Rice-wheat Cropping System Research Articles

Long-Term Organic Amendment Application Improves Soil Fertility Status, Nutrient Accumulation and Crop Productivity Under Rice-Wheat Cropping System

ABSTRACT The major issue in modern agriculture is long-term sustainability. Nutrient management by integrating organic manures and inorganic fertilizers may play a vital role in improving and sustaining crop productivity. A long-term field experiment (since 1984) comprising 11 treatments with different combinations of inorganic and organic fertilizers such as farm yard manure (FYM), wheat cut straw (WCS) and Dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata L.) as green manure (GM) was conducted to evaluate their effects on crop yield, nutrient accumulation and soil fertility status under a rice – wheat cropping system. The maximum grain yield of wheat was recorded in T6, i.e. 50% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) + 50% nitrogen through FYM in rice and 100% RDF in wheat (4291 kg ha−1) as compared to chemically fertilized plots T5, i.e. 100% RDF in both rice and wheat (3441 kg ha−1). The application of organic manures in combination with chemical fertilizers reduced soil pH and bulk density from 7.40 to 7.23 and 1.49 to 1.37 g cm−3, respectively. Soil organic carbon (SOC), available soil nutrients and nutrient accumulation by crop were higher in integrated nutrient management-treated plots as compared to control. A positive and significant correlation was observed between SOC and available soil nitrogen (r = 0.987), phosphorus (r = 0.913) and potassium (r = 0.921). The results clearly suggest that integrated use of chemical fertilizers and organic manures on a long-term basis improves soil fertility and crop productivity with the potential to enhance soil sustainability

Adoption of Agricultural Technology and Socio Economic Impact of Super Straw Management System in Haryana, India

Super straw management system is a machine in which an additional equipment attached with combine harvester so it cut standing stubble in small pieces on the soil surface in which crop harvesting and residue management both can be done in a single operation. A research involving 120 farmers who were adopters (60 adopters) and non adopters (60 non adopters) of the Super straw Management system was conducted in rural areas of the Fatehabad district of the Indian state of Haryana in 2021–2022. This paper's main goal is to investigate Super Straw Management System adoption as a viable, innovative solution to rice residue burning in rice-wheat cropping systems, as well as the socioeconomic effects of adoption on farmer’s livelihoods. The reasons for not implementing the super straw management system were also evaluated. According to the findings, medium adoption of SMS was discovered among farmers (41.67%), followed by low adoption among farmers (38.33%) and high adoption among just 20% of the farmers. Factors like age, size of land holding, size of family, annual income, participation in social organisations, media exposure, and socioeconomic status were found significantly associated with adoption of SMS among farmers. While caste, level of education, the family's secondary occupation, and the type of family were not found to be significant with farmers' adoption levels, Results about the reasons why the Super Straw Management System was not adopted clearly demonstrated that there is no alternative for ex-situ straw management while using SMS (rank I). At the same time, farmers (rank II) did not show a readiness to pay additional custom charges. More than 3/5 of the respondents agreed that conventional combines are easily available for hiring (rank III); combine harvesters with SMS used more fuel (3 to 3.25 l/ha) and required higher engine power (8–10 hp) than conventional combine harvesters. Cumulative socio-economic impact of SMS was reported increased with respect to increase in decision making powers which is ranked Ist, followed by increased in extension contacts (IInd rank) and change in attitude for quality education of children (IIIrd rank).

Do farmers' risk perception, adaptation strategies, and their determinants benefit towards climate change? Implications for agriculture sector of Punjab, Pakistan.

