Impact of Legume Residues and Nitrogen Levels on Soil Nutrient Dynamics in Zero-Till Maize Cropping System

Author: A. Sai Kishore, D. Sreelatha, M. Malla Reddy, M.V. Nagesh Kumar and T. Sukruth Kumar

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Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the influence of residual effect of preceding legumes and nitrogen levels on zero-till rabi maize on soil nutrient dynamics at Maize Research Centre, Agricultural Research Institute, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during kharif and rabi seasons of 2021-22 and 2022-23. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with 18 treatments consisted of three cropping sequences viz., Groundnut-zero-till maize, Soybean-zero-till maize and Greengram- zero-till maize as main plots and 6 sub-plots viz., 100%RDN - 100%RDN, 100%RDN - 125% RDN, 100%RDN - 150% RDN, 75% RDN - 100%RDN, 75% RDN - 125%RDN, 75%RDN - 150% RDN during kharif and rabi respectively. Among the different cropping systems, significantly higher soil aggregates and available soil N was noted in preceding kharif greengram on rabi zero-till maize cropping sequence over soybean and groundnut- maize cropping sequences. Subsequently, higher penetration resistance and bulk density was seen in groundnut- maize followed by soybean and greengram- maize sequence in two years of study. On the other hand, with the application of 100% RDN for preceding kharif legumes followed by 150% RDN for rabi maize reported higher soil penetration resistance, aggregates, bulk density and available soil N than 100%RDN - 125% RDN which was on par with 75%RDN - 150%RDN and lowest soil penetration resistance, aggregates, bulk density and available soil N was observed in 75% RDN in kharif and 100% RDN in rabi respectively. Conversely, the post-harvest soil pH, EC, OC, available soil P and K were not influenced by the effect of preceding legume residues on succeeding rabi maize with varied levels of nitrogen. Further the interaction effect in post-harvest soil physical and chemical properties was found to be non-significant during both the years of the study.

Keywords

Cropping sequence, Nitrogen levels. Soil penetration resistance, Bulk density, Soil aggregates

Conclusion

The study highlights the significance of residue retention of kharif legumes in rabi zero-till maize on soil physico-chemical properties and available nutrient status for enhanced crop growth and development which led to sustainable soil fertility.

References

A. Sai Kishore, D. Sreelatha, M. Malla Reddy, M.V. Nagesh Kumar and T. Sukruth Kumar

How to cite this article

A. Sai Kishore, D. Sreelatha, M. Malla Reddy, M.V. Nagesh Kumar and T. Sukruth Kumar (2023). Impact of Legume Residues and Nitrogen Levels on Soil Nutrient Dynamics in Zero-Till Maize Cropping System. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(9): 597-601.