The effect of seeding and tillage methods on productivity of rice–wheat cropping system

Many farmers in southeast Asia are growing rice on unpuddled soil. This practice does not permit breaking of the deadlock of increase in productivity in spite of using high yielding varieties and practising all known scientific technologies. Furthermore, farmers do dry seeding which leads to heavy infestation of weeds and reduces response to other inputs. Similarly, in rice–wheat belt due to short turn around time farmers resort to broadcast sowing of wheat after rice and no data on benefits or otherwise of tillage are available. A field study was therefore conducted for 3 years (1993–1994 to 1995–1996) at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to study the effect of tillage and seeding methods in rice–wheat cropping system. Treatments included four combinations of two puddling treatments (puddling and no puddling) and two methods of rice seeding (direct seeding and transplanting) in rice and two tillage treatments (zero and conventional tillage) in wheat. Results indicated that puddling increased grain yield of rice by 0.7–1 t ha⁻¹ and of succeeding wheat by 0.2–0.4 t ha⁻¹, straw yield of rice by 0.8–1.7 t ha⁻¹ and of succeeding wheat by 0.1–1.0 t ha⁻¹.

Puddling reduced water requirement of rice by 75 mm ha and increased net return of rice–wheat system by US $175 ha⁻¹. Transplanted rice gave significantly higher grain and straw yields and net returns than direct seeded rice both on puddled and unpuddled seedbed. Conventional tillage in wheat also increased productivity of rice–wheat cropping system significantly over zero tillage after both puddled and non-puddled rice. Our results thus show that rice should be grown on puddled soil and wheat after rice should be sown after conventional tillage.     

Soil management alters seedling emergence and subsequent autumn growth and yield in dryland winter wheat–fallow systems in the Central Great Plains on a clay loam soil

Stand establishment and subsequent autumn development and growth are important determinants of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield. Soil management practices change soil properties and conditions, which alter seedling emergence, crop development and growth. Pre-plant soil management practices were studied for 6 years in a wheat–fallow rotation in eastern Colorado, USA, to isolate the impacts of pre-plant tillage (PT) and residue level on winter wheat seedling emergence and autumn development and growth. A split plot design was used with PT, using a moldboard plow that incorporated surface residue, and with no-tillage (NT). The tillage systems represented the main plots and three residue levels within each tillage treatment as subplots: no residue (0R), normal residue (1R) and twice-normal residue (2R). Residue amount had little effect on emergence or autumn growth and development. PT resulted in soil water loss from the plow zone. NT plots had more favorable soil water levels in the seeding zone which resulted in faster, more uniform and greater seedling emergence in 4 out of the 6 years. This is especially critical for stand establishment in years with low rainfall after planting. Soil or air temperature did not account for differences among treatments. Earlier and greater seedling emergence in NT treatments resulted in greater autumn development and growth. Shoot biomass, tiller density and leaf numbers were greater in NT, and again residue amount had little effect. At spring green-up, NT treatments had greater soil water in the profile. Grain yield was always equal or greater in NT than in PT, and positively correlated with earlier/greater seedling emergence and autumn growth. NT will enhance soil protection and likely increase snow catch, reduce evaporation and benefit yield in semiarid eastern Colorado.     

Influence of tillage practices and nutrient management on crack parameters in a Vertisol of central India

The frequency, size and rate of development of cracks influence the transport of water, nutrients and gases in the soil profile and plant growth processes in Vertisols. Despite their importance, studies on characterising cracks in Vertisols of India are limited. This study attempts to evaluate the influence of different tillage practices, nutrient management and cropping systems on cracking behaviour of a Vertisol in central India. The length, depth, width, area and volume of cracks were recorded after the harvest of the wet season crops, i.e. soybean (Glycine max L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) from three ongoing tillage experiments with three different cropping systems, i.e. soybean–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), soybean–linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and rice–wheat. The results revealed that all the crack parameters were significantly negatively correlated with the water content of the 0–15 cm soil layer and, crack width and crack volume were significantly positively correlated with the bulk density of the 0–15 cm soil layer. Gravimetric water content and bulk density of the 0–15 cm soil layer together explained 79% variation in the crack volume. The crack volume was significantly negatively correlated (r=0.86,P=0.01) with the root length density of the previous soybean crop. Rice grown under puddled condition significantly enhanced different crack parameters viz., length, depth, width, surface area and volume of the cracks over nonpuddled direct seeded rice. Sub-soiling practised in soybean under the soybean–linseed system significantly reduced the width, depth, length and surface area of cracks by 12.5, 10, 5 and 12%, respectively, over conventional tillage. No tillage practised in soybean under soybean–wheat system resulted in significant increase in width, depth and volume of the cracks but decrease in length and surface area of cracks over conventional tillage and mould board tillage practice. Application of manure reduced the magnitude of different crack parameters in soybean–linseed cropping system. Thus cracking in Vertisols can be favourably managed by the selection of proper tillage practice, cropping system and organic manure amendments.     