Due to global and regional climatic dynamics for a couple of decades, agricultural productivity, rural livelihood, and food security have been badly affected in Pakistan. This study was conducted in Punjab, Pakistan, to explore the farmers' understanding of the impacts of climate change, adaptation strategies, determinants, and benefits on agriculture using data from 1080 respondents. Perceived risks by the farmers in the rice-wheat cropping system and the cotton-wheat cropping system were weed infestation, seed rate augmented, low-quality seeds, infestation of crop diseases and pests, change of cropping pattern, increase of input use, decrease of cropping intensity and productivity, decreasing soil fertility, increasing irrigation frequency, and increase of harvesting time. To alleviate the adverse influences of climate change, the adaptation strategies used by farmers were management of crop and variety, soil and irrigation water, diversification of agriculture production systems and livelihood sources, management of fertilizer and farm operations time, spatial adaptation, access to risk reduction measures and financial assets, adoption of new technologies, institutional support, and indigenous knowledge. Moreover, the results of Binary Logistic Regression indicate that adaptation strategies are affected by different factors like age, education, household family size, off-farm income, remittances, credit access, information on climatic and natural hazards, information on weather forecasting, land acreage, the experience of growing crops and rearing of livestock, tenancy status, tube well ownership, livestock inventory, access to market information, agricultural extension services, and distance from agricultural input/output market. There is a significant difference between adapters and nonadapters. The risk management system may be created to protect crops against failures caused by extreme weather events. There is a need to develop crop varieties that are both high yielding and resistant to climate change. Moreover, cropping patterns should be revised to combat the effects of climate change. To enhance farmers' standard of living, it is necessary to provide adequate extension services and a more significant number of investment facilities. These measures will assist farmers in maintaining their standard of living and food security over the long term to adapt to the effects of climate change based on various cropping zones.

Utilizing waste compost to improve the atmospheric CO2 capturing in the rice-wheat cropping system and energy-cum‑carbon credit auditing for a circular economy

The study aimed to manage industrial wastes and create a module for using compost from waste for crops cultivation to conserve energy, reduce fertilizer use and Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and improve the atmospheric CO2 capturing in agriculture for a green economy. In the main-plot, the experiment's results using NS3 found 50.1 and 41.8 % more grain yield and total carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration in the wheat-rice cropping sequence, respectively, compared to the NS0. Moreover, the treatment CW + TV in the sub-plot observed 24.0 and 20.3 % higher grain yield and total CO2 sequestration than B + PS. Based on interaction, the NS3× CW + TV resulted in a maximum total CO2 sequestration and C credit of 47.5 Mg ha−1 and US$ 1899 ha−1, respectively. Further, it was 27.9 % lower in carbon footprints (CFs) than NS1 × B + PS. Regarding another parameter, the treatment NS3 observed a 42.4 % more total energy output in the main-plot than that of NS0. Further, in the sub-plot, the treatment CW + TV produced 21.3 % more total energy output than B + PS. Energy use efficiency (EUE) and net energy return in the interaction of NS3× CW + TV were 20.5 and 138.8 % greater than the NS0 × B + PS, respectively. In the main-plot, the treatment NS3 obtained a maximum of 585.0 MJ US$−1 and US$ 0.24 MJ−1 for energy intensity in economic terms (EIET) and eco-efficiency index in terms of energy (EEIe), respectively. While in the sub-plot, the CW + TV was observed at a maximum of 571.52 MJ US$−1 and US$ 0.23 MJ−1 EIET and EEIe, respectively. The correlation and regression study showed a perfect positive correlation between grain yield and total C output. Moreover, a high positive correlation (0.75 to 1) was found with all other energy parameters for grain energy use efficiency (GEUE). The variability in the wheat-rice cropping sequence's energy profitability (EPr) was 53.7 % for human energy profitability (HEP). Based on principal component analysis (PCA), the eigenvalues of the first two principal components (PCs) had been greater than two, explaining 78.4 and 13.7 % of the variability. The experiment hypothesis was to develop a reliable technology for safely using industrial waste compost, minimizing energy consumption and CO2 emissions by reducing chemical fertilizer input in agriculture soils.

Nine‐year organic fertilization enhances poorly crystalline iron hydroxide formation and phosphorus availability in a temperate rice–wheat cropping system

