Productivity and Nutrient Dynamics under Diversified Cropping Systems in the Indo-Gangetic Plains of Uttar Pradesh, India: An Approach towards Environmental Sustainability

Abstract

Cropping system diversification plays an important role in improving productivity, nutrient use efficiency and sustainability of intensive cereal-based cropping systems of the Indo-Gangetic Plains. Continuous cultivation of conventional rice–wheat cropping systems has resulted in declining soil fertility, nutrient imbalance and reduced system productivity over time. Therefore, the present investigation was conducted during 2023–24 and 2024–25 at the Student Instructional Farm, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) to evaluate the performance of diversified cropping systems on system productivity, nutrient content, nutrient uptake and nutrient harvest index. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with ten cropping system treatments and four replications. The results revealed that diversified cropping systems significantly influenced productivity and nutrient dynamics. Legume and vegetable-based cropping systems recorded higher nutrient content and nutrient uptake compared to cereal-based systems. Inclusion of fodder crops improved total biomass production and nutrient removal, whereas vegetable-based systems showed higher nutrient harvest index. Among different cropping systems, maize + cowpea – oat and maize (cob) – potato + mustard cropping systems performed better in terms of productivity and nutrient uptake. Therefore, cropping system diversification may be recommended for improving system productivity and soil fertility under central Indo-Gangetic Plains of Uttar Pradesh.