Soil Microbial and Biochemical Properties under Conservation Agriculture in rice-based cropping systems in lower Indo-Gangetic Plain of West Bengal
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Microbial and biochemical properties of soil respond quickly with change in management practices, compared to chemical and physical properties. Moreover, impact of conservation agriculture (CA) on soil microbial properties is limited to microbial enumeration, but its effect on soil enzyme and microbial activity is little documented. To address these problems soil enzyme activities [dehydrogenase (DHA), β-glucosidase (BGA), acid phosphatase (AcP) and alkaline phosphatase (AlP) and fluoresceine diacetate (FDA)], activities of soil microbes ((Nitrogen fixation (NFBAct), Phosphate solubilization (PSBAct) & Cellulolytic activities (CDBAct)), microbial biomass ((Soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) & soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN)) and available nutrient were studied to evaluate biological soil health in alluvial soil of lower Indo-Gangetic plain (IGP) under different degree of CA. Field experiment was conducted in split plot design (SPD), under 3 cropping systems (RMCp: rice-maize-cowpea; RWGg: rice-wheat-green gram; RCfBr; rice-cauliflower-bororice/summer rice). Tillage operations (CT: conventional tillage; MT: minimum tillage and ZT: zero tillage) was main plot and residue application as sub plot treatments [(R 0 (no residue), R 50 (50% residue) and R 100 (100% residue)]. All the treatments were replicated thrice. Considering values of biological soil health index (BSHI), it is found that among different degree of CA, ZT (0.464) and (MT=0.441) and R 100 (0.464) treatment showed better response. Among different cropping system RMCp (0.359) & RWGg (0.343) outperformed RCfBr (0.609) cropping system with respect to (wrt) microbial and biochemical properties of the soil. Result indicated that for restoring microbial and biochemical properties of soil practices of CA can be promising solution.
Importance
ntensive farming is profit oriented and their sustainability are at risk. CA is low input farming and its practices (low mechanical disturbance, crop rotation, residues retention) help to restore agro-ecosystem. Thus, CA is emerging as potential technology to negate adverse impact of modern faming on soil. Soil microbial properties (population, activities, biomass and enzymes) are key indicators of soil health and quality as they are highly sensitive to management practices. Hence to address impact of CA practices on soil, microbial and biochemical aspects are studied. Degree of CA practice with higher BSHI can be popularized in filed to restore soil.
Highlights
Actual response and activities of soil microbes and enzymes under CA were lacking.
Ranking of different treatments based on multivariate analysis and BSHI score indicated ZT + R 100 was best suited to soil microbes and enzyme, while, higher fertilizer dose showed negative impact on them.
Higher SMB was detected in soil under conservation practices especially under RMCp & RWGg.
RCfBr showed poor performance as legume haven’t incorporated in rotation.
CT favour enzyme activities, especially when combined with residue application under legume-based cropping systems.
