Effect of cropping systems and crop residue incorporation on production and properties of soil in an organic agroecosystem

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India, in 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 to study the effects of rice-wheat (RWCS)) and rice-wheat-mungbean (RWMCS) cropping systems and crop residue incorporation on the productivity, protein yield, energy output, and chemical, physical, and biological properties of soil. RWMCS had higher productivity, protein yield, and energy output than RWCS. Available N, populations of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes, microbial biomass, and CO₂ evolution in soil were also higher in RWMCS than in RWCS. The incorporation of crop residue increased the productivity, protein yield, energy output, soil organic C, soil Kjeldahl N, Olsen's P, neutral 1 N NH₄OAC extractable K, population of bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, microbial biomass, and CO₂ evolution in soil. RWMCS, along with residue incorporation, was the best and is recommended for higher productivity and resilience in soil health as an alternative to an organic RWCS.

Keywords:

• available N
• bulk density
• energy output
• microbial biomass
• rice
• wheat