AbstractPhosphorus (P) is typically associated with iron (Fe) hydroxides in paddy soils. Our study investigated the impact of different fertilization treatments on the availability of P regulated by Fe redox transformation in a rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system in the mid‐low reaches of the Yangtze River. Five fertilization treatments were examined: control (CK), chemical fertilizer (CF), 35% CF (P) plus pig manure compost (CFM), 100% CF (P) plus straw (CFS), and 35% CF (P) plus pig manure compost and straw (CFMS). Nine‐year rice–wheat rotations increased the oxalate‐extractable poorly crystalline Fe hydroxides (i.e., Feo) by 33%–87% compared with the initial soil, while fertilization further accelerated this process. Compost application increased the proportion of labile P by 75%–108% and decreased the proportion of non‐labile P by 14%–22% compared with the single chemical fertilization treatment. Furthermore, organic fertilization increased the mass proportions of macroaggregates and macroaggregate‐associated labile P. The Feo was positively correlated with the content of labile P but negatively correlated with the proportion of non‐labile P. Moreover, the reductive dissolution of Fe hydroxides was accompanied by the transformation of P from NaOH‐extractable to NaHCO3‐ and H2O‐extractable phases. These results indicate that seasonal alternation of drying and wetting can progressively drive the redox transformation of Fe hydroxides and promote the formation of Feo, thereby affecting the availability of P. Therefore, we suggested that P fertilizer should be reduced in the rice season due to the reduction of Fe hydroxides, particularly in the compost‐amended soils in the temperate rice–wheat cropping system.

Interplay between nano zinc oxide-coated urea and summer green manuring in basmati rice under basmati rice-wheat cropping system: implications on yield response, nutrient acquisition and grain fortification

Identifying appropriate nutrient management options is crucial for reversing the yield plateau and enhancing the nutritional status of basmati rice under the basmati rice-wheat cropping system of the Indo Gangetic Plain (IGP). Alternative to the conventional chemical fertilizer, ZnO nanoparticles as carrier material for the micronutrient Zn has shown promise in reducing the bulkiness of fertilizer use in the soil–plant environment. But whether its integration and interaction with an organic source such as green manuring could enrich basmati rice grain with micronutrients and promote protein nutrition is not well investigated. Therefore, we conducted a field experiment during the summer and rainy seasons (April–October) of 2020 and 2021 at the research farm of the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi in a split-plot design with two summer green manuring (SGM) options (Sesbania and cowpea, along with fallow) as main plots and six fertilization strategies as subplots: 5 kg Zn ha−1 as bulk ZnO, N at 120 kg N ha−1 as prilled urea (PU), N at 120 kg N ha−1 as PU + 5 kg Zn ha−1 as bulk ZnO, 1% bulk ZnO-coated PU, 0.1% nano ZnO coated PU and 0.2% nano ZnO coated PU replicated thrice. On average, SGM increased basmati rice grain yield by 13.2 and 12.3% during 2020 and 2021, respectively compared to fallow. Integrated application of zinc with urea significantly (p < 0.05) increased the grain yield of basmati rice by 9.56% and by 10.5% relative to urea without zinc and by 33.7 and 33.8% than the sole application of 5 kg Zn ha−1 through ZnO, respectively during 2020 and 2021. On average, SGM boosted Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe content in milled rice by 25, 22.38, 20.0, and 18.85% during 2020 and 23.75, 21.4, 19.6, and 13.3% during 2021, respectively compared to fallow. Relative to sole urea application, zinc, and urea together improved the Zn and Fe content in milled rice by 2.99 mg kg−1 and 2.62 mg kg–1, respectively during the first year and by 2.83 mg kg−1 and 2.6 mg kg−1, respectively during the second year of study. The highest protein content in basmati rice grain was observed when it was grown after Sesbania aculeata residue incorporated plot during both the years and it decreased in the order: Sesbania aculeata > Vigna unguiculata > summer fallow. Our findings revealed that with the application of 1% bulk ZnO coated PU with Sesbania; the yield response, micronutrient acquisition, and protein accumulation in milled rice was higher than in other plant fertilization methods. However, in plots treated with Sesbania, along with 0.2% nano ZnO-coated PU exhibited statistically equivalent yield and micronutrient loading in edible tissues. Hence, this study unveils the critical role of nano ZnO-coated urea and summer green manuring in elevating micronutrient and protein bioavailability in basmati rice and concurrently reducing Zn dose by 20%, making it a profitable option for farmers.

