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Not AvailableAn experiment was conducted in the rainfed Inceptisols of Rakhdhiansar in Kandi areas of Western Himalayas of South Kashmir and Kumaon, India for four years to assess the influence of combined use of tillage and nutrient management treatments on soil quality under maize based cropping system. The experiment was initiated in a split plot design with three main and three sub-treatments using maize (Kanchan-510) as the test crop. The main experimental treatments were: T1: Conventional Tillage (CT) +Two Intercultures (Two IC), T2: Low Tillage (LT) +Two Intercultures (Two IC) and T3: Low Tillage (LT) + Weedicide + One Interculture (One IC). The three sub treatments were, T1: 100% N through organic sources (compost), T2: 50% N through organic sources + 50% N through inorganic sources and T3: 100% N through inorganic sources. The results of the present study clearly revealed that the tillage treatments did not significantly influence most of the soil quality parameters except available S, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and Mean weight Diameter of Soil Aggregates (MWD). When averaged over nutrient levels, among the tillage practices, conventional tillage + Two IC recorded the highest available S of 20.87 kg ha-1. However, sub-sub treatments viz nutrient management significantly influenced the organic carbon (OC), available N, P S and boron, dehyrogenase assay (DHA), labile carbon (LC), bulk density (BD) and MWD. When averaged over tillage levels, the application of nutrients through inorganic sources recorded significantly highest available N (160.50 kg ha-1), P (30.67 kg ha-1) and K (207.87 kg ha-1) in soil. Finally, in terms of Relative Soil Quality Indices (RSQI), Low tillage + Two IC (0.87) and Low tillage + Weedicide + One IC (0.89) proved superior compared to Conventional Tillage + 2 IC (0.82). Similarly, when averaged over tillage levels, the order of performance of nutrient management treatments was:100% N through organic sources (0.93) > 50% N through organic sources + 50 % N through inorganic sources (0.84) > 100% N through inorganic sources (0.82). Though the interactions between tillage levels and nutrient management were not significant, but the combination of Low tillage practices with 100 % organic Source of nutrients was quite superior in maintaining relatively higher RSQI. Thus, the results of the present study and methodology used will be highly useful to different stake holders associated withland and soil quality management.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableAn experiment was conducted in the rainfed Inceptisols of Rakhdhiansar in Kandi areas of Western Himalayas of South Kashmir and Kumaon, India for four years to assess the influence of combined use of tillage and nutrient management treatments on soil quality under maize based cropping system. The experiment was initiated in a split plot design with three main and three sub-treatments using maize (Kanchan510) as the test crop. The main experimental treatments were: T1: Conventional Tillage (CT) +Two Intercultures (Two IC), T2: Low Tillage (LT) +Two Intercultures (Two IC) and T3: Low Tillage (LT) + Weedicide + One Interculture (One IC). The three sub treatments were, T1: 100% N through organic sources (compost), T2: 50% N through organic sources + 50% N through inorganic sources and T3: 100% N through inorganic sources. The results of the present study clearly revealed that the tillage treatments did not significantly influence most of the soil quality parameters except available S, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and Mean weight Diameter of Soil Aggregates (MWD). When averaged over nutrient levels, among the tillage practices, conventional tillage + Two IC recorded the highest available S of 20.87 kg ha-1 . However, sub-sub treatments viz nutrient management significantly influenced the organic carbon (OC), available N, P S and boron, dehyrogenase assay (DHA), labile carbon (LC), bulk density (BD) and MWD. When averaged over tillage levels, the application of nutrients through inorganic sources recorded significantly highest available N (160.50 kg ha-1 ), P (30.67 kg ha-1 ) and K (207.87 kg ha-1) in