Improving Crop Productivity and Soil Quality Through Soil Management Practices in Coastal Saline Agro-ecosystem

Purpose Soil salinity and acidity are the major land degradation processes in coastal agro-ecosystem which harm agricultural productivity. This study aims to evaluate the changes in crop productivity and soil quality of saline and slightly acid soils under the influence of integrated nutrient management (INM) practices. Methods A rice-based strip plot experiment was established on a raised bed created through a land-shaping technique in Coastal Sundarbans of India. Rice-tomato, rice-sunflower, and rice-chili cropping were tested over two consecutive years with the addition of various organic amendments in combination with mineral fertilizers. Soil physical, chemical, and microbial properties were measured using standard protocols. Results Soil salinity increased during the winter season (crops grown during October to February) hence decreased microbial biomass, soil respiration, and enzyme activities as compared to monsoon (the crop sown at the beginning of the summer rains during June to September). The effect was more pronounced in control. However, the addition of organics reduced the soil salinity and restricted the magnitude of such decreases resulting in higher system rice equivalent yield in those treatments over control. The higher respiratory quotient value was measured in control, indicating a stress response to the loss of more organic carbon. Rice-sunflower cropping and conjunctive use of NPK with green leaf manure + farm yard manure + vermicompost show better performance in terms of soil quality and yield. Conclusions The application of organic amendments to the soil can be considered an effective management practice, due to soil quality improvement rapidly as well as enhancing microbial activities by reducing soil salinity which is a major problem of coastal saline agro-ecosystem.