Variations in soil microbial biomass and N availability due to residue and tillage management in a dryland rice agroecosystem

Seasonal changes in the levels of soil microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN), N-mineralization rate and available-N concentration were studied in rice–barley supporting tropical dryland (rainfed) agroecosystem under six combinations of tillage (conventional, minimum and zero tillage) and crop residue manipulation (retained or removed) conditions. Highest levels of soil MBC and MBN (368–503 and 38.2–59.7 μg g⁻¹, respectively) were obtained in minimum tillage residue retained (MT+R) treatment and lowest levels (214–264 and 20.3–27.1 μg g⁻¹, respectively) in conventional tillage residue removed (CT−R, control) treatment. Along with residue retention tillage reduction from conventional to zero increased the levels of MBC and MBN (36–82 and 29–104% over control, respectively). The proportion of MBC and MBN in soil organic C and total N contents increased significantly in all treatments compared to control. This increase (28% in case of C and 33% N) was maximum in MT+R and minimum (10% for C and N both) in minimum tillage residue removed (MT−R) treatment. In all treatments concentrations of N in microbial biomass were greater at seedling stage, thereafter these concentrations decreased drastically (21–38%) at grain-forming stage of both crops. In residue removed treatments, N-mineralization rates were maximum during the seedling stage of crops and then decreased through the crop maturity. In residue retained treatments, however, N-mineralization rates were lower than in residue removed treatments at seedling stage of both crops. At grain-forming stage in all instances the N-mineralization rates in residue retained treatments considerably exceeded the rates in corresponding residue removed treatments. Tillage reduction and residue retention both increased the proportion of organic C and total N present in soil organic matter as microbial biomass. Microbial immobilization of available-N during the early phase of crops and its pulsed release later during the period of greater N demand of crops enhanced the degree of synchronization between crop demand and N supply. The maximum enhancement effects were recorded in the minimum tillage along with residue retained treatment. In the dryland agroecosystem studied, two management practices in combination proved more advantageous than either practice alone in maintaining soil fertility levels. For soil fertility amelioration in dryland agroecosystems with least dependence upon chemical fertilizer input, post-harvest retention of about 20 cm shoot biomass (accounting for 25–40% aboveground biomass) of previous crop and its incorporation in soil through minimum tillage in the succeeding crop is suggested, especially in the case of cereal.     

Tillage and residue management practices affect soil biological indicators in a rice–wheat cropping system in north-western India

