Abstract
Rainfed Inceptisol soils, despite their agricultural potential, pose serious problems, including soil erosion, low fertility, nutrient imbalance, and low soil organic matter, and ultimately lead to poor soil quality. To address these constraints, two long-term experiments were initiated to study conservation agricultural practices, comprising conventional and low tillage as well as conjunctive use of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients in Inceptisol soils of Agra center of the All-India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture (AICRPDA). The first experiment included tillage and nutrient-management practices, whereas the second studied only conjunctive nutrient-management practices. Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop. These experiments were adopted for soil quality assessment studies at 4 and 8 years after their completion, respectively, at the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Hyderabad, India. Soil quality assessment was done by identifying the key indicators using principal component analysis (PCA), linear scoring technique (LST), soil quality indices (SQI), and relative soil quality indices (RSQI). Results revealed that most of the soil quality parameters were significantly influenced by the management treatments in both the experiments. In experiment 1, soil quality indices varied from 0.86 to 1.08 across the treatments. Tillage as well as the nutrient-management treatments played a significant role in influencing the SQI. Among the tillage practices, low tillage with one interculture + weedicide application resulted in a greater soil quality index (0.98) followed by conventional tillage + one interculture (0.94), which was at par with low tillage + one interculture (0.93). Among the nutrient-management treatments, application of 100% organic sources of nutrients gave the greatest SQI of 1.05, whereas the other two practices of 50% nitrogen (N) (organic) + 50% (inorganic source) (0.92) and 100% N (inorganic source) (0.88) were statistically at par with each other. The various parameters that emerged as key soil quality indicators along with their percentage contributions toward SQI were organic carbon (17%), exchangeable calcium (Ca) (10%), available zinc (Zn) (9%), available copper (Cu) (6%), dehydrogenase assay (6%), microbial biomass carbon (25%) and mean weight diameter of soil aggregates (27%). In experiment 2, SQI varied from 2.33 to 3.47, and 50% urea + 50% farmyard manure (FYM) showed the greatest SQI of 3.47, which was at par with 100% RDF + 25 kg zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) (3.20). Under this set of treatments, the key soil quality indicators and their contributions to SQI were organic carbon (19%), available N (20%), exchangeable Ca (3%), available Zn (4%) and Cu (17%), labile carbon (20%), and mean weight diameter of soil aggregates (17%). The quantitative relationship established in this study between mean pearl millet yields (Y) and RSQI irrespective of the management treatments for both the experiments together could be quite useful to predict the yield quantitatively with respect to a given change in soil quality for these rainfed Inceptisols. The methodology used in this study is not only useful to these Inceptisols but can also be used for varying soil types, climate, and associated conditions elsewhere in the world.
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Claims 20
Claim · model-written summary
Soil quality parameters were significantly influenced by management treatments in both experiments.
- Taxon
- pearl millet
Cenchrus americanuse1 - Treatment
- management treatmentse0
- Outcome
- soil quality parameterse0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“most of the soil quality parameters were significantly influenced by the management treatments in both the experiments”
e1“Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
The soil quality index ranged from 0.86 to 1.08 in experiment 1.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanuse1
- Outcome
- soil quality indicese0
- Value
- 0.86 to 1.08e0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“In experiment 1, soil quality indices varied from 0.86 to 1.08 across the treatments.”
e1“Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
Low tillage plus interculture and weedicide gave a greater soil quality index of 0.98.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanuse1
- Treatment
- low tillage with one interculture + weedicide applicatione0
- Outcome
- soil quality indexe0
- Direction
- greatere0
- Value
- 0.98e0
- Qualifier
- 0.94e0
- Comparator
- conventional tillage + one interculturee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“low tillage with one interculture + weedicide application resulted in a greater soil quality index (0.98) followed by conventional tillage + one interculture (0.94)”
e1“Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
Conventional tillage plus interculture had an SQI of 0.94, at par with low tillage plus interculture at 0.93.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanuse1
- Treatment
- conventional tillage + one interculturee0
- Outcome
- soil quality indexe2
- Direction
- at pare0
- Value
- 0.94e0
- Qualifier
- 0.93e0
- Comparator
- low tillage + one interculturee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“conventional tillage + one interculture (0.94), which was at par with low tillage + one interculture (0.93)”
e1“Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop.”
e2“low tillage with one interculture + weedicide application resulted in a greater soil quality index (0.98) followed by conventional tillage + one interculture (0.94)”
Claim · model-written summary
The 100% organic nutrient source treatment gave the greatest SQI of 1.05.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanuse1
- Treatment
- 100% organic sources of nutrientse0
- Outcome
- SQIe0
- Direction
- greateste0
- Value
- 1.05e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“application of 100% organic sources of nutrients gave the greatest SQI of 1.05”
e1“Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
A half organic and half inorganic nitrogen treatment had SQI 0.92, statistically at par with fully inorganic nitrogen at 0.88.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanuse1
- Treatment
- 50% nitrogen (N) (organic) + 50% (inorganic source)e0
- Outcome
- SQIe2
- Direction
- at pare0
- Value
- 0.92e0
- Qualifier
- 0.88e0
- Comparator
- 100% N (inorganic source)e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“50% nitrogen (N) (organic) + 50% (inorganic source) (0.92) and 100% N (inorganic source) (0.88) were statistically at par with each other”
e1“Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop.”
