cm h−1) and wheat + soybean residue application (1.16 cm h−1). ZT-F and ZT-B recorded higher mean weight diameter and geometric mean diameter at 0–10 cm than that of CT-F and CT-B. The percentage of micro-aggregate was higher with CT-F and CT-B at all depths while the macro-aggregate was high with ZT-F and ZT-B up to 30 cm soil depth. The microbial biomass carbon in ZT-F and ZT-B was 216.3 and 214.6 µg g−1 of soil, respectively which was significantly higher than that of CT-F and CT-B. The wheat + soybean residue application recorded 19.6 % higher MBC than the control. Among the tillage treatments, ZT-F performed well with regard to root length density as 2.38 and 1.11 cm cm−3, root surface area as 0.67 and 0.36 cm2 cm−3, root volume density as 19.22 and 8.26 × 10−3 cm3 cm−3 and average root diameter as 1.06 and 0.81 mm by soybean and wheat, respectively. Similarly, wheat + soybean residue also performed better than the no residue treatment.

Productivity and Resource Use Efficiency of different Jute based Cropping Systems under Nutrient and Crop Residue Management Practices

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of nutrient and crop residue incorporation on productivity jute based cropping system in split plot design during 2012-14. The main plot comprised of five cropping sequences viz., rice-rice, jute-rice-wheat, jute-rice-baby corn-jute (for leafy vegetable), jute-rice-garden pea, jute-rice-mustard-mungbean andfour nutrient management practicesviz. 75% recommended doses of fertilizers (RDF) with and without crop residue (rice, wheat, corn, garden pea and mungbean with their respective cropping sequence) and 100 % RDF with and without crop residue in sub plot. Jute-rice-baby corn- jute(leafy vegetable) cropping system recorded the highest system productivity (192.36q/ha) followed by jute-rice-garden pea (88.6 q/ha), water use efficiency (34.86 kg/m3), production efficiency (65.9 kg/ha/day), and economic efficiency (Rs724/ha/day) followed by jute-rice-garden pea recorded those parameter were (89.4 q/ha), 27.01 kg/m3, 30.31 kg/ha/day and Rs.346/ha/day, respectively.The land use efficacy (94.5%) was higher in jute-rice-mustard- mungbean followed by jute-rice-baby corn-veg. jute(93.2%). The higher system productivity of all crop sequences was recorded with 100 % RDF with crop residue. However it was at par with 75% RDF with crop residue and100% RDF.

Stand establishment, root development and yield of winter wheat as affected by tillage and straw mulch in the water deficit hilly region of southwestern China

Good crop stand establishment and root system development are essential for optimum grain yield of dryland wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). At present, little is known about the effect of tillage and straw mulch on the root system of wheat under dryland areas in southwestern China. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of three tillage treatments (no-till, NT; rotary till, RT; conventional till, CT) and two crop residue management practices (straw mulch, ML; non-straw mulch, NML) on stand establishment, root growth and grain yield of wheat. NT resulted in lower soil cover thickness for the wheat seed, higher number of uncovered seeds, lower percentage of seedling-less ridges and lower tiller density compared to RT and CT; ML resulted in higher tiller density compared to NML. Straw mulching resulted in more soil water content and root length density (RLD) at most of the growth stages and soil depths. The maximum RLD, root surface area density and root dry matter density were obtained under NT. In the topmost 10 cm soil layer, higher RLD values were found under NT than those under RT and CT. There were no significant differences in the yield or yield components of wheat among the tillage treatments in 2011–2012, but NT resulted in a significant higher yield compared to RT and CT in 2012–2013. Grain yield was significantly higher in ML compared to in NML. A strong relationship was observed between the water-use efficiency and the grain yield. Both NT and ML proved beneficial for wheat in term of maintaining higher tiller density, better soil water status and root growth, leading to a higher grain yield and enhanced water-use efficiency, especially in a low rainfall year.