Search

In this study, the impacts of long-term soil and crop management practices on crop productivity and soil health in oilseed brassica-based production systems were examined. Different tillage, crop residue recycling and cropping systems (fallow–mustard, cluster bean–mustard, green gram–mustard, maize–mustard, pearl millet–mustard and sesame–mustard) were studied for 5 years at two soil depths (0–15 and 15–30 cm) in a split-plot design with three replications. No-till permanent beds with crop residue (PB + R) noticeably improved soil organic carbon (SOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), enzymes (dehydrogenase (DHA) and alkaline phosphatase (AlP)), nitrogen fractions (available and total nitrate) and available phosphorus and potassium content in both soil layers compared to conventional tillage without crop residues. However, the plough soil layer (0–15 cm) showed higher concentrations of soil carbon, enzymes, N fractions and available P than in the subsoil (15–30 cm). The dynamic soil biological and chemical properties also varied with the crop stage, and higher MBC at 30 days, SOC and enzymatic activities at 60 days, and N fractions and available P and K during the harvesting of mustard crop were recorded. Green gram–mustard rotation showed higher values in terms of biological and chemical parameters. Thus, the legume-based mustard crop rotation following no-till permanent beds and residue recycling was found to be holistic in terms of improving soil health and nutrient cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) season of 2014-15 at IARI, New Delhi to evaluate the response of wheat varieties to heat stress. Three wheat varieties (HD 2967, WR 544 and HD 2985) were grown under ambient and elevated temperature (1.9 to 3.4 °C more than ambient during crop season) condition. Results indicated that the variety WR 544 is highly resistant to heat stress as it exhibited stability of leaf area index (LAI), photosynthesis (Pn), grain yield, harvest index (HI) and test weight under elevated temperature. However, HD 2967 recorded more yield but WR 544 performs better in elevated temperature conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]