e2“application of 100% organic sources of nutrients gave the greatest SQI of 1.05”
Claim · model-written summary
In experiment 1 organic carbon contributed 17% to SQI.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanuse2
- Compound
- organic carbone0
- Outcome
- percentage contributions toward SQIe1
- Value
- 17%e0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“organic carbon (17%)”
e1“key soil quality indicators along with their percentage contributions toward SQI were”
e2“Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
In experiment 1 exchangeable calcium contributed 10% to SQI.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanuse2
- Compound
- exchangeable calcium (Ca)e0
- Outcome
- percentage contributions toward SQIe1
- Value
- 10%e0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“exchangeable calcium (Ca) (10%)”
e1“percentage contributions toward SQI”
e2“Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
In experiment 1 available zinc contributed 9% to SQI.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanuse2
- Compound
- available zinc (Zn)e0
- Outcome
- percentage contributions toward SQIe1
- Value
- 9%e0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“available zinc (Zn) (9%)”
e1“percentage contributions toward SQI”
e2“Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
In experiment 1 available copper contributed 6% to SQI.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanuse2
- Compound
- available copper (Cu)e0
- Outcome
- percentage contributions toward SQIe1
- Value
- 6%e0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“available copper (Cu) (6%)”
e1“percentage contributions toward SQI”
e2“Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
In experiment 1 dehydrogenase assay contributed 6% to SQI.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanuse2
- Gene
- dehydrogenasee0
- Outcome
- percentage contributions toward SQIe1
- Value
- 6%e0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“dehydrogenase assay (6%)”
e1“percentage contributions toward SQI”
e2“Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
In experiment 1 microbial biomass carbon contributed 25% to SQI.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanuse2
- Compound
- microbial biomass carbone0
- Outcome
- percentage contributions toward SQIe1
- Value
- 25%e0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“microbial biomass carbon (25%)”
e1“percentage contributions toward SQI”
e2“Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
In experiment 1 mean weight diameter of soil aggregates contributed 27% to SQI.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanuse2
- Outcome
- percentage contributions toward SQIe1
- Value
- 27%e0
- Qualifier
- mean weight diameter of soil aggregatese0
- Setting
- Inceptisol soilse3
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“mean weight diameter of soil aggregates (27%)”
e1“percentage contributions toward SQI”
e2“Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop.”
e3“Inceptisol soils of Agra center”
Claim · model-written summary
Experiment 2 SQI ranged from 2.33 to 3.47.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanuse1
- Outcome
- SQIe0
- Value
- 2.33 to 3.47e0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“In experiment 2, SQI varied from 2.33 to 3.47”
e1“Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
Half urea and half farmyard manure gave greatest SQI 3.47.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanuse1
- Treatment
- 50% urea + 50% farmyard manure (FYM)e0
- Outcome
- SQIe0
- Direction
- greateste0
- Value
- 3.47e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“50% urea + 50% farmyard manure (FYM) showed the greatest SQI of 3.47”
e1“Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
The half urea and half manure treatment was at par with RDF plus zinc sulfate SQI 3.20.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanuse1
- Treatment
- 50% urea + 50% farmyard manure (FYM)e0
- Outcome
- SQIe0
- Direction
- at pare0
- Value
- 3.47e0
- Qualifier
- 3.20e0
- Comparator
- 100% RDF + 25 kg zinc sulfate (ZnSO4)e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“50% urea + 50% farmyard manure (FYM) showed the greatest SQI of 3.47, which was at par with 100% RDF + 25 kg zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) (3.20)”
e1“Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
In experiment 2 organic carbon, available nitrogen, and exchangeable calcium contributed 19%, 20%, and 3% to SQI, respectively.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanuse2
- Compound
- organic carbone0
- Outcome
- contributions to SQIe1
- Value
- 19%e0
- Qualifier
- available N (20%), exchangeable Ca (3%)e0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“organic carbon (19%), available N (20%), exchangeable Ca (3%)”
e1“their contributions to SQI were”
e2“Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
In experiment 2 zinc and copper contributed 4% and 17% to SQI.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanuse2
- Compound
- available Zne0
- Outcome
- contributions to SQIe1
- Value
- 4%e0
- Qualifier
- Cu (17%)e0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“available Zn (4%) and Cu (17%)”
e1“their contributions to SQI were”
e2“Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
In experiment 2 labile carbon and aggregate mean weight diameter each contributed 20% and 17% to SQI.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanuse2
- Compound
- labile carbone0
- Outcome
- contributions to SQIe1
- Value
- 20%e0
- Qualifier
- mean weight diameter of soil aggregates (17%)e0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“labile carbon (20%), and mean weight diameter of soil aggregates (17%)”
e1“their contributions to SQI were”
e2“Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop.”
Claim · model-written summary
The relation of mean pearl millet yield to relative soil quality index may permit quantitative yield prediction from soil quality change.
- Taxon
- pearl milletCenchrus americanuse0
- Outcome
- mean pearl millet yields (Y)e0
- Qualifier
- RSQIe0
- Setting
- rainfed Inceptisolse0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The quantitative relationship established in this study between mean pearl millet yields (Y) and RSQI irrespective of the management treatments for both the experiments together could be quite useful to predict the yield quantitatively with respect to a given change in soil quality for these rainfed Inceptisols.”
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