Effect of different food- forage based cropping system on Soil Properties and Nutrient uptake influenced by different food -forage based cropping system

Abstract:

The present study, entitled “Production Potential and Economic Viability of Food-Forage-Based Cropping Sequences under Irrigated Conditions of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh,” was conducted under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Forage Crops at Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, and Madhya Pradesh. Ten food-forage-based cropping sequences were evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications. The cropping sequence comprising maize (green cob) + ricebean-berseem-maize (fodder) + ricebean recorded the highest total nitrogen uptake of 642.1 q/ha. The maximum total phosphorus uptake of 103.4 q/ha was observed under maize (baby corn) + ricebean-oat-maize (fodder) + ricebean, whereas the minimum uptake was recorded under the hybrid Napier-based cropping sequence. The existing rice-berseem-moong cropping sequence registered a total phosphorus uptake of 61.2 q/ha. Potassium uptake was highest under maize (baby corn) + ricebean- oat-maize (baby corn) + ricebean, with a value of 757.0 q/ha, while the lowest uptake of 435.9 q/ha was recorded under hybrid Napier + ricebean-hybrid Napier + berseem-hybrid Napier + ricebean. Changes in soil properties after the completion of two cropping cycles indicated that the evaluated cropping sequences were generally effective in maintaining soil fertility. However, the continuous cultivation of hybrid Napier showed signs of soil organic carbon depletion after two rotational cycles. The improvement in soil fertility under the remaining cropping sequences could primarily be attributed to the inclusion of leguminous crops.