Effect of long–term crop-residue management on soil properties in rice-wheat cropping system in calcareous soil of North India.]

Abstract

A study was conducted in an ongoing field experiment in a calcareous soil in north-west alluvial plains of Bihar at Research Farm of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa. The experimental design was split-plot with four crop-residue (0, 25, 50 & 100%) levels in main plots and four levels of Zn application (0, 2.5, 5.0 & 10 kg ha-1) in sub-plots. Post-harvest surface soil samples after 23rd wheat crop were analyzed for physical and chemical properties, viz., bulk density, water holding capacity, volumetric water content, pH, EC and CaCo3 content. Recycling of increasing levels of crop-residue enhanced significantly the properties of soil like water holding capacity, volumetric water content whereas suppressing effect of crop-residue on pH and bulk density of soil was observed. Crop residue management improves all above soil properties of soil and increases the nutrient availability in soil.