Vertisols Of Central India Research Articles

Comparison between fertilizers and untreated sewage effluent as sources for nutrient recovery by wheat (Triticum aestivum)-soybean (Glycine max) cropping system

ABSTRACTRecovery and recycling of plant nutrients from municipal sewage effluent (SE) can reduce consumption of costly chemical fertilizers, besides reducing eutrophication of water bodies. Field experiment was conducted on Vertisol of central India for six years with the objective of quantifying recovery of major plant nutrients by aboveground biomass of wheat-soybean cropping system from untreated SE. Wheat crop was grown with irrigation (groundwater and sewage effluent) and fertilizer treatments; while soybean was grown without any treatments. Recoveries of nitrogen (N), phosphorus P) and potassium (K) by the aboveground biomass were considerably more from SE than from fertilizers and manures. Recovery of nutrients from SE was the highest by wheat grain for N and by soybean straw for P and K. Straw biomass of both the crops recovered about 31% N, 22% P and 69% K from SE, which can be recycled back into agricultural land of groundwater (GW) irrigated as well as rainfed area.

Effects of Tillage, Residue and Fertilizer Nitrogen on Crop Yields, and Soil Physical Properties Under Soybean–Wheat Rotation in Vertisols of Central India

Soybean–wheat cropping system is predominant in vertisols of central India. Long-term field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of four tillage systems [conventional tillage (CT), mouldboard tillage (MB), reduced tillage (RT) and no tillage (NT)] and three rates of fertilizer N (50, 100 and 150 % of recommended fertilizer) on crop yields, root growth, soil organic carbon (SOC) content and physical properties in soybean–wheat cropping system. Productivity of soybean and wheat was similar in different tillage systems. Response of fertilizer N was not influenced by tillage systems, and crop response to fertilizer N was generally observed up to 100 % of the recommended N fertilizer. Root length density of soybean in the top 15 cm depth was higher in NT and RT than in MB and CT. An improvement in selected soil physical properties like soil water storage, bulk density, aggregate stability and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) was recorded in NT and RT than in CT. SOC content at 0–15 cm depth was significantly higher in NT, RT and MB where wheat residues were retained after harvest than that in CT system. The SOC, aggregate stability and Ks were significantly higher in N150 % compared to N50 %. It is concluded that no tillage and reduced tillage systems with residue retention and recommended rate of N would be a suitable practice for sustainable production of soybean–wheat cropping system in vertisols of central India.

Evaluation of Zinc Polyphosphate as an Alternative Source of Zinc Fertilizer for Wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) Crop Cultivated in a Vertisols of Central India

Evaluation of Zinc Polyphosphate as an Alternative Source of Zinc Fertilizer for Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i>L.) Crop Cultivated in a Vertisols of Central India

Greenhouse Gas Emission and Soil Properties as Influenced by Wheat Biomass Burning in Vertisols of Central India

Biomass burning is a major contributor to the atmospheric carbon budget and increases the concentration of many trace gases apart from the adverse effects on soil properties. However, in many parts of India, crop residue burning is a recurrent and widespread practice for disposal of the residues after harvest of the previous crop to facilitate sowing of the succeeding crop. The residue burning on a larger scale also leads to severe atmospheric pollution. Against this backdrop, the present work was conducted to study the effect of wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) residue burning on soil properties and assess the potential greenhouse gas emission from burning of such residues on a regional scale. The study was taken up on farmers' field in Bhopal district, Madhya Pradesh, with two residue disposal methods, viz. residue burning and residue removal, for comparison with respect to their effect on soil properties and the greenhouse gas emission potential. No significant difference was observed between both methods in terms of soil organic carbon, inorganic carbon and available P content at 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil depths. Though residue burning showed favourable effect on available K content, there was reduction in the available N content in the 15-30 cm soil depth. Residue burning did not show significant effect on soil biological activity as estimated from fluorescence diacetate test. On the other hand, there was a significant adverse effect on soil structure and labile carbon content. Residue burning was estimated to result in the emission of 379 Gg C equivalent for India and 14 Gg C equivalent for MP.

