Long-term effect of pulse crops inclusion on soil–plant nutrient dynamics in puddled rice (Oryza sativa L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system on an Inceptisol of Indo-Gangetic plain zone of India

• Published in: Nutrient cycling in agroecosystems 2014-09, Vol.100 (1), p.95-110
• Main Authors: Hazra, K. K, Venkatesh, M. S, Ghosh, P. K, Ganeshamurthy, A. N, Kumar, N, Nadarajan, N, Singh, A. B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural practices; Agriculture; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cereal crops; Cereals; Crop rotation; Cropping systems; Cropping systems. Cultivation. Soil tillage; crops; Dietary supplements; Fertilization; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agroecology; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; Generalities. Cropping systems and patterns; Inceptisols; Life Sciences; long term effects; long term experiments; Management; Mineral fertilizers; mung beans; nitrogen fixation; Nutrient availability; Nutrient dynamics; nutrient management; Nutrient uptake; Nutrients; Nutrition; organic production; Organic soils; Original Article; Oryza sativa; recycling; Rice; Rotation; Soil dynamics; soil organic carbon; soil quality; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Soils; Synecology; Triticum aestivum; Wheat; zinc
• ISSN: 1385-1314; 1573-0867
• DOI: 10.1007/s10705-014-9629-6

Given inherent qualities like N-fixation, P-solublization and nutrient recycling pulses remain the most preferred option for diversification of cereal-based rotations. A long-term experiment was used to assess the effect of including pulses in rice–wheat rotation on soil–plant nutrient dynamics under inorganic and organic nutrient management. Results revealed that pulses were equally responsive to organic and inorganic nutrient management while, growth of cereals especially wheat was restricted severely under organic production system due to low nutrient input. The annual input (kg ha⁻¹) of N (103.6–160.8) and P (25.9–34.7) under organic treatment was almost ½ of the recommended inorganic rate, while organics supplied higher K and S. Under organic management, the apparent balance of all the nutrients was negative whereas, inorganic fertilization resulted in positive balance of N, P and Zn. Long-term inclusion of pulses in rice–wheat rotation significantly increased soil organic C and available nutrients thus, increased the nutrient uptake by cereals. Mungbean inclusion in rice–wheat rotation significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased uptake of N (23.0 %), P (32.9 %) and K (21.1 %) by rice crop. Continuous inorganic fertilization enriched soil available N, P, Zn and B. While organic management maintained higher SOC, available K and S over inorganic treatment. Thus, the study suggested that under organic management N and P nutrition is limiting factor for cereals and needs inorganic supplementation. The study also indicates the need for including pulses in conventional rice–wheat system for optimum nutrient acquisition and long-term soil health management.