Vol. 12, Issue 2 (2023)

Author(s):
Nayyar Syeda, VG Salvi, SS More, VA Rajemahadik, RR Rathod, Dipika Vardam and Pranita Chimate

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted during Rabi 2021-22 at the Research Farm of Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Dapoli, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri. A study on the effect of different cultivation practices and various crops on physico-chemical properties and macronutrient status of the soil was carried out. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design comprising 16 treatments which were replicated thrice. The treatments comprising of different cultivation practices viz, low budget farming, organic farming, conservation farming and conventional farming practices were undertaken in the main plot. The sub plot included groundnut, maize, brinjal and watermelon crops. The soil was collected periodically and analysed for different physico-chemical properties i.e. pH, electrical conductivity and organic carbon and macronutrient content i.e. for nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium content. The conservation farming practice recorded the highest content of physico-chemical properties and macronutrient content as compared to all the other cultivation practices at different growth stages of the crops. However, the electrical conductivity was the least under the conservation farming practice throughout the crop growth period. The data in respect of crops, revealed the highest soil pH under the brinjal crop, at different crop growth stages. At 30 DAS and 60 DAS, brinjal crop recorded the least value of electrical conductivity, at 90 DAS and at harvest, the least values of electrical conductivity were registered under brinjal and groundnut crops, respectively. The watermelon recorded the highest organic caron content at 30 DAS, maize registered the highest organic carbon content at 60 DAS, however, brinjal noted the highest organic carbon content at 90 DAS and at harvest of the crops. At all the stages of crop growth, groundnut recorded higher values of the available nitrogen and available phosphorous content in soil. However, the content of available potassium in soil was superior under the watermelon at all the stages of the crop growth.