Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

LONG-TERM EFFECT OF INTENSIVE SOYBEAN-SAF FLOWER CROPPING SEQUENCE IN VERTISOL ON SOIL QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY UNDER SEMIARID AGROECOSYSTEM

N. A. Meshram and Syed Ismail

Abstract

Long-term fertilizer experiment was started in 2006-07 at Parbhani, Maharashtra, India on Vertisol (Typic Haplusterts) with twelve treatments and four replications using randomized block design (RBD) under soybean-safflower cropping sequence. The field observations were recorded and soil quality attributes were studied after completion of 6th cycle (2011-12). The results indicated that, significantly higher grain (28.32 q ha-1) and straw (26.00 q ha-1) yield of soybean with application of 100% NPK+FYM@ 5 Mg ha-1 i.e. T8 closely followed by the application of 150% NPK (T3) and 100% NPK+ZnSO4@ 25 kg ha-1 (T5) and these combinations were statistically at par, whereas in safflower crop significantly higher grain (19.32 q ha-1) and straw (53.69 q ha-1) yield was recorded with the application of 150% NPK (T3) followed by100% NPK+FYM@ 5 Mg ha-1 i.e. T8 and 100% NPK+ZnSO4@ 25 kg ha-1 (T5) and these treatments were found to be at par with each other. In contrast, the sustainability yield index (SYI) of total productivity (Soybean + Safflower) was noticed almost highest in treatment T3 having 150% NPK (0.814) and the application of FYM for substitution of 100% NPK recommended dose of fertilizer T8 (0.807). However, the higher soil quality index (SQI) was noted under treatment T8 (0.746794) with the application of 100% NPK + FYM@ 5 Mg ha- 1, whereas quite near values of soil quality index (SQI) were obtained in treatments T3 (0.726333) and T5 (0.677035) receiving 150% NPK and 100% NPK +ZnSO4@ 25 kg ha-1. The lower (0.547828) soil quality index (SQI) was noted under absolute control treatment (T11).