soil. Finally, in terms of Relative Soil Quality Indices (RSQI), Low tillage + Two IC (0.87) and Low tillage + Weedicide + One IC (0.89) proved superior compared to Conventional Tillage + 2 IC (0.82). Similarly, when averaged over tillage levels, the order of performance of nutrient management treatments was:100% N through organic sources (0.93) > 50% N through organic sources + 50 % N through inorganic sources (0.84) > 100% N through inorganic sources (0.82). Though the interactions between tillage levels and nutrient management were not significant, but the combination of Low tillage practices with 100 % organic Source of nutrients was quite superior in maintaining relatively higher RSQI. Thus, the results of the present study and methodology used will be highly useful to different stake holders associated withland and soil quality management.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableAn experiment was conducted in the rainfed Inceptisols of Rakhdhiansar in Kandi areas of Western Himalayas of South Kashmir and Kumaon, India for four years to assess the influence of combined use of tillage and nutrient management treatments on soil quality under maize based cropping system. The experiment was initiated in a split plot design with three main and three sub-treatments using maize (Kanchan-510) as the test crop. The main experimental treatments were: T1: Conventional Tillage (CT) +Two Intercultures (Two IC), T2: Low Tillage (LT) +Two Intercultures (Two IC) and T3: Low Tillage (LT) + Weedicide + One Interculture (One IC). The three sub treatments were, T1: 100% N through organic sources (compost), T2: 50% N through organic sources + 50% N through inorganic sources and T3: 100% N through inorganic sources. The results of the present study clearly revealed that the tillage treatments did not significantly influence most of the soil quality parameters except available S, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and Mean weight Diameter of Soil Aggregates (MWD). When averaged over nutrient levels, among the tillage practices, conventional tillage + Two IC recorded the highest available S of 20.87 kg ha-1. However, sub-sub treatments viz nutrient management significantly influenced the organic carbon (OC), available N, P S and boron, dehyrogenase assay (DHA), labile carbon (LC), bulk density (BD) and MWD. When averaged over tillage levels, the application of nutrients through inorganic sources recorded significantly highest available N (160.50 kg ha-1), P (30.67 kg ha-1) and K (207.87 kg ha-1) in soil. Finally, in terms of Relative Soil Quality Indices (RSQI), Low tillage + Two IC (0.87) and Low tillage + Weedicide + One IC (0.89) proved superior compared to Conventional Tillage + 2 IC (0.82). Similarly, when averaged over tillage levels, the order of performance of nutrient management treatments was:100% N through organic sources (0.93) > 50% N through organic sources + 50 % N through inorganic sources (0.84) > 100% N through inorganic sources (0.82). Though the interactions between tillage levels and nutrient management were not significant, but the combination of Low tillage practices with 100 % organic Source of nutrients was quite superior in maintaining relatively higher RSQI. Thus, the results of the present study and methodology used will be highly useful to different stake holders associated withland and soil quality management.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableAchieving sustainable crop productivity and maintenance of concurrent soil organic carbon (SOC) at desired levels in cereal-based cropping systems in relatively, poorly fertile Vertisols in semi-arid rainfed ecosystem is challenging task for dryland researchers. Different soil fertilization practices can contribute to carbon (C) sequestration, which requires a detailed knowledge of SOC dynamics in soil profile (0-1.0 m). We conducted a field experiment for 6 years to study the effect of applying mineral fertilizers and organic amendments (FYM, compost, green leaf and crop residue) on profile SOC stocks, C sequestration, SOC sequestration rate, C buildup rate and sustainable yield index (SYI) of maize and blackgram crops in dry semi-arid Vertisols of western India. The study encompasses different