Identifying optimum residue levels for stable crop and water productivity and carbon sequestration under a conservation agriculture based rice-wheat system

To sustain food-production targets while reducing residue burning in the Indo-Gangetic Plains, adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) is desirable, amongst other potential adaptations. To identify the optimum residue levels for sustainable CA, the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) model was used to analyse 37 years (1984–2022) of diverse CA scenarios on productivity, sustainability and carbon footprints in the rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS). The study highlighted that APSIM has the capacity to capture the crop performance, phenology and CA scenario in RWCS. The scenario analysis indicated that maximum system productivity (SP) was recorded under higher residue (HR-9.33 t ha−1) followed by higher-medium residue (HMR-8.97 t ha−1) scenarios of CA, as compared to conventional tillage (CT-8.75 t ha−1). Stable productivity was achieved under CA. Sustainable yield index and sustainable value index were significantly higher under HR (0.83 and 0.79, respectively) followed by HMR. The soil organic carbon concentration is predicted to increase ∼30–95% in CA with a carbon sequestration rate of 0.1–0.37 t ha−1 yr−1. The system water productivity was highest under HR (3.68 kg ha−1 mm−1) which was ∼10% higher than CT. Overall, the study revealed that the APSIM model is efficient in capturing CA effects in South Asian RWCS and that the adoption of CA results in greater and stable yields, higher water productivity, and more carbon capture over the long term, while reducing production costs.

Impact of Long-Term Application of Organic Manure on Inceptisol Properties, Grain Protein Content and Yield of Wheat

ABSTRACT A field experiment was conducted to investigate the implications of long-term farm yard manure (FYM) use on chemical and microbial properties of Inceptisol in the North-Western Plain Zone of India, and their correlation with yield and protein content of wheat grains. FYM was used at four different doses (0, 10, 20, 30 t ha−1) with recommended dose of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) as standard practice before sowing of both rice and wheat under rice-wheat cropping system. Application of FYM at 30 t ha−1 significantly enhanced the electrical conductivity (36.36%), nitrogen (29.79%), phosphorus (216.75%), potassium (280.15%), zinc (186.90%), copper (24.23%), organic carbon (130.77%), organic matter (132.43%), operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of top 30 bacterial classes (82.27%), genera (73.95%), plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB, 86.00%) and lignocellulose degrading bacteria (LDB, 109.14%) over recommended NPK at p value of 0.05. Significantly high plant biomass (14.21 t ha−1) and grain yield (5.69 t ha−1) were obtained in recommended NPK treatment, followed by 30 t ha−1 FYM treatment, whereas significantly higher grain protein was obtained in 30 t ha−1 FYM treatment at p value of 0.05. The abundance of top 30 bacterial classes was highest under 30 t ha−1 FYM (100117), while lowest under recommended NPK treatment (54928). This treatment also witnessed highest presence of all beneficial bacterial classes, top 30 bacterial genera, PGPB and LDB. Highest up-regulated bacterial genes in recommended NPK, and superior soil quality parameters (nutrient profile and microbial diversity) in 30 t ha−1 FYM, indicate that sustainable yields and quality are achievable by using a balanced amount of inorganic fertilizers and organic manure.

Soil Aggregation Controls Biological Activities on Long-Term Integration of Organic Amendments and Inorganic Fertilizers in Rice-Wheat Cropping System

ABSTRACT Integrated nutrient management (INM) practice with farmyard manure (FYM), wheat straw (WS) and green leaf manuring (GLM) augments aggregate formation in soils. However, soil aggregation regulating several soils biological activities has been proven to be intricate with both positive and negative interactions across studies. We studied the distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and soil enzymes across three aggregate classes (>2000 µm, 2000–250 µm and <250 µm) from a long-term rice-wheat cropping system. Integrated nutrient management practices significantly influence the fraction of soil macro-aggregates; whereas suboptimal level of fertilization was dominated by micro-aggregates. Application of inorganic fertilizer with FYM over long-term improves SOC to the tune of 12.78% when compared with 100% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF); whereas WS as an amendment improves MBC to the tune of 51.80% over RDF. Activities of the studied soil enzymes (Acid phosphatase, Alkaline phosphatase, Dehydrogenase, Fluorescein Diacetate Hydrolysing Capacity and Urease) were found to be higher when associated with large macro-aggregates fraction of size >2000 µm as compared to micro-aggregates. In conclusion, large macro-aggregates improve and regulate all the soil biological indicators after a long-term integration of organic amendments with inorganic fertilizers.

