Study

Moisture conservation and nitrogen recycling through legume mulching in rainfed maize (Zea mays)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system

  • Published source details Sharma a.R., Singh R., Dhyani S.K. & Dube R.K. (2010) Moisture conservation and nitrogen recycling through legume mulching in rainfed maize (Zea mays)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 87, 187-197.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Add mulch to crops

Action Link
Soil Fertility

Amend the soil with formulated chemical compounds

Action Link
Soil Fertility
  1. Add mulch to crops

    A replicated experiment in 2000-2004 on fine loamy soil in Dehradun, India (Sharma et al. 2010) found that live mulching with sunnhemp Crotalaria juncea or leucaena Leucaena leucocephala increased soil moisture content by 6.8-8.8% compared to no mulching. Combining both sunnhemp and leucaena increased soil moisture by a further 2.1-2.3% and increased overall grain yield by 15% of both maize Zea mays and wheat Triticum aestivum. A maize crop was grown followed by a wheat crop. In each main crop were four treatments in 130 m2 plots: no mulching (control), sunnhemp grown in situ (live mulching), leucaena prunings/twigs, and sunnhemp and leucaena combined. Each treatment had 29 m2 subplots with fertilizer applied at a rate of 0, 30, 60 or 90 kg N/ha for maize, and 0, 40 or 80 kg/ha for wheat. There were four replications.

     

  2. Amend the soil with formulated chemical compounds

    A replicated experiment in 2000-2004 on fine loamy soil in Dehradun, India (Sharma et al. 2010) found that maize Zea mays yield increased from 1.2 to 2.1, 2.6 and 3.0 t/ha as nitrogen fertilizer rates increased from 0 to 30, 60, and 90 kg N/ha respectively. Wheat Triticum aestivum yields also increased with increased nitrogen fertilizer application (1.3, 2.1 and 2.8 t/ha for 0, 40 and 80 kg N/ha). Maize was grown followed by wheat and each crop had four mulching treatments in 130 m2 plots: no mulching (control), sunnhemp Crotalaria juncea, leucaena Leucaena leucocephala prunings/twigs, and sunnhemp and leucaena combined. Each treatment had 29 m2 subplots with fertilizer applied at a rate of 0, 30, 60 or 90 kg N/ha for maize, and 0, 40 or 80 kg/ha for wheat. There were four replications.

     

Output references
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