Effect of Organic Manure and Zinc Fertilization on Zinc Transformation and Biofortification of Crops in Vertisols of Central India

The studies are described to indicate biofortification of micronutrients into seed and their various fractions availability into soil. The primary application of biofortification is to alleviate micronutrient deficiencies in developing country populations. Soil samples were analyzed for the DTPA (pH 7.3), extractable micronutrients were extracted by 0.005 M DTPA, 0.01 M CaCl2 and 0.1 M triethanol amine and determined on atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The total zinc was determined with hydrofluoric and perchloric acid by AAS. The objectives of experiment were to examine the effect of Zn biofortification and transformation under various organic and zinc fertilization for realizing maximum use efficiency in Vertisols. Among organic manures, sugarcane press mud recorded more yield, higher Zn concentration, fractions, uptake and their use efficiency than other. Application of Zinc @ 10 kg ha-1 recorded the highest water soluble Zn, exchangeable Zn, complexed Zn, organic bond zinc, occluded Zn and residual zinc in rice and chickpea, respectively. Various fractions of zinc positively correlated with each other. However, Organic and zinc fertilization in rice offers a practical and useful approach to improve bioavailable Zn in rice and chickpea.

Phosphorus Mobilization from Native Soil P-Pool upon Inoculation with Phytate-Mineralizing and Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacillus aryabhattai Isolates for Improved P-Acquisition and Growth of Soybean and Wheat Crops in Microcosm Conditions

Microbial transformation of both inorganic and organic forms of soil phosphorus to plant available P is an important trait contributing to plant P-nutrition and growth promotion. The present study was undertaken to evaluate phytate-mineralizing and phosphate-solubilizing Bacillus aryabhattai isolates on plant growth promotion, rhizosphere properties, P-mobilization from native P-pool of soil and acquisition by soybean and wheat crops in Vertisols of central India. Under microcosm conditions, a significant increase in plant growth parameters and plant P content of soybean (R5 stage) and wheat (panicle initiation stage) crops as a result of inoculation was recorded over un-inoculated control. Similarly, rhizosphere soil properties like activities of fluorescein diacetate, acid and alkaline phosphatase, phytase and microbial biomass-P were also increased with inoculation. These properties were found to be higher with inoculation of isolate MDSR14 followed by MDSR7. At maturity, inoculation with isolates MDSR7 and MDSR14 significantly increased shoot and seed weight, P content and decreased Phytic-P expressed as a percentage of total P content. There was a concomitant depletion in native organic P and acid extractable-P and increase in inorganic P in rhizosphere soil over un-inoculated control indicating mobilization of native unavailable organic P and inorganic insoluble P-pool of soil to available P. Moreover, inoculation also decreased the level of Phytic-P expressed as a percentage of total P content in seeds in soybean and wheat crops as compared to un-inoculated control. The decrease in Phytic-P results in better digestibility and increased feed efficiency and has implication in availability of minerals to human being and animals. The results suggest that B. aryabhattai isolates (MDSR14 and MDSR7) have potential to mobilize native soil P-pool and improve growth, yield and P-assimilation by soybean and wheat crops.

Relationship between dichromate oxidizable and total soil organic carbon and distribution of different pools of organic carbon in Vertisols of Central India

Geo-referenced soil samples (0-15 cm) were collected from the farmers fields of Sehore (n = 120) and Vidisha (n = 156) district representing AESR 10.1 to establish the relationship between oxidizable SOC and total SOC in Vertisols of Central India and also to study the distribution of different pools of SOC as well as their relationship with crop yield. Total SOC was apportioned into different pools by using 5, 10 and 20 ml of concentrated H2SO4 that resulted in 3 acid-aqueous solution ratio of 0.5:1, 1:1 and 2:1. Also crop yields during the following winter season and rainy season from the geo-reference fields were recorded and were transformed to % relative yield. Oxidizable SOC (y) was related to total SOC (x) in the form of y = 0.825x – 0.086 (R2 = 0.958, n = 276), indicating that oxidizable SOC comprised 82.5% of the total SOC. Therefore it was recommended that a correction factor of 1.21 should be used to convert oxidizable SOC values to get the estimate of total SOC. The mean crop productivity was better related to oxidizable SOC (r = 0.5275) as compared to total SOC(r = 0.4886). The threshold and optimum values of oxidizable SOC were 3.2 and 11.2 g C/kg, respectively, whereas the threshold and optimum values for total SOC were 3.87 and 14.1 g C/kg, respectively. Among the different pools, less labile C was highly correlated (r = 0.5871) with the crop productivity, the computed threshold and optimum value for less labile C were 1.53 and 5.2 g C/kg, respectively.

