Influence of diverse cropping systems on soil health and carbon pool at varied depths in a wetland riverine alluvial soil

Abstract

The drastic increase in atmospheric CO2concentration since industrial revolution has resulted in global warming and resultant change in climate. By enhancing the soil carbon sequestration potential, it is possible to reduce the deleterious effects. Soil is the major sink of carbon, especially in the greater depths where carbon stocks are comparatively less. In this experiment, carbon pools and major soil properties were analysed at varied depths upto 105cm in a wetland soil where, rice- rice- green manure cropping system was being practised for the last seven years. The changes in soil properties obtained were compared with that of an adjacent field maintained with the traditional cropping system of rice- rice- fallow sequence. Much variation was noticed in the soil bulk density and major nutrients with depth and also with cropping systems. In general, the different soil carbon pools like particulate organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, labile carbon and total organic carbon were found to be higher in rice- rice- daincha system due to the incorporation of more easily decomposable biomass compared to that of the fallow system. A similar trend was noticed in enzyme activities, indicating the development of conditions favouring the build-up of soil microflora with the inclusion of a green manure crop in the field other than keeping it fallow. This soil carbon enrichment would further play a vital role in improving soil health and climate change mitigation adaption measures.