article · Land
A three-year field trial evaluated the impact of tillage practices and crop residue retention within a rice, lentil or wheat, and jute cropping system on seasonally flooded lowlands. The study compared zero tillage, strip-tillage, bed planting, and conventional tillage, paired with either low or high crop residue retention. Strip-tillage combined with high residue retention achieved the highest overall rice equivalent yield and the greatest benefit-cost ratio. Strip-tillage and bed planting outperformed conventional and zero tillage for rice and lentil yields, whereas strip-tillage and zero tillage produced superior jute yields. Across all years, higher residue retention enhanced yields and boosted concentrations of soil organic matter, total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, and zinc. Minimum soil disturbance improved soil physical properties by lowering bulk density and increasing soil water content, showing that strip-tillage with increased residue offers a viable agronomic strategy.
Intensive tillage and low residue retention can degrade soil fertility and limit profitability in intensive multi-crop rotations. Demonstrating that strip-tillage paired with increased residue retention improves nutrient concentrations, eases soil compaction, and maximises financial returns provides agricultural practitioners with practical evidence to lift crop yields while safeguarding soil resources in seasonally flooded environments.
This research provides applied management practices relevant to smallholders, agricultural extension services, and machinery service providers operating in seasonally flooded lowlands. The findings indicate an applied, near-market practice that requires modified field management and appropriate tillage implements rather than novel chemical inputs. Because the study confirms positive benefit-cost ratios over three years, extension programmes and farmer groups can readily deploy these methods to enhance farm revenues and soil health.
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Minimum soil disturbance and increased crop residue retention practices are promising options to enhance soil organic matter, nutrient concentration and crop yield. However, the potentials of the practices in improving soil properties, increasing crop yield and in ensuring economic return have not been tested in the monsoon rice (Oryza sativa L.)-lentil (Lens culinaris L.)/wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-jute (Corchorus culinaris L.) cropping systems on seasonally flooded lowlands of the Eastern Gangetic Plain of South Asia. A field trial for consecutive three years was conducted in the Gangetic Plains of Bangladesh to evaluate the effects of zero tillage (ZT), strip-tillage (ST), bed planting (BP) and conventional tillage (CT) with two residue retention levels (RL—a low level similar to current farmers’ practice and RH—increased retention) on soil properties, yield and economic return. Between rice and jute crops, lentil was grown for the 1st and 2nd years and wheat for the 3rd year during the dry winter season. The ST and BP performed better than the CT and ZT in terms of yield of rice and lentil, whereas ST and ZT performed better than other practices in the case of jute. Higher residue retention (RH) increased crop yield for all the years. The highest rice equivalent yield (sum of 3 crop yields, expressed as rice yield) and the greatest benefit-cost ratio (BCR) were recorded with ST and RH. The increased yield in the ST was associated with reduced soil bulk density (BD), while ST with RH increased soil water (SW) and decreased penetration resistance (PR) of soil. Compared to CT, minimum soil disturbance of ZT and ST increased soil organic matter (SOM) stock by 24% and 23%, respectively; total nitrogen (TN) by 23.5% and 18.4%, respectively; extractable sulphur (S) by 21% and 18%, respectively; whereas Zinc (Zn) concentrations increased by 53% and 47%, respectively, in the upper 0–5 cm soil depth. Accumulation of extractable P, S and Zn in the 0–5 cm depth of soil followed the sequence as ZT > ST > BP > CT practice. The higher amount of residue retention significantly increased SOM, TN and extractable P, K, S and Zn concentrations at 0–5 cm and 5–10 cm soil depths. The 3-year study suggests that ST with RH is a potential crop management approach for the seasonally flooded rice-lentil/wheat-jute cropping systems to enhance soil nutrients status, crop yield and farm economy.
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DOI: 10.3390/land10060581
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