Effect of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] based cropping systems on biomass production in Vertisols of Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to study “Effect of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] based cropping systems on biomass production in Vertisols of Madhya Pradesh” during kharif, rabi and zaid seasons of 2015-16 and 2016-17. The soil of the experimental field was clay loam in texture, neutral in reaction (pH 7.60) with normal EC (0.58 dS/m) and medium organic carbon contents (0.59%) and analysing low in available N (218 kg/ha), medium in available P (11.60 kg/ha) and high in available K (350 kg/ha) contents. In present study, Soybean was sequenced with feasible rabi viz. Wheat (Triticum aestivum & Triticum durum L.), Chick pea (Cicer arietinum L.), Garlic (Allium sativum L.), Onion (Allium cepa L.), Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) with inclusion of Garlic (Allium sativum L.), Onion (Allium cepa L.) in zaid consisted 16 cropping sequences and tested in randomized block design with four replications. Inclusion of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) and Onion (Allium cepa L.) during zaid significantly increased the soybean-equivalent yield. Soybean (JS 93-05) - wheat (HI-8663) durum cropping sequence recorded the highest total biomass production (48.87 q/ha) followed by soybean (JS 93-05)-garden pea (Arkel)-garlic (G-282) during kharif season and treatment soybean (JS 93-05) - Potato (Kufri jyoti) - Onion (AFLR) recorded highest biomass production (298.50 q/ha) whereas biomass production was found maximum (209.42 q/ha) under treatment soybean (JS 93-05) - Potato (Kufri jyoti) - Onion (AFLR) during zaid. The maximum seed soybean equivalent yield (177.31 q/ha) was significantly recorded under soybean (JS 93-05) - Potato (Kufri jyoti) - Onion (AFLR) as compared to existing cropping system (soybean-chickpea and soybean-wheat).