Resource conservation practices in maize-mustard cropping system: Impact on energy, soil carbon and nutrient dynamics

Abstract

Aim: Ensuring incessant availability of water and nutrient is an arduous task particularly in rainfed areas. Hence, certain resource conservation measures are needed in those areas for increasing productivity under new emerging cropping systems. Impact of different resource and moisture conservation practices on yield, economics, energy and nutrient dynamics was studied on maize-mustard cropping system in semi-aridregionof lndia. Methodology : The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three replications. The main plot treatments consisted of four soil moisture conservation practices in kharif season maize i.e. ridges and furrows (RF), RF + crop residue (CR) @ 4 tha-1, RF + CR @ 2 tha-1 + VAM and flat sowing (FS). Five zero tillage (ZT) management techniques in rabi season mustard i.e. ZT, ZT + seed priming, ZT + CR @ 4 tha-1, ZT + CR @ 2 t ha-1 + Hydrogel and conventional tillage (CT) were undertaken in sub plots in mustard under cropping system mode. Results : Planting of maize and mustard under RF with 4 tha-1 crop residue recorded significantly higher system productivity during 2014-15 and 2015-16 over other treatments. Among the ZT management practices, ZT + CR 4 tha-1 registered maximum MEY in first and second year, respectively. After 2 years of study, maximum SOC sequestration \ rate (3.48 tha-1yr-1) was observed in RF + CR 2 tha-1 + VAM followed by control (FS, 3.40 tha-1yu-1) treatment. Among ( the sub-plot treatments, ZT + CR 2 tha-1 + hydrogel recorded maximum [ values of SOC seauestration rate to the tune of 3.42 tha-1yr-1, respectively. Nutrient balance studies showed, RF + CR 4 tha-1 having positive Nbalance (75 kg ha-1) whereas under sub-plot treatments N balance varied from 113-154 kg ha-1 with maximum N balance obtained in CT. Interpretation: RaisingmaizeunderRF moisture conservation technique with application of crop residue@4t ha-1 and mustard with ZT + CR 4 thav were found superior in terms of overall productivity in maize-mustard cropping system, which also fetched maximum net returns. Higher output energy was obtained in above mentioned treatments,while energy-use efficiency and energy productivity was higher under control treatments.