Agricultural productivity relies on a wide range of ecosystem services provided by the soil biota. Sustainable management practices, such as tillage and residue management, can influence structure and function of the soil microbiota, with direct consequences for the associated ecosystem services. Although there is increasing evidence that different tillage regimes alter the soil biological indices, we only have a limited understanding of their temporal changes in a rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system. We evaluated the effects of combinations of tillage, crop residue management and green manuring on soil biological indicators after 5 years of the practising rice–wheat system (RWS). Four main plot treatments in rice included the following: (a) PTR_W0, puddled transplanted rice with no wheat straw retained; (b) PTR_W25, puddled transplanted rice with 25% anchored wheat stubbles retained; (c) PTR_W0 + Sesbania aculeate L. green manure (GM); and (d) PTR_W25+GM, puddled transplanted rice with 25% anchored wheat stubbles retained+ GM. There were three subplot treatments in the subsequent wheat crop: (a) CTW_R0, conventional tillage wheat with rice residue removed; (b) ZTW_R0, zero tillage wheat with rice residue removed; and (c) ZTW_R100, ZTW with 100% rice residue retained as mulch. The PTR_W25+GM treatment, followed by ZTW_R100, significantly increased soil microbial biomass carbon, basal soil respiration, microbial quotient and mineralization quotient measured during wheat-growing season. These biological indicators were higher at vigorous vegetative wheat growth stage than at flowering stage and decreased at maturity. The principal component analysis of the assayed variables showed that all the variables significantly contributed to the variability in parameters examined and were more related to maximum tillering stage of wheat growth than to maturity or at sowing of wheat. Three highly effective biological indicators were microbial biomass carbon, microbial quotient and mineralization quotient, which responded significantly to changes in tillage and residue management practices in the RWS. We conclude that crop residues and green manure have significant to improve soil biochemical processes by improving soil organic carbon and soil biological indicators in rice–wheat cropping system.     

A minimum data set for soil quality assessment of wheat and maize cropping in the highlands of Mexico

The objective was to establish a minimum soil quality dataset for a long-term tillage, residue management and rotation trial for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) production systems. Based on this soil quality evaluation, sustainable management practices could be selected for transferring technologies to farmers in the region. A long-term experiment was conducted with 16 different crop management practices varying in: (1) rotation (continuous maize or wheat and both phases of the rotation of maize and wheat), (2) tillage (conventional and zero) and (3) crop residue management (full retention or removal for fodder). Superior soil quality was considered to represent the maintenance of high productivity without significant soil or environmental degradation. The pertinent, minimum soil quality data set included the following physical indicators: time-to-pond, aggregate stability, permanent wilting point, and topsoil penetration resistance. Chemical indicators were: soil C, N, K and Zn concentrations, measured in the 0–5 cm topsoil and C, N concentration in 5–20 cm. Multivariate analysis grouped the treatments into clusters: (1) zero tillage with retention of residue, (2) zero tillage with residue removal and (3) conventional tillage. Zero tillage combined with crop residue retention improved chemical and physical conditions of the soil. In contrast, zero tillage with removal of residues, led to high accumulation of Mn in the topsoil, low aggregate stability, high penetration resistance, surface slaking resulting in low time-to-pond values and high runoff. Finally, soil quality under conventional tillage was intermediate (irrespective of residue management), especially reflected in the physical status of the soil. The results provide a strong justification to promote zero tillage technology combined with appropriate residue management to farmers in the volcanic highlands of Central Mexico and other similar regions. The minimum data set and associated tools for careful monitoring and observation, will be essential for evaluating soil quality in farmer's fields.     

Effects of sowing date, tillage and residue management on productivity of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) system in northwest India

In southwestern region of Punjab in north India, sowing dates of cotton crop in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) system are staggered from last week of April to mid of May depending upon the surface water supply from canal as ground water is not fit for irrigation. Further, farmers practice intensive cultivation for seedbed preparation and burning of wheat straw before sowing of cotton crop. With the present farmers’ practices, yields have become static and system has become non-profitable. Field experiments were conducted on Entisols for two rotations of cotton–wheat system during the years of 2004–2005 and 2005–2006 in split plot design to study the direct and interactive effects of date of sowing and tillage-plus-wheat residue management practices on growth and yield of cotton and wheat and to increase the profitability by reducing the tillage operations, which costs about 50% of the sowing cost. The pooled analysis showed that in cotton crop, there was a significant interaction between year × dates of sowing. Among different tillage-plus-wheat residue management practices yields were 23–39% higher in tillage treatments than minimum-tillage. In wheat, grain yield in tillage treatments were at par. Water productivity amongst the tillage treatments in cotton was 19–27% less in minimum tillage than others tillage treatments. Similar trend was found in wheat crop. Remunerability of the cotton–wheat system was more with a combination of reduced tillage in cotton and minimum tillage in wheat than conventional tillage.     

