Can Inline Drip Fertigation Boost Soil Physical Conditions of Rice–based Cropping Systems in Eastern Gangetic Plain?

Abstract

Zero till rice–based cropping system is crucial in sustainable production and improving soil physical properties. A field experiment was conducted at research farm, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bihar in a split plot design with three levels of fertigation as main plots [Nitrogen (N) levels @ 20, 40, and 60 kg ha–1 applied as fertigation in rice followed by irrigation levels @ 200, 300 and 400 mm in post–rice crops, respectively] and four rice–based cropping systems in subplots as rice followed by durum wheat, barley, lentil and chickpea. This study focused on the third rice crop cycle and was used for the observations of crop behaviour and soil physical properties. The straw and grain yield were significantly greater under higher fertigation regimes, i.e. 40 and 60 kg N ha–1 in rice with 300 and 400 mm irrigation in post–rice crops, respectively, than the lowest fertigation regimes, i.e. 20 kg N ha–1 with 200 mm irrigation in post– rice crops. Rice–cereal based cropping system (averaged over lentil and chickpea) reported the higher infiltration rate than rice–legume based systems (averaged over the durum wheat and barley). A similar result was also seen in soil’s water holding capacity and mean weight diameter. The rice–lentil system showed the highest soil profile penetration resistance (PR) when 60 kg ha–1 N was applied with 400 mm irrigation. Hence the rice–lentil system under fertigation and zero tillage is recommended for increasing utilization of land, nutrients, and soil moisture to enhance the productivity and cropping intensity of rainfed rice grown lowland.