Influence of tillage and crop establishment practices on physical properties of a rice-wheat cropping system in the Indo-Gangetic plain

Rice (Oryza sativa L.)-Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the major cropping system occupying 13.5 million ha in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. A study evaluated eight treatments (T) involving four tillage methods and four rice establishment methods on soil microbial activity, soil enzyme activities and soil nutrient pools in a rice-wheat rotation. C mineralization were significantly higher in the transplanted plots then least zero tilled plot, Soil dehydrogenases activities were Rotovator tilled plots had the highest dehydrogenase enzyme activity followed by strip tillage, conventional tillage and zero tillage after wheat harvest. Highest urease enzyme activity was observed in zero tilled rice plots followed by puddling treatments. The highest phosphatase enzyme activity was observed in zero tilled wheat plots. The dilute salt extractable carbon (DSEC) was highest in strip tilled plots and lowest in zero tilled plots. Labile carbohydrates in soil had more labile carbohydrates than plots where transplanted rice was grown. Available Nitrogen, phosphorus and potash was significantly higher in conventionally tilled plot, zero tilled plot and rotavator tilled plot observed. Rotovator and conventional sowing generally maintained higher available Zn levels then reduced tillage practices (strip and zero tillage).