Influence of Alternative Crops and Cropping Systems for Sugarcane on Soil Physical Properties

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Hukkeri, Belagavi, Karnataka, India, during 2018-19 and 2019-20 to study the influence of alternative crops and cropping systems for sugarcane on soil physical properties. The experiment consisted of 11 treatments with different cropping systems viz., soybean - sorghum - ridge gourd (T1), pigeon pea + green gram(1:1) - beans (T2), pigeon pea + soybean(1:1) - cowpea (T3), soybean - wheat - groundnut (T4), groundnut - sorghum - sesame (T5),  maize - cabbage - fallow (T6), soybean - wheat - green gram (T7), maize - wheat - sesame (T8), Bt cotton - groundnut (T9),  sugarcane + onion (1:2) [T10] and sugarcane (sole) [T11] , laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The results showed that pigeon pea + green gram (1:1)-beans system recorded significantly higher porosity and aggregate stability. Pigeon Pea + soybean (1:1)-cowpea system recorded higher infiltration rate and maximum water holding capacity. Maize-cabbage-fallow system recorded significantly higher bulk density. The study concluded that crop diversification and inclusion of legumes with field crops or vegetable crops improved soil physical properties, ensuring soil health, environmental safety, and increasing crop productivity.