Soil quality effects of tillage and residue under rice–wheat cropping on a Vertisol in India

Soil quality in rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping systems is governed primarily by the tillage practices used to fulfill the contrasting soil physical and hydrological requirements of the two crops. The objective of this study was to develop a soil quality index (SQI) based on bulk density (BD), penetration resistance (PR), water stable aggregates (WSA) and soil organic matter (OM) to evaluate this important cropping system on a Vertisol in India. Regression analysis between crop yield and SQI values for various tillage and crop residue management treatments indicated SQI values of 0.84–0.92, 0.88–0.93 and 0.86–0.92 were optimum for rice, wheat and the combined system (rice + wheat), respectively. The maximum yields for rice and wheat were 5806 and 1825 kg ha⁻¹ occurred at SQI values of 0.85 and 0.99, respectively. Using zero tillage (ZT) for wheat had a positive effect on soil quality regardless of the treatments used for rice. Regression analyses to predict sustainability of the various tillage and crop residue treatments showed that as puddling intensity for rice increased, sustainability without returning crop residues decreased from 6 to 1 years. When residue was returned, the time for sustainable productivity increased from 6 to 15 years for direct seeded rice, 5 to 11 years with low-intensity puddling (P₁) and 1 to 8 years for high-intensity (P₂) puddling. For sustainability and productivity, the best practice for this or similar Vertisols in India would be direct seeding of rice with conventional tillage and residues returned.     

Rotation and tillage effects on available soil water for winter wheat in a semi-arid environment

The recent adoption of conservation farming systems in the semi-arid Canadian prairies opens up the possibility of replacing the traditional fallow period with non-cereal crops (oilseeds, legumes). However, information on changes to soil water regimes by inclusion of these crops, especially in combination with zero tillage, is sparse. A study was initiated in 1984 on a sandy clay loam soil at Lethbridge, Alberta, to investigate the performance of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under conventional, minimum and zero tillage in monoculture and in 2-year rotations with fallow, canola (Brassica campestris L.) or lentils (Lens culinaris Medic.)/flax (Linum usitatissimum L.). Conventional tillage in the Lethbridge region is shallow cultivation (10 cm) with a wide-blade (sweep) cultivator. Continuous cropping greatly depleted soil water reserves, resulting in some crop failures. Averaged over 10 years, available water for establishment of winter wheat in fall was least after canola (45 mm), followed by continuous winter wheat (59 mm), lentils/flax (74 mm) and fallow (137 mm). In this semi-arid region, the effect of rotation on soil water was much greater than that of tillage. Zero tillage had relatively little impact on available water to 1.5 m depth. However, once the experiment had been established for 6–7 years, available water in the 0–15 cm depth under winter wheat in spring was greatest under zero tillage. Precipitation storage efficiency during the fallow year was generally unaffected by tillage system.     

Response of maize (Zea mays L.) and mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) to tillage in relation to water table depth in tropical lowland rice soils

The effects of zero, minimum and conventional tillage on soil physical properties and on the growth and yield of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) grown after lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) were studied in field experiments conducted during the 1984 and 1985 dry seasons (DS) at two Philippine sites (clay loam, Vertic Tropaquept, with shallow water table and sandy loam, Aeric Tropaquept, with deep water table). Effects on maize (Zea mays L.) were studied only in 1984 on clay loam soil.All parameter measurements were not significantly different with minimum and conventional tillage. Tillage, averaged over minimum and conventional and in both seasons, significantly lowered bulk density (10%) and increased aeration porosity (120%) of the 0–0.10 m clay loam soil layer. In sandy loam soil in 1985, it decreased bulk density by 7% and increased aeration porosity by 61%. Tillage only slightly affected the matric suction, strength and temperature of both soils.Maize seedling emergence was 15% higher with zero tillage than with minimum and conventional tillage. Tillage, however, did not affect mungbean emergence. It significantly increased maize plant height (42%) and root length (61%) as compared with no tillage. In mungbean, tillage increased plant height (18%) and root length (60%), as averaged over both sites and seasons. In clay loam soil, tillage increased grain yield of maize by 242%. On the same field, tillage increased mungbean grain yield by 78% in 1984 and 20% in 1985. In sandy loam, tillage produced 38% more mungbean grains than without tillage.     