Conservation tillage and manure effect on soil aggregation, yield and energy requirement for wheat (Triticum aestivum) in vertisols

Conservation tillage is gaining significant economic and environmental importance under changing climatic conditions. Hence this study was carried out to assess interactive effect of conservation tillage and manure treatments on soil aggregation, crop performance and energy requirement for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop under vertisols of central India. The experiment was taken in a split plot design for four consecutive cropping seasons since 2008, with two tillage treatments, no tillage (NT) and reduced tillage (RT) in the main plot, and seven manure treatments in the sub plots. The effects were compared to farmer's practice, i.e. conventional tillage (CT). The seven manure treatments included application of FYM at the rate of 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 Mg C/ha, applied every year and 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 Mg C/ha, applied at initiation of experiment. After four years of experiment, the mean weight diameter of soil aggregates was 1.4 and 1.2 times higher under NT and RT, respectively, as compared to CT. Averaged over manure treatments, the grain yield was higher by 1.17 and 0.59 Mg/ha in NT and RT, respectively, than the CT. The energy requirement was 4.68 and 2.32 times higher under CT, as compared to NT and RT systems. Also, the cost of production of wheat was 40.62% and 21.12% higher in CT as compared to NT and RT, respectively, resulting in saving of Rupees 7 800 and Rupees 4 725/ha/year in the two conservation tillage systems.

Effect of soybean inoculation with Bradyrhizobium and wheat inoculation with Azotobacter on their productivity and N turnover in a Vertisol

A long-term field experiment was conducted for 8 years on a Vertisol in central India to assess quantitatively the direct and residual N effects of soybean inoculation with Bradyrhizobium and wheat inoculation with Azotobacter in a soybean–wheat rotation. After cultivation of soybean each year, its aerial residues were removed before growing wheat in the same plots using four N levels (120, 90, 60 and 30 kg ha−1) and Azotobacter inoculation. Inoculation of soybean increased grain yield by 10.1% (180 kg ha−1), but the increase in wheat yields with inoculation was only marginal (5.6%; 278 kg ha−1). There was always a positive balance of soil N after soybean harvest; an average of +28 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in control (nodulated by native rhizobia) plots compared with +41 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in Rhizobium-inoculated plots. Residual and direct effects of Rhizobium and Azotobacter inoculants caused a fertilizer N credit of 30 kg ha−1 in wheat. Application of fertilizers or microbial inoculation favoured the proliferation of rhizobia in crop rhizosphere due to better plant growth. Additional N uptake by inoculation was 14.9 kg N ha−1 by soybean and 20.9 kg N ha−1 by wheat crop, and a gain of +38.0 kg N ha−1 yr−1 to the 0–15 cm soil layer was measured after harvest of wheat. So, total N contribution to crops and soil due to the inoculants was 73.8 kg N ha−1 yr−1 after one soybean–wheat rotation. There was a total N benefit of 13.8 kg N ha−1 yr−1 to the soil due to regular long-term use of microbial inoculants in soybean–wheat rotation.

Differentiating Indigenous Soybean Bradyrhizobium and Rhizobium spp. of Indian Soils.