Enhancing Productivity and Profitability in Wheat through Rotavator in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India

The rice-wheat cropping system of the Indo-Gangetic region acts as the backbone of Indian agriculture feeding and providing livelihood to millions. Resource conservation technologies (RCTs) like rotavator has several positive effects such as early sowing of wheat, reducing land preparation time and cost, increasing soil organic content by incorporating the paddy stubbles, higher profits etc. The rotavator adopters in the study area earned an incremental net income of Rs. 7664.95 per ha and also the total cost of cultivation was reduced by Rs 1379.86 per ha. On an investment of Re one, the rotavator adopters earn a return of Rs. 0.81 whereas the non-adopters earn only Rs. 0.56. Adoption of this RCT offers several economic benefits to the respondents thus, making them economically better off than the non-adopters. The main reason for adopting the technology is the early sowing of wheat, which directly leads to better grain quality and quantity. Despite so many benefits, there are a few constraints in the adoption of rotavator, the major ones being the high custom hiring charges, non-availability of the machine on time or hire basis and high purchasing cost of the machine. Rotavator has the potential to play a significant role in boosting wheat production nationwide by overcoming constraints.

Mitigation of Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Rice–Wheat Cropping Systems with Sub-Surface Application of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Water-Saving Irrigation

Management of nitrogen (N) fertilizer and irrigation can play a critical role to increase nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). However, the impacts of N application at the root zone via urea briquette deep placement (UDP) and water-saving irrigation alternate wetting and drying (AWD) on N2O emissions are not well-understood. A greenhouse study was conducted to investigate the impacts of UDP on N2O emissions, NUE, and grain yields of rice and wheat compared with broadcast prilled urea (PU). For rice, the effect of UDP was evaluated under continuous flooding (CF) and AWD, while the control (no N) and PU were tested only under CF. In rice, UDP under CF irrigation produced similar emissions to PU-CF, but UDP under AWD irrigation increased emissions by 4.5-fold compared with UDP under CF. UDP under CF irrigation increased (p &lt; 0.05) rice grain yields and N recovery efficiency (RE) by 26% and 124% compared with PU-CF, respectively. In wheat, UDP had no effects (p &gt; 0.05) on emissions compared with PU. However, it produced higher wheat grain yields (9%) and RE (35%) over PU. In conclusion, UDP under CF irrigation increases the RE and grain yields of rice without increasing N2O emissions, but the yield may reduce and N2O emissions may increase under AWD.

Restoring soil quality and carbon sequestration potential of waterlogged saline land using subsurface drainage technology to achieve land degradation neutrality in India

Subsurface drainage (SSD) has been proved to be an effective technology to reclaim waterlogged saline soils. Three SSD projects were implemented in Haryana, India in 2009, 2012 and 2016 to study the long term effect of SSD (10, 7 and 3 years) operation on restoring productivity and carbon sequestration potential of degraded waterlogged saline soils under prevalent rice-wheat cropping system. These studies indicated that successful operation of SSD improved soil quality parameters such as bulk density, BD (from 1.58 to 1.52 Mg m−3), saturated hydraulic conductivity, SHC (from 3.19 to 5.07 cm day−1); electrical conductivity, ECe (from 9.72 to 2.18 dS m−1), soil organic carbon, OC (from 0.22 to 0.34 %), dehydrogenase activity, DHA (from 15.44 to 31.65 μg g−1 24 h−1), and alkaline phosphatase, ALPA (from 16.66 to 40.11 μg P-NP g−1 h−1) in upper soil surface (0–30 cm). The improved soil quality resulted in increased rice-wheat system yield (rice equivalent yield) by 328 %, 465 % and 665 % at Kahni, Siwana Mal and Jagsi sites, respectively. Studies also revealed that carbon sequestration potential of degraded land increased with the implementation of SSD projects. The principal component analysis (PCA) showed that % OC, ECe, ALPA, available N and K content were the most contributing factor for soil quality index (SQI). The overall result of the studies showed that SSD technology holds great potential to improve soil quality, increase crop productivity, farmers' income and ensure land degradation neutrality and food security in waterlogged saline areas of western Indo Gangetic Plain of India. Hence, it can be concluded that large scale adoption of SSD may fulfill the promise “No poverty, Zero hunger, and Life on land” sustainable development goals of United Nation in degraded waterlogged saline areas.

