The integrated application of soil amendments to enhance soil properties and wheat growth in a rice-wheat cropping system presents numerous benefits, including improved nutrient availability and soil structure. However, challenges include complex interactions between amendments, meeting crop-specific needs, understanding long-term effects, addressing environmental concerns, timing applications optimally, accounting for local soil variability, managing costs, accurate measurement, considering social and economic factors, interpreting data, and adhering to regulations. Overcoming these challenges requires interdisciplinary collaboration and can yield valuable insights for sustainable agriculture. A field experiment was conducted at research farm, division of soil science and agricultural chemistry, Sher-e-Kashmir university of agricultural sciences and technology, Jammu during 2020-2022. The experiment was conducted on sandy clay loam soil. The experiment was laid in split plot design replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of two planting methods of rice in main plots viz., System of rice intensification (SRI) and Flooded rice (FR) and six different treatments of biochar and polymer in subplots viz., B0P0: Control, B0P10: 10 kg Polymer per hectare, B5P0: 5 tons biochar per hectare, B5P10: 5 tons biochar per hectare + 10 kg Polymer per hectare, B10P0: 10 tons biochar per hectare, B10P10: 10 tons biochar per hectare + 10 kg Polymer per hectare. The study was conducted to find the effect of various amendments on growth parameters of succeeding wheat crop and soil properties after its harvest. The results revealed that the highest plant height of 102.95cm was observed in B10P10 treatment while as the highest number of tillers per metre square 315.68 was observed in the same treatment. The highest root volume of 6.18 cc hill-1 was observed in a treatment containing 10 tons of biochar per hectare and 10 kg of polymer per hectare while as no significant difference in 1000 grain weight was observed between the various treatments. Studying integrated soil amendment application in rice-wheat systems can lead to enhanced crop growth, sustainability, and resource management. It offers innovative practices, better soil health, optimized nutrient strategies, and economic benefits while contributing to global food security and policy development.

Biochar, polymer, system of rice intensification, flooded rice

The integrated application of biochar and polymer shows great promise in enhancing soil properties and promoting wheat growth in a rice-wheat cropping system. The combination of biochar and polymer has the potential to improve soil fertility, water retention, and nutrient availability, leading to increased crop yields and overall agricultural sustainability. This approach holds significance for addressing challenges related to soil degradation, water scarcity, and food security, making it a valuable strategy in modern agricultural practices. Further research and field trials are needed to fine-tune the application rates and assess long-term impacts, but the results so far indicate that this innovative technique has the potential to revolutionize soil management and crop productivity in agricultural systems.

Haziq Shabir, Peeyush Sharma, Vikas Abrol, Gulzar Ahmad Bhat, Vikas Sharma, Ayman Javed, R.K. Shrivastava, Jagmohan Singh and Meena Yadav (2023). Integrated Application of Soil Amendments to Improve Soil properties and Growth of Wheat in Rice-wheat Cropping System. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(8): 431-434.