Effect of conservation tillage on biological activity in soil and crop productivity under rainfed Vertisols of central India

Abstract

The investigation was pointed to compare the effects of three tillage systems viz. conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT) and no-tillage (NT) and four cropping systems namely, Soybean + P. Pea (2:1), Soybean – Wheat, Maize + P. Pea (1:1), Maize – Gram) on soil living environs in terms of dehydrogenase activity (DHA), fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis activity (FDA), liable carbon (KMNO4 extractable) and soil organic carbon (SOC). Soil samples were collected at the end of 3rd crop cycles from the layer of 0-15 cm depth. Within tillage systems, SOC were reported higher in RT (0.63%) and NT (0.62%) as compared to CT (0.57%) at surface soil (0-15cm). At 0-15cm depth, RT and NT registered significantly (P NT > CT. Further, cropping systems (CS) significantly affect this fraction of carbon at the surface layer. Moreover, soil enzymatic activity was significantly (P