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Integrated crop residue management with micronutrient application can effectively addresses dual challenges of maintaining productivity while enhancing grain nutritional quality of rice in calcareous soils. This study evaluated the role of different soil properties for enhancing yield and grain quality of rice under 29 years of long-term effects of crop residue incorporation and zinc (Zn) fertilization in calcareous Typic Haplaquepts soils. Results showed 100% crop residue incorporation significantly enhanced soil organic carbon (SOC), available nitrogen, available Zn, soil respiration, and wet aggregate stability by 26.6%, 46.2%, 14.3%, 94.7% and 38.2% respectively as compared to control (no residue incorporation), benefiting aggregation and water retention in the soil. The combination of 100% residue incorporation with 10.0 kg ha−1 Zn achieved highest grain yield (6.56 t ha−1) and improved grain protein and iron concentrations by 5.8% and 18.0% respectively. Principal component analysis revealed that wet aggregate stability, plant available water, SOC, available NPK, sulfur, available Zn and Fe, soil respiration, active carbon, autoclaved extractable protein were found as main soil properties representing 81.6% variation responsible improved rice production and grain nutritional quality. Thus, full crop residue management with Zn application of 10.0 kg ha−1 offers significant potential for biofortification and climate-resilient rice production.
Priyadarshani et al. (Mon,) studied this question.