Vol. 12, Issue 11 (2023)

Author(s):
Gugulothu Sumitra, Rajkumara S and Kumar D Lamani

Abstract:
An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of tillage practices and residue mulch application on soil pH, EC and availability of N, P and K during rabi season of 2020-21 and 2021-22 at AICRP on wheat improvement, Main Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka. The experiment was in split plot design with three replications, examining two main tillage practices (conventional and minimum tillage) and residue mulch application (no residue, soybean, maize, groundnut and glyricidia mulch at 3 t/ha) along with a weed free check (control). The results indicated that minimum tillage is associated with lower soil pH (7.37) and EC (0.24 dS/m) levels but higher available N (186.3 kg/ha), P (30.2 kg/ha), K (274.0 kg/ha) and organic carbon (0.56%), while conventional tillage results in higher soil pH (7.43) and EC (0.26dS/m) but lower available N (178.2 kg/ha), P (27.1 kg/ha), K (270.1 kg/ha) and organic carbon (0.53%) status. Among residue mulch applications, glyricidia mulch recorded lower soil pH (7.29), EC (0.24dS/m) and higher soil organic carbon (0.59%), available N (192.2 kg/ha), P (33.0 kg/ha) and K (278.0 kg/ha) in soil after harvest of the wheat crop. The interaction of minimum tillage with glyricidia mulch showed superior effects on soil properties.