Moisture conservation practices in maize-mustard cropping system: Effects on productivity, water use and soil fertility
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53550/Keywords:
Hydrogel, Maize, Mustard, Residue, Ridge and furrow, Zero tillageAbstract
A field experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi during kharif and rabi seasons of 2014-15 and 2015-16 with the objective to study the effect of different moisture enhancing practices and conservation tillage on performance of maize-mustard cropping system and soil properties. The main plot treatments consisted of four moisture conservation practices in kharif season maize viz., ridges and furrows (RF), RF + crop residue (CR) -1 -1 4 t ha , RF + CR 2 t ha + VAM and flat sowing (FS). Five zero tillage (ZT) management -1 techniques in rabi season mustard viz., ZT, ZT + seed priming, ZT + CR 4 t ha , ZT + -1 CR 2 t ha + Hydrogel and conventional tillage (CT) were executed in sub plots under cropping system mode. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three -1 replications. Maize kernel yield in RF + CR 4 t ha treatment was 10.6, 29.4 and 46.5% -1 higher than RF + CR 2 t ha + VAM, RF and FS (control) treatments, respectively. -1 Whereas, in sub-plots (residual effects), ZT + CR 4 t ha recorded maximum kernel -1 -1 -1 yield (3.05 t ha ) followed by ZT + CR 2 t ha + Hydrogel (2.99 t ha ) treatment. Significantly higher mustard yield of 11.5, 23.1 and 35.8% was obtained in RF + CR 4 t -1 -1 ha treatment over RF + CR 2 t ha + VAM, RF and FS, respectively because of the residual effects of treatments. Whereas, for mustard, direct effects of different planting -1 -1 methods in sub-plots gave maximum yield (2.05 t ha ) in ZT + CR 4 t ha which was -1 -1 closely followed by ZT + CR 2 t ha + Hydrogel (1.95 t ha ). Cumulative effects (direct and residual) showed that bulk density (BD), saturated hydraulic conductivity, infiltration rate and penetration resistance remained unaffected with treatments. -1 Significantly higher availability of nitrogen (149 and 150 kg ha ), phosphorus (14.5 -1 -1 and 15.6 kg ha ) and potassium (193 and 192 kg ha ) in soil was registered under the -1 -1 best yielding treatments i.e. RF + CR 4 t ha and ZT + CR 4 t ha in maize and mustard crops, respectively. Therefore, the adoption best treatment will give sustainable yield of maize and mustard besides maintaining soil health under rainfed conditions.
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