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To evaluate the effect of different cropping sequences on soil nutrients status, nutrients uptake and crop yield in PAP command area an experiment was carried out at Coconut Research Station, Aliyar Nagar, Pollachi during 2017-18. In Kharif season, the rice crop was grown followed by seven sequential crops during rabi season. Thus, there were seven different cropping sequences viz., Rice - Sunflower (T1), Rice - Sesame (T2), Rice - Blackgram (T3), Rice - Castor (T4), Rice - Maize (T5), Rice - Onion (T6) and Rice - Groundnut (T7) cropping sequences. Results of the post - harvest soils of the different cropping sequences revealed that significantly highest soil organic carbon SOC content was observed in Rice - Groundnut (T7) cropping sequence, however this was on par with Rice - Maize (T5) and Rice - Castor (T4) cropping sequences. A significant higher value of available P was registered in Rice - Blackgram (T3) cropping sequence that was on par with Rice - Groundnut (T7) cropping sequence. Available K was significantly higher in Rice - Groundnut (T7) cropping sequence which was on par with Rice - Onion (T6) cropping sequence. The Rice - Maize (T5) cropping sequence recorded the highest total N uptake and Rice - Sunflower (T1) cropping sequence registered higher total P uptake and the total K uptake was higher in Rice - Maize (T5) and Rice - Sunflower (T1) cropping sequences. Grain yield and straw yield were significantly higher under Rice - Maize (T5) and Rice - Groundnut (T7) cropping sequences. Though the Rice - Castor (T4) cropping sequence recorded highest B:C ratio of 2.08, considering the quantity of water consumption, economic yield, soil nutrients and B:C ratio, the best cropping sequence registered in Parambikulam Aliyar command area was Rice - Castor (T4) cropping sequence followed by Rice - Groundnut (T7) and Rice - Maize (T5) cropping sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of biochar with/without FYM and inorganic fertilizers on soil productivity of cotton - maize - cowpea based cropping system and to examine the direct, cumulative and residual effects of biochar on soil properties at field No.36 B, Eastern block, TNAU, Coimbatore, on an Inceptisol belongs to Periyanaickenpalayam series and Vertic Ustropept in USDA classification. The study reveals that application of biochar irrespective of levels, increased the available N, P and K of the post harvest clay loam soil of cotton. The effect was increased with corresponding increase in the rate of application. Significant improvement was found when biochar was applied in conjunction with fertilizers and FYM. Among the treatments, the trend of results were significantly higher in biochar @ 10 t + 100 % NPK + FYM followed by biochar @ 10 t + 75% NPK + FYM treatment which was statistically on par with biochar @ 7.5 t + 100 % NPK + FYM treatment. Similar trend of direct effect was registered in the post harvest soil of maize grown under both cumulative (continuous application) and residual (one time application) studies. However, the effect was higher under cumulative study than the residual study. Similar trend of results were also registered in the post harvest soil of cowpea under both the cumulative residual (residual effect of continuous application) and second residual (second residual effect of one time application) studies. A significant improvement in the soil properties of post harvest soil of cowpea under second residual study was also recorded. Thus, proving the biochar's ability to sustain the soil fertility over long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]