Soybean is extensively cultivated worldwide and is the largest source of biologically fixed nitrogen among legumes. It is nodulated by both slow and fast growing rhizobia. Indigenous soybean rhizobia in Vertisols of central India were assessed for utilization of 35 carbon sources and intrinsic resistance to 19 antibiotics. There was greater utilization of trehalose and raffinose by fast growers (87 and 73% by fast vs. 35 and 30% by slow growers); but slow growers had higher ability to utilize glucosamine (75% by slow vs. 33% by fast growers). A larger proportion of slow growers were resistant to vancomycin, polymyxin-B and rifampicin (70, 65 and 55%) compared to fast growers (13, 7 and 7% each). Among the two 16S rRNA sequence types in the slow growers, those belonging to Bradyrhizobium spp. utilized glucosamine while those belonging to Rhizobium radiobacter did not. All the fast growers had 16S rRNA homology to R. radiobacter and majority could not utilize glucosamine. It is suggested that during initial isolations and screening of rhizobia in strain selection programmes, using carbon sources like glucosamine and antibiotics like vancomycin, polymyxin-B and rifampicin in the media may provide a simple way of distinguishing Bradyrhizobium strains from R. radiobacter among the slow growers.

Soybean Rhizobia in Indian Soils: Populations, Host Specificity and Competitiveness

Soybean is the most important of crop legumes with the highest share of production and source of biologically fixed nitrogen. Indigenous soybean rhizobia in Vertisols of Central India and other soils were assessed for cross nodulation, bacteriocin production and competitiveness. Survey of rhizobial populations in the rhizosphere of post-summer rainy season soybean revealed low number; the most probable number by plant infection test ranged from 0.5 to 3.3 × 103 cells g−1 soil but improved in the rhizosphere of cool season chickpea as 3.6–9.6 × 103 cells g−1. Soybean was nodulated by its native slow and fast growing rhizobia as well as by chickpea rhizobia. However soybean rhizobia did not nodulate crops belonging to four other cross inoculation groups-alfalfa (Trigonella), clover, pea, chickpea but nodulated Vigna (cowpea). Nodule occupancy by three indigenous nod+ nif+Bradyrhizobium sp. R33 and R35 and Rhizobium R51 varied from 52 to 68 % of which only one-R33 was a strong bacteriocin producer while the other two were not. The results are important for rhizobial strain selection for biofertilizers.

Inoculation of zinc solubilizing Bacillus aryabhattai strains for improved growth, mobilization and biofortification of zinc in soybean and wheat cultivated in Vertisols of central India

Zinc deficiency not only affects crop yields, but also nutritional quality and human health. Microbial transformation of unavailable forms of soil zinc to plant available zinc is an important approach contributing to plant zinc nutrition and growth promotion. Therefore, the objectives were to (a) assess in vitro zinc solubilization ability of Bacillus aryabhattai strains MDSR7, MDSR11 and MDSR14 in medium supplemented with three insoluble zinc salts (zinc oxide, zinc carbonate and zinc phosphate) and (b) to evaluate their response of inoculation on crop growth, soil biological properties, zinc mobilization from native zinc-pool of soil and acquisition by soybean and wheat under microcosm conditions. The microcosm experiment comprised of five treatments for each crop, viz., (1) un-inoculated control without crop (non-rhizosphere soil); (2) un-inoculated control with crop; (3) B. aryabhattai MDSR7; (4) B. aryabhattai MDSR11; and (5) B. aryabhattai MDSR14 in completely randomized block design with twelve replications. While testing under in vitro, all the three strains possessed IAA, siderophore and ammonia producing traits. The strains MDSR7 and MDSR14 produced substantially higher soluble zinc content with significant decline in pH and increase in total organic acid production in Tris-minimal broth supplemented with insoluble zinc compounds. Further on inoculation with MDSR7 and MDSR14 substantially decreased rhizosphere soil pH and increased dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, auxin production, microbial respiration and microbial biomass-C in the rhizosphere soils of soybean and wheat. The operation of all these soil processes regulated by B. aryabhattai strains resulted in a depletion of organically complexed and calcium carbonate bound zinc and an increase in exchangeable and sesquioxide bound zinc in soil. Such enhanced microbial activities and redistribution among different zinc pools in rhizosphere might have paved way for increased plant available zinc resulting in increased growth promotion and zinc assimilation in seeds by soybean and wheat crops. This assumes significance as the increased zinc concentration found in this study has large implications in terms of overcoming zinc malnutrition. We conclude that the strains MDSR7 and MDSR14 substantially influenced mobilization of zinc and its concentration in edible portion, yield of soybean and wheat, and can be utilized as bio-inoculants for biofertilization and biofortification.

