Tillage and Deficit Saline Water Irrigation with Mulch in Sorghum-Wheat Cropping System Im

A field experiment from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute investigated the effects of tillage, rice straw mulch, and deficit saline irrigation on soil properties and crop yield in a sorghum-wheat system. The study tested three tillage methods, three saline irrigation levels, and mulch application on saline soils. Results indicate deficit saline irrigation and reduced tillage with mulch can maintain soil health and save fresh water without affecting yield.

Use Cases

• Modeling wheat and sorghum fodder yield based on tillage practice and irrigation level
• Predicting soil salinity (ECe) changes under deficit saline irrigation regimes
• Analyzing relationships between soil microbial biomass and enzyme activity with soil salinity
• Calculating a soil health index (SHI) using contributors like microbial biomass carbon and available nitrogen

Strengths

• Study design includes three controlled variables: tillage type, irrigation level, and mulch application
• Measures multiple soil biological properties (MBC, MBN, DHA, Ur, AlP) and their relationship to salinity
• Identifies specific contributors to a composite soil health index

Limitations

• Row count and specific data format are unknown, limiting suitability assessment
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to a single field experiment in Northwest India

Provenance

Source

Indian Agricultural Research Institute

Collection Method

Field experiment with a split-plot design, as described in the paper.

Geography

Semi-arid Northwest India