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Effective Management Practices for Improving Soil Organic Matter for Increasing Crop Productivity in Rainfed Agroecology of India


Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad 500 059, India
 

To meet the requirement of increasing demand for food and fodder and to ensure food security, it is important to increase the production potential through soil health improvement in rainfed agroecological regions besides the irrigated regions. Degrading soil health because of decrease in soil organic carbon (SOC) and resultant decline in overall soil fertility in rainfed areas is a major threat to sustenance of crop and fodder productivity. In view of the importance of soil organic matter (SOM), and its close relationship with soil health and crop production, its role in carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling has gained much attention in the last few years. Restoration of SOM contents in the soil to optimal levels will not only improve the soil health of rainfed agroecosystem, but will also significantly contribute towards boosting crop production. In this article, we have critically reviewed the impacts of different crop management practices on SOC content and its impact on soil health and crop productivity in rainfed agroecological regions of the country.

Keywords

Crop Production, Rainfed Agroecology, Soil Organic Matter, Soil Health Improvement.
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  • Effective Management Practices for Improving Soil Organic Matter for Increasing Crop Productivity in Rainfed Agroecology of India

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Authors

Srinivasa Rao
ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad 500 059, India
A. K. Indoria
ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad 500 059, India
K. L. Sharma
ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad 500 059, India

Abstract


To meet the requirement of increasing demand for food and fodder and to ensure food security, it is important to increase the production potential through soil health improvement in rainfed agroecological regions besides the irrigated regions. Degrading soil health because of decrease in soil organic carbon (SOC) and resultant decline in overall soil fertility in rainfed areas is a major threat to sustenance of crop and fodder productivity. In view of the importance of soil organic matter (SOM), and its close relationship with soil health and crop production, its role in carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling has gained much attention in the last few years. Restoration of SOM contents in the soil to optimal levels will not only improve the soil health of rainfed agroecosystem, but will also significantly contribute towards boosting crop production. In this article, we have critically reviewed the impacts of different crop management practices on SOC content and its impact on soil health and crop productivity in rainfed agroecological regions of the country.

Keywords


Crop Production, Rainfed Agroecology, Soil Organic Matter, Soil Health Improvement.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv112%2Fi07%2F1497-1504