Sustainable Intensification of Cropping Systems under Conservation Agriculture Practices: Impact on Yield, Productivity and Profitability of Wheat

The continuous rice–wheat cropping system in South Asia has caused irreversible environmental damage, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of the region’s agricultural systems. To address this issue, farm experiments were conducted for two successive years (2019–20 and 2020–21) to assess the impact of different cropping systems under conservation agriculture (CA) practices on the yield, productivity, and profitability of wheat. Results showed that the highest grain yield of wheat was observed in scenarios Sc6, Sc4, and Sc2, which involved full CA permanent-bed soybean (PB)–permanent-bed wheat (PB)–permanent-bed summer moong (PB), full CA permanent-bed maize (PB)–permanent-bed wheat (PB)–permanent-bed summer moong (PB), and partial CA puddled transplanted rice–Happy Seeder wheat–zero-till summer moong (ZT). Additionally, the highest irrigation water productivity (IWP), wheat grain macronutrient uptake, net return, and benefit–cost ratio (B:C ratio) were recorded under Sc6, full CA permanent-bed soybean (PB)–permanent-bed wheat (PB)–permanent-bed summer moong (PB) compared to farmers’ practice puddled transplanted rice (PTR)–conventional-till wheat–summer moong (Sc1) during both years. The system productivity also increased in scenarios Sc2, Sc4, and Sc6 (by 9.72%, 9.65%, and 14.14% in the first year and 10.68%, 14.14%, and 15.55% in the second year) compared to Sc1—farmers’ practice puddled transplanted rice (PTR)–conventional-till wheat–summer moong, Sc3—farmers’ practice fresh-bed maize (FB)–conventional-till wheat–summer moong, and Sc5–farmers’ practice fresh-bed soybean (FB)–conventional-till wheat (CT)–summer moong. The findings suggest that the conservation agriculture soybean–wheat–summer moong (Sc6) on permanent-bed cropping systems with inclusion legumes can be a potential option to enhance yield attributes, productivity, and profitability, as well as the sustainability of natural resources in the region while decreasing environmental footprints.

Long-Term Conservation Agriculture Influences Weed Diversity, Water Productivity, Grain Yield, and Energy Budgeting of Wheat in North-Western Indo-Gangetic Plains

Wheat is grown in an area totalling 31.1 million hectares in India. The North-western Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) constitutes the major share of area and production of wheat in India and is known as the wheat belt of India. However, sustaining wheat production under declining/lower resource-use efficiency in the existing rice–wheat cropping system has led to considerations about diversifying this system with a pigeon pea–wheat system (PWS) in the IGP of India. However, little or no information is available on the impact of CA-based PWS on weed dynamics, productivity, profitability, and resource-use efficiencies. Therefore, we studied these aspects in wheat under a long-term (~12 years) conservation agriculture (CA)-based PWS. Treatments were conventional till flatbed (CT), ZT permanent narrow beds (PNBR &amp; PNB), broad beds (PBBR &amp; PBB), and flat beds (PFBR &amp; PFB) with and without residue (R) retention and different N levels (75% and 100% of the recommended N). The results showed that the Shannon–Weiner index and the Simpson dominance index were higher under the CA system in 2021–2022 than in 2010–2011 and 2015–2016, indicating a change in weed diversity over the period. Furthermore, the Sorensen similarity index showed that there was not much difference in weed diversity for 2010–2011. However, in 2015–2016 and 2021–2022 respectively, only 89% (0.89) and 62% (0.62) of weed species were common to both CT and CA systems, indicating a shift in weed species in the long-term CA system in 2021–2022. Residue retention and N dose decreased weed density at 30 days after sowing (DAS). All the CA-based (PFBR100N, PBBR100N, PNBR100N, PFBR75N, PBBR75N, and PNBR75N) treatments reduced the weed density and dry weight compared to CT at 30 DAS. Wheat grain yield and net returns increased by 11.6–14.9% and 19.4–23.8% over CT in CA treatments, of which PFBR100N and PBBR100N were superior. The PBBR100N and PBBR75N systems had water productivity significantly higher than CT. Residue retention in ZT permanent beds reduced energy productivity in CA than CT and no residue treatments. In the 12th year, CA with 75% N (PFBR75N, PBBR75N, PNBR75N) resulted in a higher partial factor productivity of N and total NPK applied. Contrast analysis showed that 75% N was comparable with 100% N on crop, water, and energy productivities and 75% N was superior to 100% N on partial factor productivity of N and total NPK. Thus, the permanent broad bed with residue and 100% N in the initial years and 75% N in later years can be adopted in the north-western IGP for better weed suppression, higher yield, profitability, and resource-use efficiency.

