Impact of tillage and mulch management on economics, energy requirement and crop performance in maize–wheat rotation in rainfed subhumid inceptisols, India

An Appraisal of Conservation Tillage on the Soil Properties and C Sequestration

“…According to Lhotsky (1991), soil BD above 1.50 Mgm -3 in the plough horizon on medium heavy soils has a negative effect on the growth and development of agricultural crops and was regarded as the threshold value of adverse soil compaction. Sharma et at (2011) observed that intensive tillage condition increased the bulk density (4.7 %) of a sandy loam soil as compare to the reduced tillage in rainfed condition. Osunbitan et al ( 2005) observed greater bulk density in no-till system in the 5 to 10 cm soil depth.…”

“…Abu-Hamdeh (2004) observed that mould board plough caused a maximum decrease in the infiltration rate, while with Chiesl plough, CS treatment had the lowest effect. Sharma et al (2011) observed increase in soil moisture content (12.4%, 16.6%) in minimum tillage (MT) in maize and wheat rotation respectively,in rainfed farming as compared to conventional tillage (Fig 4 & 5). Jabro et al (2009), in a long term study evaluated that tillage, soil depth and their interaction had no significant effect on the soil water content (Table 1).…”

Tillage Effects on Soil Health and Crop Productivity: A Review

“…No till, residues burnt 49.4 Ploughing, residues incorporated 95.8 Ploughing, residues incorporated followed by addition of external mulch 103.7 Table 7.Effect of tillage system on profile water content to a depth of 1 m at 2 weeks after planting Sharma et al (2011) showed that the no tillage retained the highest moisture followed by minimum tillage, raised bed and conventional tillage in inceptisols under semi arid regions of India (Fig 3). Tillage treatments influenced the water intake and infiltration rate (IR) increased in the order of NT > MT > RB > CT and in mulching treatment the order was PM > StM > SM > NM.…”

“…Similar data showing greater responses to tillage than no tillage or greatly reduced tillage were reported by Karaca et al (1988), Prihar and Jalota (1988) Table 4. Effect of tillage and mulching on grain yield of Maize and Wheat in semi arid tropics, India (Average of three years) Sharma et al (2011) reported that the greatest maize yield of 1865 kgha -1 was achieved with conventional tillage (CT) system while not significantly lower yield was achieved with minimum tillage (MT) system (1837 kgha -1 ). However, higher wheat yield was recorded in MT as compare to the CT in maize -wheat rotation (Table 4).…”

Effect of No-Till Farming and Straw Mulch on Spatial Variability of Soil Respiration in Sloping Cropland

“…This soil in the region has suffered serious degradation by soil erosion due to its sloping landscape and intensive agricultural activities [34]. Soil conservation practices, including minimum or zero tillage and mulching, may have the most potential to reduce soil erosion and protect carbon loss in the plateau [35]. This area is a typical Loess Plateau area with temperate continental monsoon climate of four seasons.…”