Soil Properties Influenced by Long-term Management Practices in the Rice-Wheat System of the Terai-Teesta Alluvial Zone, India

Abstract

A factorial randomized block design was employed at Pundibari, Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India to study the long-term effects of tillage (zero tillage, ZT; conventional tillage, CT), crop residue (R) addition, and biofertilizers (B) on soil properties and wheat yield in the rice-wheat system of the Terai-Teesta Alluvial Zone. The results revealed that soil pH ranged from acidic to slightly acidic in the surface layer (0–10 cm), with the highest pH observed in ZTR1B1. Organic carbon (OC) was higher in the surface layer than in deeper layers, with the maximum OC (0.98%) recorded in ZTR1B0. However, no significant changes in OC were in deeper layers (10–40 cm). ZT treatment resulted in higher wheat yields than CT, although the combined effects of tillage and R addition did not significantly influence yield. However, significant interaction effects were between R addition and B and tillage and B on grain yield. These findings highlight the importance of soil management practices in optimizing soil health and crop productivity.