Title: Managing Crop Residues in the Rice-Wheat System of the Indo-Gangetic Plain
Abstract: Large quantities of crop residues produced in the rice-wheat system spanning 13.5 million hectares in South Asia are a potential source for improving soil organic matter dynamics, nutrient cycling, and the soil physical environment. Burning of plant residues is causing sustainability concerns. The incorporation of residues into the soil improved soil properties in the rice-wheat system. Crop residue management produced greater effects on yields in fine-textured soils than in coarse-textured soils. The incorporation of wheat residues, in general, increased the yield of rice and also had a positive residual effect on the yield of subsequent wheat. However, when 50% of the inorganic N applied to wheat was replaced by wheat residue N, rice yield declined significantly. Recycling of rice residues constitutes more potential problems than recycling of wheat straw. The incorporation of rice straw in wheat and wheat straw in rice also caused yield reductions. However, yield reductions can be overcome by either allowing some time between incorporating residues and sowing the next crop or by composting rice straw or adding farmyard manure (FYM). High crop yields were obtained from the combined long-term use of fertilizers and crop residues. Control of weeds, diseases, and pests is important for the success of residue management practices. Residues can be incorporated into the soil, left on the soil surface, or partially burned. A mold-board plow or disk can incorporate residue into the soil, but appropriate machinery for the remaining two options is still in the development stage.
Publication Year: 2015
Publication Date: 2015-10-26
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 35
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