EFFECTS OF CONSERVATION TILLAGE AND INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ON MAIZE GROWTH, YIELD, AND SOIL HEALTH

Abstract

Introduction: Continuous tillage, that would through time lead to soil degradation, therefore sustainable agricultural practices such as conservation tillage and integrated nutrient management (INM) have received attention due to their perceived contribution to enhance crop productivity and soil health. Maize is a worldwide food crop which has to be cultivated using proper soil management systems that understand the fragments of the soil chemical, physical, and biological aspects such as the soil structure, fertility, and biological activity. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the combined effects of conservation tillage and integrated nutrient management on maize growth, yield attributes, and soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. Method: A field experiment was carried out in two consecutive cropping seasons under a completely randomized block design with conventional and conservation tillage including organic and inorganic nutrient sources. Growth and yield parameters and physical, chemical and biological parameters representing soil health viz., bulk density, soil moisture, soil organic carbon, nutrient availability, microbial biomass and enzymatic activities were recorded and statistically analyzed.  Results: The combination of conservation tillage and INM significantly increased plant height, leaf area, biomass, grain yield, and harvest index of maize as compared to those of conventional tillage (p < 0.05). Soil physical characteristics Overall, soil physical properties were better in the furrow than in the bed; To subsoiling, a decreasing soil bulk density and increase in the retention of moisture. Conservation tillage and INM(s) promoted higher values of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, phosphorus, microbial biomass carbon and activity of enzymes than conventional tillage and uninformed INM(s). Conclusion: The combination of conservation tillage with nutrient management is beneficial in improving MA productivity and soil quality through amelioration of soil structure, nutrient status and microbial activity. These sustainable practices provide an attractive option to enhance farm productivity and environment quality