Crop Residue Management to Conserve Soil, Water and Nutrients for Sustainable Production in the Vertisols of Semi-Arid Tropics of South India

摘要

Runoff and soil loss was reduced to minimum in sorghum+legume incorporated into the soil and sorghum + legume grown for grain purpose. Maximum runoff and soil loss was observed under control (sorghum) with no disturbance to soil. Higher soil moisture in top 45 cm soil profile was observed in plots under sorghum + legume incorporated into the soil. Highest sorghum grain (2,073 kg • ha~(-1)) was recorded in sorghum + legume incorporated into the soil followed by sorghum + legume used as mulch (1,870 kg • ha~(-1)) was as a result of higher values of yield components in sorghum. The treatment where sorghum + legume grown for seed purpose recorded significantly higher sorghum grain equivalent (2,696) over rest of the treatments except sorghum + legume incorporated into the soil. At the end of four seasons, soil analysis indicated that organic carbon, available N, P, K and mean weight diameter of aggregates was higher in treatments where legume was grown or incorporated into the soil with sorghum compared to rest of the treatments. Growing up of legume with sorghum for grain purpose or incorporated into the soil improved the soil physico-chemical properties, crop growth and yield and reduced runoff and soil loss.