Profitability and FUE of intercropping with Bt hybrid cotton in vertisols of central India

Bt hybrid cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was intercropped in paired row (PR) planting at 90×135×45 cm inVertisols at Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur, India (21°09’N 79° 09’E, altitude 331 MSL) during 2008, 2009 and 2010 years. Paired row planted Bt hybrid cotton was intercropped (45/135 cm) with marigold (Tagetes erecta L)/soybean (Glycine max L.)/hybrid maize (Zea mays L.)/castor (Ricinus communis L.)/field bean (Dolichus lablab L.) + fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill. syn. F) compared with sole Bt hybrid cotton and conventional strip cropping of Bt hybrid cotton + pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) in 90×45 cm in 8:2 ratio in Randomised Block Design. Sole Bt hybrid cotton was planted at 90 × 45 cm significantly out yielded over paired row Bt hybrid cotton (135 × 45 cm) only in normal to deficit rainfall years. PR planted Bt hybrid cotton population was insufficient to exploit the resources under adverse climatic conditions and needed more closer spacing than 45 cm. Pigeon pea strip and castor intercropping reduced the biomass, yield, nutrient uptake and recovery of applied fertilizer in Bt hybrid cotton, but better performed in a year of high rainfall. N, P uptake, NPK fertilizers recovery were significantly higher in sole Bt hybrid cotton which was similar to that of PR Bt hybrid cotton based intercropping systems. NUE were not significantly improved in intercropping systems in the absence of sufficient plant populations of both cotton and intercrops under adverse climatic conditions. Paired row Bt hybrid cotton significantly improved fertilizer uptake, recovery and benefitted from N fertilizer applied to intercropped marigold/maize. Bt hybrid cotton intercropped with castor/ field bean and fennel or marigold systems produced similar net returns of 880 to 940 US $ compared to 460 and 640 US $ ha-1 in paired row and sole Bt hybrid cotton respectively. Key words: Bt hybrid cotton, cotton equivalent yield, fertilizer recovery, fertilizer use efficiency, intercropping, nutrient use efficiency, small farms.

Soil Carbon Pools, Mineralization and Fluxes Associated with Land Use Change in Vertisols of Central India

Land use affects soil carbon dynamics which influence the global carbon cycle. Understanding the response of soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics to land-use changes require size and mean residence time (MRT) of measurable SOC pools. We measured soil carbon pool sizes and decay constants of active and slow carbon pools for different land use systems (agriculture, forest and horticulture) of Central India. Long-term incubation study was carried out for quantification of active (Ca) and slow (Cs) carbon pools and MRT. Chemical fractionation technique (acid hydrolysis) was used for quantification of resistant carbon pool (Cr). The non-hydrolysable carbon (Cr) expressed as a percentage of total C varied between 65 and 68 % in the surface soil of different land use system whereas it was 78 % in sub-surface soil. The incubation study revealed that the Ca pool in different land use system ranged between 3.3 and 10 % of the total C and MRT varied from 25 to 67 days with an average value of 46 days. Our results demonstrate that the active SOC is a sensitive indicator for changes in SOC following land use change. MRT of a slow carbon pool of forest land use was 38.5 years. The MRT of slow pool C in the upper soil layer (0–15 cm) did not differ between horticulture and agriculture land use systems and was approximately 4.5 years. In agriculture land use, MRT of a slow pool of C under was only 2.3 years in sub surface plot. However, MRT of slow carbon pool (Cs) under the Farm yard manure (organic plot) increased by fourfold (17.5 years) in comparison to inorganic treatment (recommended dose of fertilizer-RDF) plot. The results clearly depict opportunity of soil carbon buildup in agriculture with good management practices (application of organic manure). The present research work will also help in improving the SOC dynamics predictive capacity of different global bio-geochemical carbon models.