Influence of wheat residue management on irrigated corn grain production in a reduced tillage system

Management of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residues for corn (Zea mays L.) planting is an important issue in southern parts of Iran where these two irrigated crops are consecutively grown. Concerns have been raised in recent years over the burning of the crop residues by farmers in these areas. A 2-year (2001–2002) field experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of irrigated corn planted, after burning wheat residues followed by conventional tillage (CT), after residue removal followed by CT, after soil incorporation of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of residue followed by chisel plow, disk harrow, and row crop planter equipped with row cleaner. The CT operations consisted of mollboard plowing followed by two times disk harrowing. Treatments had significant effects on corn grain yield, biological yield, and leaf area index. The highest grain yield (15.73 t ha⁻¹) and grains per ear (709.3) were obtained when 25–50% of wheat residues were soil incorporated and the seeds were sown with planter equipped with row cleaner in both years as compared with conventional tillage practices. It is recommended that complete residue removal or burning should be avoided; hence for successful corn production after wheat, residue management techniques that reduce residue level in the row area should be implemented.     

Influence of tillage and crop residue on soil physical properties and yields of rice and wheat under shallow water table conditions

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of tillage and residue incorporation on soil properties and yields of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in rotation for 4 years on a silty clay loam of an Aquic Hapludoll with natural water table fluctuating between 0.05 and 0.97 m depth The rice experiment was laid out in split plot design with four levels of tillage, viz. conventional puddling (CP), puddling by four passes of rotavator (PR), reduced puddling by two passes of rotavator (ReP), and direct seeding without puddling (DSWP) and two levels of residue, viz. residue incorporation (RI) and residue removal (RR) in four replications. The treatments for wheat were zero tillage (ZT) and conventional tillage (CT) with RI and RR superimposed over the plots of rice. Tillage for rice increased puddling index and bulk density (BD) over the years. The increase was significantly higher in CP and PR than in ReP. In wheat season, BD was higher under ZT than under CT but the differences were not significant. Puddling decreased saturated hydraulic conductivity with time, which became significantly lower in CP and PR in the fourth year than in ReP in the first year. Infiltration rate (IR) also decreased with time and was lowest in CP and PR. In wheat season, IR was at par under ZT and CT. Rice yield in PR was maximum and at par with that in ReP. But wheat yield was lowest in PR and highest in DSWP, and was at par in DSWP and ReP. Thus, rice yields were optimum under ReP, in which changes in soil properties were least, and wheat yields were optimum both under ZT and CT in the DSWP and ReP plots of rice under shallow water table conditions of the silty clay loam.     

Residue management and tillage effects on soil-water storage and grain yield of dryland wheat and sorghum for a clay loam in Texas

Dryland wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) are often grown using a wheat–sorghum-fallow (WSF) crop rotation on the semiarid North American Great Plains. Precipitation stored during fallow as soil water is crucial to the success of the WSF rotation. Stubble mulch-tillage (SM) and no-tillage (NT) residue management practices reduce evaporation, but the sparse residue cover produced by dryland crops, particularly sorghum, is insufficient to reduce soil crusting and runoff. Subsoil tillage practices, e.g., paratill (PT) or sweep (ST), fracture infiltration limiting soil layers and, when used with residue management practices, may increase soil-water storage and crop growth. Our objectives were to compare the effects of PT to 0.35 m or ST to 0.10 m treatments on soil cone penetration resistance, soil-water storage, and dryland crop yield with NT and SM residue management. Six contour-farmed level-terraced watersheds with a Pullman clay loam (US soil taxonomy: fine, mixed, superactive, thermic Torrertic Paleustoll; FAO: Kastanozems) at the USDA—Agricultural Research Service, Conservation and Production Research Laboratory, Bushland, TX, USA (35°11′N, 102°5′W) were cropped as pairs using a WSF rotation so that each phase of the sequence appeared each year. In 1988, residue management plots received PT or ST every 3 years during fallow after sorghum resulting in five treatments: (i) NT–PT, (ii) NT–NOPT, (iii) NT–ST, (iv) SM–PT, and (v) SM–NOPT. Cone penetration resistance was the greatest in NT plots and reduced with PT after 12, 23, and 31 months. Mean 1990–1995 soil-water storage during fallow after wheat was greater with NT than with SM, but unaffected by PT or ST. Dryland wheat and sorghum grain yields, total water use, and water use efficiency (WUE) were not consistently increased with NT, however, and unaffected by PT or ST tillage. We conclude, for a dryland WSF rotation, that: (1) NT increased mean soil-water storage during fallow after wheat compared to SM, and (2) ST and PT “subsoil” tillage of a Pullman did not increase water storage or yield. Therefore, NT residue management was more beneficial for dryland crop production than subsoil tillage.     

