title: Effect of tillage practices on soil properties and crop productivity in wheat-mungbean-rice cropping system under subtropical climatic conditions.
abstract: This study was conducted to know cropping cycles required to improve OM status in soil and to investigate the effects of medium-term tillage practices on soil properties and crop yields in Grey Terrace soil of Bangladesh under wheat-mungbean-T. aman cropping system. Four different tillage practices, namely, zero tillage (ZT), minimum tillage (MT), conventional tillage (CT), and deep tillage (DT), were studied in a randomized complete block (RCB) design with four replications. Tillage practices showed positive effects on soil properties and crop yields. After four cropping cycles, the highest OM accumulation, the maximum root mass density (0-15 cm soil depth), and the improved physical and chemical properties were recorded in the conservational tillage practices. Bulk and particle densities were decreased due to tillage practices, having the highest reduction of these properties and the highest increase of porosity and field capacity in zero tillage. The highest total N, P, K, and S in their available forms were recorded in zero tillage. All tillage practices showed similar yield after four years of cropping cycles. Therefore, we conclude that zero tillage with 20% residue retention was found to be suitable for soil health and achieving optimum yield under the cropping system in Grey Terrace soil (Aeric Albaquept).
authors.affiliation: Soil Science Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md Khairul
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1247-9173
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.affiliation: Tuber Crops Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md Monirul
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: Soil Science Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Nazmus
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6929-0806
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Salahin
authors.affiliation: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mirza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasanuzzaman
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001459:Bangladesh; D002980:Climate; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000254:growth & development*; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000254:growth & development; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D012275:Oryza / Q000254:growth & development; D010316:Particle Size; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000032:analysis; D014908:Triticum / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D010758:Phosphorus; D013455:Sulfur; D009584:Nitrogen; D011188:Potassium