Conservation agriculture practices for improving productivity and soil health in maize–wheat systems under Indian conditions

Achieving sustainable development in agri-food production systems requires integrated strategies that boost productivity while preserving soil and environmental health. This study examined the conservation agriculture (CA) practices (tillage, crop residue management, and phosphorus fertilization) on the performance of a maize–wheat (M-W) system in India. A two-year field experiment involving fifteen treatment combinations was conducted. The results showed that zero tillage (ZT) with residue retention (+R) and phosphorus dose (34.4 kg P ha−1) produced the highest (8.17 t ha−1) maize equivalent yield (MEY), system productivity (15.5 t P ha−1), and net economic return ($2701 ha−1). This strategies also significantly enhanced soil organic carbon, water-stable aggregates, microbial biomass, and enzymatic activities. In contrast, phosphorus application with microbial inoculants under ZT without residue (-R) yielded the highest energy use efficiency (23.3). These integrated practices further increased the net energy return to 373 × 103 MJ ha−1. The findings demonstrate that integrating CA-practices and optimal phosphorus management enhances system productivity, profitability, and soil sustainability. These practices support national goals for agri-food security, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals

Agricultural Science and Fertilization · Crop Yield and Soil Fertility · Rice Cultivation and Yield Improvement

• An extraction method for measuring soil microbial biomass C

  Open Access•Eric D Vance, Philip C Brookes et al.•Soil Biology and Biochemistry•1987

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