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Influence of growing various crops in five different fixed rotations on the changes in nitrate and total nitrogen content of soils

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

K. N. Sharma
Affiliation:
Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, India
A. L. Bhandari
Affiliation:
Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, India
M. L. Kapur
Affiliation:
Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, India
D. S. Rana
Affiliation:
Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, India

Summary

The results on the influence of various crops in five different fixed rotations on the ohanges in nitrate and total N content of soils are reported. Groundnut contributed largely to the accumulation of nitrate nitrogen in the soil profile (to a depth of 120 cm). Bajra fodder exhausted the soil nitrogen reserve to a great extent. Wheat and maize, in a rotation, reduced nitrate leaching to deeper soil layers. Summer moong also left a large amount of unabsorbed nitrate in the profile. Total nitrogen content of the soil decreased after the harvest of cereals. Maximum depletion occurred after the harvest of bajra crop. Potato (a crop which received a heavy dressing of N fertilizer) and legumes contributed to the soil N reserve. A balance sheet of N indicated net gains of total soil N in four of the five cropping sequences. A net loss of 75 kg N/ha was observed in bajra fodder-potato-wheat rotation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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