Exogenous application of low and high molecular weight organic acids differentially affected the uptake of cadmium in wheat-rice cropping system in alkaline calcareous soil

Anthropogenic cadmium (Cd) in arable soils is becoming a global concern due to its harmful effects on crop yield and quality. The current study examined the role of exogenously applied low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs) including oxalic acid (OxA), tartaric acid (TA) and high molecular weight organic acids (HMWOAs) like citric acid (CA) and humic acid (HA) for the bioavailability of Cd in wheat-rice cropping system. Maximum increase in root dry-weight, shoot dry-weight, and grain/paddy yields was recorded with HA for both crops. The HA significantly decreased AB-DTPA Cd in contaminated soils which remained 41% for wheat and 48% for rice compared with their respective controls. The minimum concentration of Cd in roots, shoots and grain/paddy was observed in HA treatment in both crops. The organic acids significantly increased the growth parameters, photosynthetic activity, and relative leaf moisture contents for both wheat and rice crops compared to that with the contaminated control. Application of OxA and TA increased the bioavailability of Cd in soils and plant tissues while CA and HA decreased the bioavailability of Cd in soils and plants. The highest decrease in Cd uptake, bioaccumulation, translocation factor, immobilization, translocation, harvest, and health risk indices were observed with HA while maximum increase was recorded with OxA for both wheat and rice. The results concluded that use of HMWOAs is effective in soil Cd immobilization being maximum with HA. While LMWOAs can be used for the phytoextraction of Cd in contaminated soils having maximum potential with OxA.

Effects of Sodic Water Irrigation and Neutralizing Amendments on Physiological, Biochemical, and Nutritional Quality Traits of Fodder Sorghum

This study was conducted at two farmers’ fields to assess the production potential and quality of summer fodder sorghum intervened between the rice-wheat cropping sequences (RWCS) on high residual alkalinity, i.e., residual sodium carbonate (RSC) water irrigation-induced sodic soil. The treatments were comprised of two field sites having different residual alkalinity [RSC ~5 me L−1 (RSC-1) and ~7 me L−1 (RSC-2) water irrigation in main plots, four neutralization strategies, i.e., control/unamended condition (N0), gypsum @ 7.5 t ha−1 (N1), pressmud @ 10 t ha−1 (N2) and gypsum @ 3.75 t ha−1 + pressmud @ 5 t ha−1 (N3) in sub plots and two varietal sequences of RWCS, i.e., salt tolerant varieties (CSR 30 basmati fb KRL 210) and traditionally grown varieties (PB 1121 fb HD 2967) of rice and wheat as sub–sub plots. Sorghum cv. Sugargraze (Advanta Company) was grown after the harvesting of wheat and cut for green fodder before transplanting rice during both years. Sorghum physiological and biochemical traits [relative water content (RWC), total chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gS), transpiration rate (E), chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm), photon quantum yield [Y (II)] and K/Na ratio]; fodder quality traits [Crude protein (CP), and ether extract (EE)] and productivity [green fodder yield (GFY), dry matter yield, CP yield, EE yield and ash yield) and profitability (gross returns, net returns, benefit–cost ratio) significantly decreased with the increase in irrigation water RSC from 5 to 7 me L−1. Proline, total soluble sugar (TSS), total soluble protein (TSP), dry matter (DM), ash, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), neutral detergent insoluble CP (NDICP) and acid detergent insoluble CP (ADICP) decreased with increasing RSC of irrigation water. Sodicity neutralization considerably improved sorghum physiological adaptation mechanisms, fodder quality, productivity and profitability. The introduction of summer fodder sorghum between RWCS resulted in additional net returns (NR) (INR 13.64 to 20.79 × 103 ha−1). Our results indicate that pressmud proved a feasible alternative to replace and/or reduce the quantity of gypsum required for neutralization of RSC water irrigation. Growing summer fodder sorghum between RWCS along with neutralization of RSC water irrigation can increase the availability of quality green fodder during lean period and also increase the profitability of the rice-wheat cropping system in high residual alkalinity water irrigation conditions.

