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Maintenance of soil physical health at its optimum level is essential for sustainable crop production and rational use of natural resources without jeopardizing their quality. The ongoing conventional tillage practices for crop production using intensive ploughing and removal of crop residue from the field have resulted in an increase in surface crusting, soil compaction, soil erosion, decrease in water infiltration and ultimately aggravation of the overall soil physical health deterioration. In recent years, many agricultural scientists across the world have recommended conservation agriculture as a solution to overcome the adverse effects of conventional tillage practices on soil physical health. Conservation agriculture is mainly an integration of three crop management practices, viz. minimum or no-tillage, permanent retention of crop residue and crop rotation. The present data indicates that conservation agriculture can improve soil physical properties and associated processes especially, soil water infiltration and storage, soil aeration, soil structure and soil porosity. It reduces soil erosion, soil compaction and crusting, and optimizes the soil temperatures for successful crop production. This article reviews the role of conservation agriculture in improving soil physical health and its associated processes.

Keywords

Conservation Agriculture, Conservation Tillage, Crop Residues, Crop Rotation, Soil Physical Health.

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Effective Management Practices for Improving Soil Organic Matter for Increasing Crop Productivity in Rainfed Agroecology of India

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Authors

Srinivasa Rao ¹, A. K. Indoria ¹, K. L. Sharma ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad 500 059, IN

Source

Current Science, Vol 112, No 07 (2017), Pagination: 1497-1504

Abstract

To meet the requirement of increasing demand for food and fodder and to ensure food security, it is important to increase the production potential through soil health improvement in rainfed agroecological regions besides the irrigated regions. Degrading soil health because of decrease in soil organic carbon (SOC) and resultant decline in overall soil fertility in rainfed areas is a major threat to sustenance of crop and fodder productivity. In view of the importance of soil organic matter (SOM), and its close relationship with soil health and crop production, its role in carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling has gained much attention in the last few years. Restoration of SOM contents in the soil to optimal levels will not only improve the soil health of rainfed agroecosystem, but will also significantly contribute towards boosting crop production. In this article, we have critically reviewed the impacts of different crop management practices on SOC content and its impact on soil health and crop productivity in rainfed agroecological regions of the country.

Keywords

Crop Production, Rainfed Agroecology, Soil Organic Matter, Soil Health Improvement.

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References

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Sustaining Soil Quality, Resilience and Critical Carbon Level under Different Cropping Systems in Semi-Arid Tropical Alfisol Soils

Abstract Views :279 | PDF Views:85

Authors

Uttam Kumar Mandal ¹, K. L. Sharma ², K. Venkanna ², Pushpanjali ², Ravikant V. Adake ², Rahul N. Masane ², J. V. N. S. Prasad ², G. Venkatesh ², Srinivasa Rao ²

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Canning Town, South 24-Parganas 743 329, IN
2 ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad 500 059, IN

Source

Current Science, Vol 112, No 09 (2017), Pagination: 1882-1895

Abstract

Subsistence agriculture practice and a combination of harsh climate and fragile soils along with increasing demographic pressure are matters of great concern from the viewpoint of resource management and longterm sustainability in the semi-arid tropical Alfisol soils of India. In this study, soil quality index (SQI) has been computed on 190 sites of farmers' fields in southern India to evaluate the possible effect of land management practices on soil degradation and determine the critical levels of soil organic C stock to maintain a desirable SQI and also suggest appropriate management practices. In all, 26 predominant physical, chemical and biological properties of soils were studied and based on principal component analysis, moisture retention at field capacity, available soil N, available P, DTPA-extractable Zn, exchangeable sodium percentage, C-mineralization and bulk density were identified as the key indicators of the study region. SQI was also computed using four soil functions, viz. nutrient cycling, availability of water, resistance of soil to degradation, and salinity and sodicity. Soil resilience index was computed using data on substrateinduced respiration after exposing the soil to heat stress. SQI was highest under paddy followed by permanent fallow, maize, cotton, intercropping, redgram, and was lowest under castor system. Based on the results, it was observed that the soils which had higher SQI were also productive and they exhibited higher resilience capacity. An amount of 8.6 Mg ha^-1 soil organic C stock per 15 cm depth was found essential to maintain soil quality and 2.2 Mg ha^-1 of organic matter was needed every year to maintain this stock. On-farm participatory research trial was conducted using SQI as a tool for sustainable land-management practices.

Keywords

Cropping Systems, Organic Carbon Stock, Soil Quality and Resilience, Sustainable Land Management.

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Role of Soil Physical Properties in Soil Health Management and Crop Productivity in Rainfed Systems-I:Soil Physical Constraints and Scope

Abstract Views :301 | PDF Views:99

Authors

A. K. Indoria ¹, K. L. Sharma ¹, K. Sammi Reddy ¹, Srinivasa Rao ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad 500 059, IN

Source

Current Science, Vol 112, No 12 (2017), Pagination: 2405-2414

Abstract

Soil physical degradation has become a serious problem in both rainfed and irrigated areas of India. According to an estimate, about 90 m ha area is experiencing soil physical constraint in the country. In rainfed regions, among several other constraints related to crop and climate, soil physical constraints are the key which severely limit crop productivity. The predominant soil constraints which are governed by the principles of soil physics include subsurface hard pan and compactness, crusting and hardening, slow and high permeability, non-optimal porosity, poor soil structure, poor water receptivity, retention and transmission, etc. It is now well-established that unless the soil physical environment is maintained at its optimum level, the genetic yield potential of a crop cannot be realized even when all the other requirements are fulfiled. The optimum soil physical environment creates a suitable condition for better crop production both in irrigated and rainfed regions. Rainfed agriculture, often referred to as dryland agriculture, is practiced in areas that are relatively warmer (arid, semi-arid) and dry sub-humid regions of the country. These regions are highly diverse, ranging from resource-rich areas with good agricultural potential to resource-constrained areas with a much more restricted potential. These regions represent a wide variety of soil types, agro-climatic and rainfall conditions. This article discusses the soil physical constraints in rainfed regions of India.

Keywords

Rainfed Agriculture, Soil Physical Properties, Soil Physical Constraints.

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