Evaluating the influence of tillage and residue management practices on soil quality and nutrient dynamics in rice-wheat cropping systems in Haryana

The rice-wheat system (RWS) in India, vital for agricultural sustainability, faces challenges from conventional methods such as burning crop residues and tillage, leading to nutrient depletion and soil organic matter loss. This study aimed to assess the impacts s of different burning and tillage practices on the physicochemical and biological properties of soil in Haryana, India. A field study was conducted during 2016–2017 in Kaithal, Kurukshetra, and Karnal districts. Four treatments were evaluated:(NBNT), no-burn-no-tillage, (NB+T) no-burn & tillage , (ABNT) after-burn-no-tillage and (AB+T) after-burn & tillage. Soil samples were analyzed for moisture, nutrient availability, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), soil respiration, and other biological activities. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) combined with expert opinion (EO) were used to calculate a comprehensive soil quality index (SQI) derived from soil data.NBNT treatment significantly improved soil properties compared to ABNT, including increases in soil moisture (31.2%), nitrogen availability (21.9%), MBC (54%), and soil respiration (34%). Improvements were also noted in available phosphorus, nitrogen mineralization, and soil protein content over other treatments. Among the sites, Karnal showed the highest SQI score (0.69) under NBNT. No-burn, no-tillage (NBNT) practices are superior for maintaining high soil quality in the rice-wheat system, as evidenced by improved soil health and the highest SQI scores. The study recommends adopting NBNT practices across Haryana to enhance soil health, mitigate pollution, and promote agricultural sustainability.