Carbon Addition and Storage Under Integrated Nutrient Management in Soybean–Wheat Cropping Sequence in a Vertisol of Central India

Sustenance of soil organic carbon (SOC) in soil is of utmost importance for soil health and sustainable agriculture. Soil carbon storage with turnover rates of biomass under different IPNS modules in a vertisol under the predominant soybean–wheat cropping system of central India revealed improvements in carbon sequestration through balanced and integrated nutrient management. The highest C addition and storage was recorded under 16 and 8 t ha−1 FYM addition to soybean and wheat, respectively. C addition and storage relationship revealed that to maintain the initial SOC 554 kg C ha−1 is required. The vertisol of central India have high C storage potential and the soybean–wheat cropping sequence hold promise to maintain its SOC even in the event of no fertilizer and no manure addition. The decay rate constant of native soil carbon was 0.0061 year−1.

Tillage and weed control effects on productivity of a dry seeded rice–wheat system on a Vertisol in Central India

A 3-year (2006–2007 to 2008–2009) field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of four tillage systems {zero tillage (ZT) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), conventional tillage (CT) in rice and wheat, and two rotational tillage sequences that alternated between CT and ZT} with three weed management levels (weedy check, recommended herbicide and herbicide+1 hand weeding) in rice–wheat cropping system on a clay-loam soil. Continuous ZT increased the population density of awnless barnyard grass [Echinochloa colona (L.) Link] and rice flat sedge (Cyperus iria L.) in rice but reduced the population of wild oats [Avena ludoviciana (L.) Dur.] and common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) in subsequent wheat. Pendimethalin (1.0kga.i.ha−1) fb 2,4-D (0.50kga.i.ha−1) significantly reduced the population density of E. colona, C. iria and sessile joyweed [Alternanthera sessilis (L.) D.C.], but did not control pink node flower (Caesulia axillaris Roxb.) in rice. In wheat, clodinafop propargyl (0.06kga.i.ha−1) fb 2,4-D (0.50kga.i.ha−1) significantly reduced the population of A. ludoviciana, but had no effect on toothed burclover (Medicago hispida Gaertn.). Continuous ZT resulted in significantly higher yield of rice (2.94Mgha−1), wheat (4.45Mgha−1) and rice–wheat system (7.39Mgha−1) compared to continuous CT (2.35, 3.86 and 6.21Mgha−1, respectively). For the total soil depth sampled (0–20cm), weed seed population was significantly greater under continuous ZT (165 weeds 500g−1 soil) and CT (101 weeds 500g−1 soil), compared to rotational tillage (71–85 weeds 500g−1 soil). Rotational tillage systems significantly reduced the seed density of C. iria, A. ludoviciana and M. hispida compared to continuous ZT or CT. Total weed seed density was 66% lower in herbicide treated than in untreated plots. Continuous ZT with effective weed management using recommended herbicide+1 hand weeding was more remunerative and energy efficient. These results suggest that conventional till-based rice–wheat system could be replaced with zero-till-based crop establishment method with effective weed control to save labor and energy in Vertisols of Central India.

Selection of Plant Growth-Promoting Pseudomonas spp. That Enhanced Productivity of Soybean-Wheat Cropping System in Central India

The aim of this investigation was to select effective Pseudomonas sp. strains that can enhance the productivity of soybean-wheat cropping systems in Vertisols of Central India. Out of 13 strains of Pseudomonas species tested in vitro, only five strains displayed plant growth-promoting (PGP) properties. All the strains significantly increased soil enzyme activities, except acid phosphatase, total system productivity, and nutrient uptake in field evaluation; soil nutrient status was not significantly influenced. Available data indicated that six strains were better than the others. Principal component analysis (PCA) coupled cluster analysis of yield and nutrient data separated these strains into five distinct clusters with only two effective strains, GRP3 and HHRE81 in cluster IV. In spite of single cluster formation by strains GRP3 and HHRE81, they were diverse owing to greater intracluster distance (4.42) between each other. These results suggest that the GRP3 and HHRE81 strains may be used to increase the productivity efficiency of soybean-wheat cropping systems in Vertisols of Central India. Moreover, the PCA coupled cluster analysis tool may help in the selection of other such strains.

