Crop residue management for sustainable crop production and soil health in rice-wheat cropping system

The present study has its relevance to explain the effect of residues along with green manure (Sesbania and cowpea) on rice-wheat cropping system. Randomized block design (RBD) was applied to lay out the experiment with five treatments : T-1-Residue removal, T-2-Residue incorporation (@ 5-6 t/ha), T-3-Burned residue, T-4-Residue incorporation+80 kg N/ha and T-5-Residue incorporation+40 kg N/ha for the two consecutive years (2006-07 and 2007-08). The combined application of crop residue and green manures i.e. Sesbania and cowpea improved plant height, number of tillers, test weight and grain yield in both rice and wheat crops. Overall results proved that green manure along with crop residue could prove useful to improve grain yield as well as to provide favourable soil nutrient conditions for the plant growth.