Tilth index: an approach to optimize tillage in rice–wheat system

This study was conducted to determine a tilth index from tillage induced soil physical properties and grain yield to optimize tillage in rice–wheat system. The experiment was conducted in a silty clay loam (Aquic hapludoll) associated with a shallow water table fluctuating between 0.02 and 0.96 m from the surface. Tillage treatments for rice were puddling by four passes of rotary puddler (PR), reduced puddling (ReP), conventional puddling (CP) and direct seeding without puddling (DSWP) in four replications. Tillage treatments for wheat were zero tillage (ZT) and conventional tillage (CT) superimposed over the plots of rice tillage treatments. Measurements were made of puddling index and specific volume (only in the rice season), bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, infiltration rate, plasticity index, porosity and organic carbon in the rice and wheat seasons. Rice yield in the PR plots was highest and statistically equal to that in the ReP plots but wheat yield was highest in the DSWP plots under ZT condition and was statistically equal to that in the ReP plots.Tilth index (TI) was determined in two ways: one by the model suggested by Singh et al. [Trans. ASAE 35 (6) (1992) 1777] and the second by a proposed regression model. The proposed regression model utilizes soil physical properties having significant influence on crop yield. As per the Singh et al. model, wheat yield increased linearly with increasing TI from 0.75 to 0.89 but rice yield decreased with increasing TI from 0.67 to 0.81. Both TI and its relation with rice yield were contrary to their observations. The proposed regression model showed a value of TI in the range of 0.74–0.87 for rice soils and 0.86–1.0 for wheat soils as indicators of TI for optimum yields of rice and wheat. A high TI corresponds to low tillage both for rice and wheat. The optimum yield with minimum tillage operations coincided with TI obtained in ReP plots of rice and in ZT plots of wheat under ReP conditions. Results thus show that the quality of soil puddle obtained by half the efforts in PR and CP was sufficient for optimum yields of rice. Similarly, wheat sowing by zero-till drill in such a reduced puddling plots of rice was sufficient for optimum yields of wheat in Tarai soils associated with shallow water tables. The proposed regression model is simple and compatible to use in the existing crop growth models, such as in DSSAT 3.5, with suitable alterations.     

Alternative tillage and crop residue management in wheat after rice in sandy loam soils of Indo-Gangetic plains

A 3-year field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of three tillage practices (conventional, zero and reduced/strip) with two nitrogen levels (120 and 150 kg N ha⁻¹) applied in primary strips and three crop residue management practices (removal, burning and incorporation) in secondary strips in wheat after rice. Reduced tillage resulted in significantly higher overall mean wheat yield (5.10 Mg ha⁻¹) compared to conventional (4.60 Mg ha⁻¹) and zero tillage (4.75 Mg ha⁻¹). Residue incorporation resulted in highest mean yield (5.86 Mg ha⁻¹) during third year. Maximum mean yield (6.1 Mg ha⁻¹) was obtained in reduced tillage followed by conventional tillage (5.8 Mg ha⁻¹) under residue incorporation in third year. The weed dry weight recorded at 30 days after sowing was highest (0.3 Mg ha⁻¹) under zero tillage and lowest under conventional tillage (0.16 Mg ha⁻¹). Among crop residue management practices, the highest dry weight of weeds (0.22 Mg ha⁻¹) was recorded under residue incorporation. The highest infiltration rate (1.50 cm h⁻¹) was recorded in residue incorporation followed by residue burning (1.44 cm h⁻¹) whereas; the lowest (0.75 cm h⁻¹) in zero tillage. Soil bulk density was the highest (1.69 Mg m⁻³) under zero tillage and the lowest in residue incorporation (1.59 Mg m⁻³). There were no changes in soil available P and K after each crop sequence in relation to tillage practices during first 2 years. Higher organic carbon (5.1–5.4 g kg⁻¹) was measured under zero tillage compared to other treatments. Residue incorporation increased soil organic carbon and available P while higher available K was monitored in burning treatment during the third year. These results suggest that reduced tillage and in situ incorporation of crop residues at 5 Mg ha⁻¹ along with 150 kg N ha⁻¹ were optimum to achieve higher yield of wheat after rice in sandy loam soils of Indo-Gangetic plains of India.     