Occurrence of Red Vertisols in Central India

Soil Survey HorizonsVolume 51, Issue 1 p. 24-25 Article Occurrence of Red Vertisols in Central India Jagdish Prasad, Corresponding Author jagdishprasad57@yahoo.com National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Amravati Road, Nagpur, 440 010 IndiaSearch for more papers by this authorRajeev Srivastava, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Amravati Road, Nagpur, 440 010 IndiaSearch for more papers by this author Jagdish Prasad, Corresponding Author jagdishprasad57@yahoo.com National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Amravati Road, Nagpur, 440 010 IndiaSearch for more papers by this authorRajeev Srivastava, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Amravati Road, Nagpur, 440 010 IndiaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 04 August 2015 https://doi.org/10.2136/sh2010.1.0024Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume51, Issue1Spring 2010Pages 24-25 RelatedInformation

Effect of irrigation and nitrogen application methods on input use efficiency of wheat under limited water supply in a Vertisol of Central India

Field experiments were conducted in a deep Vertisol at the Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal during the years 2001–2005 to assess the effect of five different irrigation strategies through combinations of sprinkler and flood irrigation and two N application methods on yield and water use efficiency of wheat (cv WH 147). The amount of irrigation applied each year differed according to the availability of water in the water harvesting pond to simulate the actual water crisis faced by the farmers in this region during these years due to monsoon failure. Results indicated that when wheat was grown only with 8-cm irrigation at sowing or 14 cm up to the crown root initiation stage, dry sowing of wheat immediately followed by sprinkler and subsequent irrigation through flooding produced the highest yield and water and nitrogen use efficiencies. However, when 20-cm irrigation was supplied up to the flowering stage or 14-cm irrigation was supplied up to tillering stage through sprinkler in 4 and 3 splits, respectively, at critical growth stages, maximized the grain yield and water and nitrogen use efficiencies. Across the years, the crop yield and water and nitrogen use efficiencies increased with increase in water supply.

Distillery effluents effect on soil organic carbon and aggregate stability of a Vertisol in India

Distillery effluent, a waste by-product of distillery industries, is usually applied to arable land near the distilleries as irrigation water or as a soil amendment. To evaluate the effect of distillery effluent, both spent wash (SW) and post-methanated effluent (PME), on soil organic carbon and aggregate stability, a field experiment on a soybean ( Glysine max L.)–wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) system was conducted for five years on a Vertisol of central India. The treatments were control (no fertilizer or manure or SW or PME, T 1), 100% NPK + farmyard manure (FYM) @ 4 Mg ha −1 to soybean (T 2), four graded levels of SW, viz., 2.5 cm SW to soybean and none to wheat (T 3), 2.5 cm SW to soybean and 1.25 cm to wheat (T 4), 5 cm SW to soybean and none to wheat (T 5), 5 cm SW to soybean and 2.5 cm to wheat (T 6), and four graded levels of PME, viz., 2.5 cm PME to soybean and none to wheat (T 7), 2.5 cm PME to soybean and 1.25 cm to wheat (T 8), 5 cm PME to soybean and none to wheat (T 9), 5 cm PME to soybean and 2.5 cm to wheat (T 10). The organic carbon of the surface (0–15 cm) soil that received either PME or SW (treatments T 3–T 10), was significantly ( P < 0.05) higher than in treatments T 1 and T 2. The mean weight diameter (MWD) of water stable aggregates in this soil layer was also significantly higher in treatments T 3–T 10, compared with T 1 and T 2. The MWD showed a positive linear relationship with the organic carbon content of the soil ( R 2 = 0.54**). The proportion of macro-aggregates was higher in SW treated plots than PME, no distillery effluents and NPK + FYM treatments. However, the micro-aggregates showed the reverse trend. The macro-aggregate-associated carbon was higher in SW treated plots. It was highest in T 6 and lowest in T 1. The plots receiving the PME and SW showed increased soil organic carbon, MWD, percentage macro- and micro-aggregate-associated carbon than T 1 and T 2. Application of distillery effluents increased the aggregate stability of the Vertisol through enhanced soil organic carbon as well as the aggregate-associated carbon. So application of SW or PME could be a viable option for soil aggregate stability and enhanced productivity.