Assessing the effect of soil cultivation methods and genotypes on crop yield components, yield and soil properties in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Rice (Oryza sativa L.) cropping system

BACKGROUND

The rice-wheat cropping system is the prevailing agricultural method in the North-Western states of India, namely in the Indo-Gangetic plains. The practice of open burning of rice residue is frequently employed for expedient land preparation, but it has significant adverse impacts on both the environment and human health. These include the emission of greenhouse gases, loss of nutrients, elevated concentrations of particulate matter (PM), and disruption of the biological cycle. This research aims to investigate the implementation of effective management strategies in the rice-wheat cropping system, namely via the use of tillage-based crop cultivation techniques, stubble retention, and integration approaches. The objective is to enhance soil health features in order to augment crop yield and improve its attributes.

RESULTS

The research was carried out using a split plot experimental design, consisting of three replications. The main plot consisted of four different cultivation methods, while the subplot included three genotypes of both rice and wheat. The research demonstrates the enhanced efficacy of residue application is significantly augmenting soil nutrient concentrations compared to standard tillage practices (P < 0.05). This was accomplished by an analysis of soil nutrient levels, namely nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and organic carbon (OC), at a depth of 0-15 cm. The implementation of natural farming, zero tillage, and reduced tillage practices resulted in decreases in rice grain yields of 34.0%, 16.1%, and 10.8%, respectively, as compared to conventional tillage methods. Similarly, the implementation of natural farming, zero tillage, and reduced tillage resulted in reductions in wheat grain yields of 59.4%, 10.9%, and 4.6% respectively, in comparison to conventional tillage practices.

CONCLUSION

Regarding the individual crop genotypes investigated, it was continuously observed that Him Palam Lal Dhan 1 and HPW 368 displayed considerably greater grain yields for both rice and wheat during the two-year experimental period. Furthermore, when considering different cultivation methods, conventional tillage emerged as the most effective approach for obtaining higher productivity in both rice and wheat. Additionally, Him Palam Lal Dhan 1 and HPW 368 exhibited superior performance in terms of various crucial yield components for rice (such as panicle density, grains per panicle, panicle weight, and test weight) and wheat (including effective tiller density, grains per spike, spike weight, and 1000-grain weight).

Impact of silicate fertilizer on soil properties and yield of bread wheat in Nitisols of tropical environment

Purpose

Soil acidity and depletion of essential plant nutrients are among the major abiotic stresses that constrained wheat productivity in Ethiopia. Silicates and silicate by-products can be used as alternative source for amendment of soil acidity and improvement of crop yields. Surface application of water-soluble silicate fertilizer alone and the integrated application with full does of recommended N and P from mineral fertilizers can reduce the extent of soil acidity and improve phosphorous availability in the soil, soil pH and exchangeable acidity and can enhance the yield attributes and yield of bread wheat. A field experiment was conducted under rain-fed condition from July to December of 2020 to evaluate the role of soil and foliar application of water-soluble silicate fertilizer without and with reduced or full doses of recommended nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) (RNP) from mineral fertilizers on soils chemical attributes, yield components and yield of bread wheat sown under moderately to strongly acidic condition in southeastern Ethiopia.

Methods

The experiment comprised sole silicate (40 kg + 18 L/ha-1), and its integration with full dose of RNP (92-30 kg N-P ha-1), three quarters dose of RNP (69-23 kg N-P ha-1) and half dose of RNP (46-15 kg N-P ha-1) from mineral fertilizers. Full dose of RNP from mineral fertilizers and a negative control with no silicate and mineral fertilizer inputs included as controls, resulting in a total of six treatments. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design, replicated three times.

Results

The combined application of silicate with mineral fertilizers significantly influenced soil properties, yield attributes and yield of bread wheat. Integrated applications of silicate fertilizers and full dose of RNP increased grain yield, biomass yield, and available soil P by 108, 115, and 23 % respectively relative to untreated soil.

Conclusions

Integration of silicate with mineral fertilizers can be considered as a viable and alternative option for acid soils amendment. Generally, the result of the current study revealed that combined application of water soluble granular and liquid silicate at the rate of (40 kg + 18 L)/ha with full dose of recommended nitrogen (92 kg ha-1) and phosphorus (30 kg ha-1) significantly reduced exchangeable acidity, tended to increase soil reaction, increased available soil phosphorus content and boosted yield of bread wheat compared to their sole applications. Thus, application of water-soluble silicate fertilizer with recommended rate of nitrogen and phosphorus is better in enhancing plant nutrition and yield of bread wheat in the highlands of Ethiopia and other similar agro-ecologies.