Moisture conservation for rainfed wheat production with alternative mulches and conservation tillage in the hills of north-west India

In the hills of north–west India, maize (Zea mays L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the dominant cropping system. However, rainfed wheat suffers from lack of optimum moisture at sowing. Field experiments were conducted for 3 years on a silty clay loam (Typic Hapludalf) to evaluate the effectiveness of mulches and conservation tillage for rainfed wheat in mitigating this problem. The treatments were ten factorial combinations of five mulch-tillage practices and two nitrogen levels (N₆₀ and N₁₂₀ kg ha⁻¹). Mulch treatments consisted of application of 10 Mg ha⁻¹ (dry weight basis), to previous standing maize, of either wild sage (Lantana camara L.) or eupatorium (Eupatorium adenophorum Sprengel) in combination with either conventional or conservation (minium) tillage prior to wheat sowing. These alternative practices were compared to the conventional farmer practice of soil tillage after harvest of maize with no mulch. The application of these weed mulches to standing maize maintained friable soil structure owing to a five fold higher mean population of earthworms underneath mulch. Mulches resulted in 0.06–0.10 m³ m⁻³ higher moisture in the seed-zone when wheat was sown compared with the conventional farmer practice of soil tillage after maize harvest. Mulch-conservation tillage treatments favourably moderated the hydro-thermal regime for growing a wheat crop. The mean root mass density under these treatments at wheat flowering was higher by 1.27–1.40 times over the conventional farmer practice during the 3 year study. Conservation tillage holds promise because it does not require elaborate tillage and may ultimately reduce animal draught in the hilly regions. Recycling available organic materials having no fodder value coupled with conservation tillage may help enrich the soil environment in the long-term. The practice also offers gainful use of these obnoxious weeds that cause great menace in grass and forest lands in the region.     

Soil biotic and biochemical factors in a long-term tillage and stubble management experiment on a vertisol. 1. Seedling inhibition by stubble

In a long-term experiment on a vertisol in southern Queensland, depression of vegetative growth of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) by stubble retention was far greater with zero tillage than with mechanical tillage of the fallow. The possible phytotoxic effects of stubble on barley and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were investigated in seedling bioassays. Stubble collected from field plots just prior to planting did not reduce germination of wheat or barley seed but markedly reduced coleoptile length at 4 days. This effect of stubble became less apparent after 6 and 8 days, and was overcome by increasing water volume in the bioassay dish. Stubble absorbed 4.5–6 times its own weight of water and thereby competed with the germinating seed. Filtrates of stubble macerates in water, collected either before or after incubation of the saturated stubble, had no effect on coleoptile length indicating the absence of a water-soluble phytotoxin.

Brown lesions on wheat coleoptiles (most apparent at 8 days) and roots were decreased by stubble but increased by more water in the bioassay dish. Alternaria sp. and two types of bacteria were associated with the coleoptile lesions, and Fusarium sp. and several types of bacteria were associated with root lesions. Surface sterilisation of seed reduced root lesions but not coleoptile lesions. Filtrates of both incubated and unincubated stubble macerates reduced coleoptile lesions.

Poor early growth of barley in the field on zero-till, stubble-retained plots was not associated with incorporation of stubble into the drill slit in contact with the seed. Poor early growth was not overcome by nitrogen fertilizer drilled into the soil 2 months before planting. The quantities of air-dried stubble on the soil surface were capable of absorbing of the order of 4 mm rainfall. It is concluded that neither phytotoxins nor water absorption by the stubble were likely causes of the problem of poor early growth.     