nutrient management viz., 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) of NP, 25 kg ha(-1) N (FYM) + 25 kg N (Urea) + 30 kg P ha(-1), 25 kg ha(-1) N (Compost) + 25 kg N (Urea) + 30 kg P ha(-1), 25 kg ha(-1) N (Crop residue) + 25 kg N (Urea) + 30 kg P ha(-1), 15 kg ha(-1) N (FYM) + 10 kg N (Crop Residue) + 25 kg N (Urea) + 30 kg P ha(-1), 15 kg ha(-1) N (FYM) + 10 kg N (Compost) + 25 kg N (Urea) + 30 kg P ha(-1), 15 kg ha(-1) N (FYM) + 10 kg N (Green Leaf) + 25 kg N (Urea) + 30 kg P ha(-1), 100% recommended N (urea) without P and unfertilized control. Randomized Complete Block design was used wherein all the treatments were replicated thrice. Application of 15 kg ha(-1) N (FYM) + 10 kg N (Crop Residue) + 25 kg N (Urea) + 30 kg P ha(-1) significantly improved the SOC concentration of the soil profile (0-1.0 m) than unfertilized control and treatments receiving solely mineral fertilizers. Highest SOC profile stock, C sequestration with concomitant C buildup was obtained with 15 kg ha(-1) N (FYM) + 10 kg N (Crop Residue) + 25 kg N (Urea) + 30 kg P ha(-1). A positive correlation is observed between total C input and profile mean SOC content (R-2 = 0.74), profile C stock (R-2 = 0.76), C sequestration (R-2 = 0.76), C sequestration rate (R-2 = 0.76) at P values < 0.01. The conjunctive use of 15 kg ha(-1) N (FYM) + 10 kg N (Green Leaf) + 25 kg N (Urea) + 30 kg P ha(-1) and 25 kg ha(-1) N (FYM) + 25 kg N (Urea) + 30 kg P ha(-1) resulted in highest mean grain yield of maize and blackgram, respectively, which were significantly superior to treatments receiving mineral fertilization alone. Application of organic amendments in combination with mineral fertilizers was found superior in improving the SYI. Critical C input of 1.14 Mg C ha(-1) year(-1) is suggested to be added in the soils externally to offset depletion of C and maintaining SOC at equilibrium in the semi-arid Vertisols of western India.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableABSTRACT: A field experiment was conducted in the rainfed Inceptisol soils of Rakh Dhiansar in Kandi areas of Western Himalayas of South Kashmir and Kumaon from 2001 to 2005. The main focus of the present study was to quantify the impact of conjunctive nutrient management practices on soil quality parameters, to identify the key indicators of soil quality using data redundancy technique and to compute integrated soil quality indices (SQIs) and relative soil quality indices (RSQIs) as influenced by the conjunctive nutrient management treatments in hill and mountainous Inceptisol soils in Northern India under maize - wheat system. Out of the total 10 treatments, five treatments viz., T1: control, T2: FYM @ 10 t/ha + 20 kg N/ha, T3: FYM @ 10 t/ha + 30 kg N/ha, T4: FYM @ 10 t/ha + 40 kg N/ha and T5: green manuring with sunhemp + 20 kg N/ha were selected for the soil quality assessment studies. The nutrient management treatments significantly influenced the SQIs which varied between 3.69 to 5.66 across the management treatments, while the RSQIs varied between 0.63 to 0.96. Of all the nutrient management treatments, the application of FYM @ 10 t/ha + 40 kg N/ha maintained significantly highest SQI of 5.66, which was at par with the application of FYM @ 10 t/ha + 30 kg N/ha and green manuring with sunhemp + 20 kg N/ha both of which maintained SQI of 5.40. Irrespective of their statistical significance, the relative order of performance of the nutrient management treatments in maintaining the soil quality indices was: T4: FYM @ 10 t/ha + 40 kg N/ha (5.66) > T5: Green manuring with sunhemp + 20 kg N/ha (5.44) > T3: FYM @ 10 t/ha + 30 kg N/ha (5.40) > T2: FYM @ 10 t/ha + 20 kg N/ha (5.16) > T1: control (3.69). The per cent contributions of each of these key indicators towards SQIs were also computed. It was observed that almost all the key indicators contributed more or less equally towards the SQIs except available N and available Fe, which contributed to a minimum extent of 2.27% and 1.90%, respectively. The per cent contribution of the other key indicators was as follows: organic carbon (13.8%), available P (13.4%), available K (14.5%), available Zn (12.6%), microbial biomass carbon (13.7%), bulk density (15.2%) and mean weight diameter (11.6%).Not Availabl