Effect of Tillage for Rice Residue Management on Physical Properties of Soil

The present study was conducted in wheat to study effect of four tillage practices viz mold board plowing to a depth of 25 cm followed by rotavator (PT25 + R), mold board plowing to a depth of 14 cm followed by rotavator (PT14 + R), zero tillage with happy seeder (ZT) and conventional practices of 2 discing + 2 cultivator followed by planking (CT) along with irrigation scheduling on soil physical properties for two consecutive years (2016-17 and 2017-18). Soil bulk density, mean weight diameter, water stable aggregates and organic carbon were significantly higher in ZT by 5.74%, 75.24%, 77.11% and 10.5% respectively compared to PT25 + R. Soil moisture retention was also significantly higher in ZT than all other tillage practices at 0.1 to 15 bar matic potential in 0-7.5, 7.5-15, 15-22.5 and 22.5-30 cm soil depths. Final infiltration rate was significantly higher in PT25 + R, PT14 + R and CT than ZT by 79%, 36% and 15% respectively. Cumulative infiltration was also significantly higher in PT25 + R, PT14 + R and CT than ZT by 71.7%, 33.0% and 15.6% respectively. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was significantly higher in PT25 + R than ZT by 72.5% and 81.7% in 0-7.5 and 7.5-15 cm layer respectively. Similarly unsaturated hydraulic conductivity was significantly higher in PT25 + R than ZT in both soil depths.