Crown rot and common root rot in wheat grown under different tillage and stubble treatments in southern Queensland, Australia

In southern Queensland, crown rot caused by Fusarium graminearum Group 1 and common root rot caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana are common soilborne diseases of wheat and barley. The incidence of these diseases was measured in the susceptible wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar, Hartog which was grown under no tillage, reduced tillage (two tillage operations plus herbicides) and where stubble was retained or removed by burning (1984–1986) or physically removed (1987–1993). Primary tillage was with blade, disc or chisel implements. The level of crown rot and common root rot was higher where stubble was retained than where it was removed. There was a significant interaction in incidence of crown rot between stubble management and some types of tillage. Where there was no tillage, incidence of crown rot was significantly higher where stubble was retained (32.2%) than where it was removed (4.7%) whereas under disc tillage, there was no significant difference in disease level between stubble treatments (12–17%). Incidence of crown rot was not affected by the type of tillage employed. The incidence of deadheads (heads without grain) caused by crown rot was lowest in the no tillage plots (4.3%) and highest in the reduced (19.3%) and conventional (12.2%) disc tillage stubble retained treatments. Available soil water (depth of 1.2 m) at sowing and anthesis was lowest in the conventional disc stubble retained plots and highest in the no tillage stubble retained plots. It is hypothesised that the high levels of deadheads were due to moderate to high levels of disease and low available soil water at planting and anthesis. Although incidence of crown rot was high under no tillage, incidence of deadheads was lower than in other treatments due to the higher availability of soil water. Severity of common root rot was lower in stubble removed, than in stubble retained, treatments and also lower in no tillage than in any of the other tillage treatments.     

Tillage and crop sequence effects on organic carbon and total nitrogen content in an irrigated Alberta soil

A better understanding of tillage effects on soil organic matter is vital for development of effective soil conservation practices. The objective of this research is to determine the effect of tillage and crop sequence on soil organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN) content in an irrigated southern Alberta soil. A field experiment was conducted using a split–split plot design from 1994 to 1998 in Alberta, Canada. There were two crop sequences (Sequence 1: spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)–spring wheat–annual legume; and Sequence 2: spring wheat–spring wheat–annual legume–sugar beet) and two tillage practices (CT: conventional tillage and MT: minimum tillage). Surface soil under MT had significantly higher OC (30.1 Mg ha⁻¹) content than under CT (28.3 Mg ha⁻¹) after 4 years of treatment. The MT treatment retains crop residue at the soil surface, reduces soil erosion and slows organic matter decomposition, which are key factors in enhancing the soil fertility status of southern Alberta irrigated soils.     

Residue cover in wheat systems following dry pea and lentil in the Palouse region of Idaho

Crop management practices are needed that increase crop residue groundcover and reduce soil erosion after winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) planting in the Palouse region of northern Idaho and eastern Washington. Trials were conducted in 1997 and 1998 at the University of Idaho Kambitsch Research Farm near Genesee, Idaho, using farm scale equipment to evaluate dry pea (Pisum sativum L. subsp. sativum) and lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) residue production and groundcover across cultivars and tillage intensity. After harvest, legume plot areas were prepared for winter wheat seeding using four main plot tillage systems designed to give progressive levels of tillage intensity: no-till (NT), Ripper–Shooter™ (RS), RS plus one cultivation, and RS plus two cultivations. In 1997, the two dry pea cultivars produced significantly greater residue than the lentil cultivars. In 1998, ‘Pro 2100’ dry pea had significantly higher residue production than ‘Columbian’ pea and ‘Crimson’ lentil cultivars. In 1997, initial residue cover was highest with NT, averaging 74% groundcover across legume cultivars. After winter wheat seeding, residue cover declined for all tillage treatments, but was still highest at 40% residue cover under NT. In 1998, residue cover was lower for all tillage treatments across all cultivars than in 1997, but NT still had the highest initial residue cover. Wheat yield was not affected by tillage or previous crop treatments in either year. This study showed that NT and reduced tillage systems can maintain previous crop residue on the surface for soil conservation and subsequent crop yields.