Carbon Sequestration and Associated Soil Enzymatic Activities as Influenced by Long-Term Fertilizers and Manure Application under Rice-Wheat Cropping System

Carbon Sequestration and Associated Soil Enzymatic Activities as Influenced by Long-Term Fertilizers and Manure Application under Rice-Wheat Cropping System

Fertility Management in Salt Affected Soils under Rice-wheat Cropping System: A Review

Specific soil conditions such as salinity/ alkalinity are considered to be the major global concern causing a serious threat to sustainability of a particular production system. Salt affected soils are mainly characterized by low organic matter content, poor soil fertility with respect to available macro and micronutrients. Therefore, judicious management of nutrients in addition to reclamation of these soils is considered to be the need of an hour for enhancing agricultural productivity while sustaining our resources. The crop response to added nutrients also varies considerably due to their diverse chemical composition and behavior in such soils which in turn affect the precipitation-dissolution reactions and adsorption-desorption kinetics and thereby affecting their availability to crops during growing season. This review paper attempts to review the efficient fertility management techniques in problematic soils particularly the salt affected soils under rice -wheat cropping system.

Performance of CIP potato (Solanum tuberosum) clones for early maturity in subtropical region of Haryana

Research experiments were carried out with six promising potato clones of International Potato Center (CIP) compared with four recommended varieties of Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) as checks with the objective to identify high yielding, short duration variety suitable for rice-wheat cropping system of subtropical region of Haryana. The trials were conducted at Potato Technology Center, Karnal during rabi season of two consecutive years, viz. 2018–19 and 2019–20 under Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojna Project. The experiments were laid out in randomized block design with three replications. All the cultural practices were followed with scientific management. Dehaulming was done after 75 days of planting. Physical characters of tubers like skin colour, flesh colour, tuber shape and eye depth were observed. Data related to vegetative growth and yield was recorded, pooled and statistically analyzed. It was observed from the data that the maximum plant vigour was recorded in cultivar Kufri Lima however, highest marketable and total tuber yield was recorded in a red skinned CIP clone CIP392797.22. This variety might be selected as a candidate variety fit for rice-wheat cropping system.

Precision Nutrient Management in Zero-Till Direct-Seeded Rice Influences the Productivity, Profitability, Nutrient, and Water Use Efficiency as Well as the Environmental Footprint in the Indo Gangetic Plain of India

Conventional tillage practices coupled with irrational use of fertilizer in the rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) often leads to poor productivity, low nutrient use efficiency, and cause environmental pollution. Conservation tillage with surface residue retention in combination with intelligent nutrient management might improve productivity and use efficiency of water as well as nutrients in zero-till direct-seeded rice (ZTDSR). Keeping this in mind, during the kharif season of 2018 and 2019, a trial was carried out at the ICAR-IARI in New Delhi to investigate the varying nutrient management approaches following a precise manner in DSR. The treatments consisted of soil-test-based NPK (STB-NPK) and Nutrient Expert® (+LCCN) based NPK (NE-NPK) applications, Fertilizer applied at the recommended dose (RDF) [120-60-40 kg/ha NPK], the state recommended NPK (110-50-40 kg/ha) and omission plot technique of NPK [i.e., STB (N0PK, NP0K &amp; NPK0); SR (N0PK, NP0K &amp; NPK0) and NE-(N0PK, NP0K &amp; NPK0)]. The results indicated that STB NPK application led to a 12% higher grain yield over RDF. However, NE-NPK resulted in a 7% and 35% increase in N (AEN) agronomic efficiency and P (AEP) over the STB-NPK application respectively. In contrast, AEk was 24% higher in STB-NPK over NE-NPK treatment. The comparison of two years’ results that the first year performed better than the succeeding year in these respect (productivity and AE) except in the case of AEk. The N2O emission in NE-NPK treatment was also significantly reduced (49%) over the control (no N). STB-NPK treatment also improved profitability by 22% over RDF. Precision nutrient management (PNM) increased the crop yield, income, and use efficiency of nutrients and water and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of DSR in Southeast Asia.