Impact of Rice-based Cropping Systems and Crop Rotation on Soil Chemical and Physical Properties in the Western Plain Zone of Meerut, India

Abstract

The present study holds the potential to inform agricultural management strategies, enabling practitioners to optimize soil health, enhance crop productivity, and ensure the long-term viability of rice-based cropping systems. The primary role of soil, concerning its chemical quality for crop production, is the provision of essential nutrients crucial for optimal crop growth. Within the realm of chemical parameters, soil organic carbon (SOC) emerges as a paramount indicator of soil health. The experiment was conducted at the BEDF (APEDA) farm, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, campus, Meerut (U.P.), India.The study was primarily focused on testing of soil quality of 40 representative samples and the analytical results were supposed to represent the entire field. The treatment means were compared by using the transformed values. The treatment differences were tested by least significant difference at 5 per cent of probability. The obtained results from the study revealed that inclusion of pulses in cropping system improve the physical properties of soil. Although inclusion of pulses did not affect soil texture, bulk density, particle density and porosity significantly as compared to wheat or mustard based cropping systems but aggregate stability, hydraulic conductivity, availability of phosphorus, zinc, iron and organic carbon (%) influenced significantly. Growing of rice- pulses-pulses in cropping system enriched the sub-soil because wheat and mustard are deep rooted crops so they remove the nutrients from subsoil also therefore sub soils of cereals -pulses-pulses crop rotation are slightly healthy than surface soil.