What does this research mean for the field?

Long-term no-till farming combined with a residue-rich maize-wheat rotation and optimized nitrogen management significantly enhances soil quality, carbon sequestration, and crop productivity in semi-arid Vertisols compared to conventional tillage. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

Evaluate the 6-year combined impacts of tillage practices, crop rotations, and nitrogen management on soil quality indices and crop productivity in semi-arid Vertisols.

September 8, 2026Land Degradation and Development

Improving Soil Health and Crop Yields Through Conservation Agriculture and Nutrient Management in Central India

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Authors

NSNishant K. Sinha MMM. Mohanty SJSomasundaram Jayaraman

Discussion

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Overview

Field experiment demonstrates improved soil health and increased crop yields under no-till and balanced nitrogen management in semi-arid Vertisols, highlighting a viable path for sustainable farming.

Key Points

Evaluate the 6-year combined impacts of tillage practices, crop rotations, and nitrogen management on soil quality indices and crop productivity in semi-arid Vertisols.
Conducted a 6-year field study in central India using a split-split-plot experimental design.
Assigned no-till (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) as main plots, maize–wheat and maize–chickpea rotations as sub-plots, and four nitrogen levels (0%, 50%, 100%, and 150% of the recommended dose) as sub-sub-plots.
Compared to CT, NT increased soil organic carbon by 13%–21%, aggregate mean weight diameter by 29%–32%, surface available phosphorus by up to 110%, dehydrogenase activity by 15%, and β-glucosidase activity by 5%–16% in the 0–5 cm soil depth.
NT increased grain yields relative to CT by 21% for maize, 15% for wheat, and 31% for chickpea.
Maize–wheat rotation generated superior soil quality metrics compared to maize–chickpea, and the 100% nitrogen application rate provided the optimal balance between soil quality enhancement and yield maintenance.

Cite This Study

Sinha et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd82058e84d0ff5b475dd https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70899

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September 8, 2026Land Degradation and Development

Improving Soil Health and Crop Yields Through Conservation Agriculture and Nutrient Management in Central India

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

NSNishant K. Sinha MMM. Mohanty SJSomasundaram Jayaraman

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Field experiment demonstrates improved soil health and increased crop yields under no-till and balanced nitrogen management in semi-arid Vertisols, highlighting a viable path for sustainable farming.

Key Points

Evaluate the 6-year combined impacts of tillage practices, crop rotations, and nitrogen management on soil quality indices and crop productivity in semi-arid Vertisols.
Conducted a 6-year field study in central India using a split-split-plot experimental design.
Assigned no-till (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) as main plots, maize–wheat and maize–chickpea rotations as sub-plots, and four nitrogen levels (0%, 50%, 100%, and 150% of the recommended dose) as sub-sub-plots.
Compared to CT, NT increased soil organic carbon by 13%–21%, aggregate mean weight diameter by 29%–32%, surface available phosphorus by up to 110%, dehydrogenase activity by 15%, and β-glucosidase activity by 5%–16% in the 0–5 cm soil depth.
NT increased grain yields relative to CT by 21% for maize, 15% for wheat, and 31% for chickpea.
Maize–wheat rotation generated superior soil quality metrics compared to maize–chickpea, and the 100% nitrogen application rate provided the optimal balance between soil quality enhancement and yield maintenance.

Cite This Study

Sinha et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd82058e84d0ff5b475dd https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70899

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark