Register      Login
Soil Research Soil Research Society
Soil, land care and environmental research
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Assessing soil quality and their indicators for long-term rice-based cropping systems in hot sub-humid eco-region of India

Uttam Kumar https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4781-3511 A * , V. N. Mishra A , Nirmal Kumar B , L. K. Srivastava A , K. Tedia A , R. K. Bajpai A , Muneshwar Singh C and M. Mohanty C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur 492 012, Chhattisgarh, India.

B Division of Remote Sensing Application, ICAR – National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur 440 033, Maharashtra, India.

C ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Berasia road, Nabibagh, Bhopal 462 038, M.P., India.

* Correspondence to: uttamdewangan.1991@gmail.com

Handling Editor: Somasundaram Jayaraman

Soil Research 60(6) 610-623 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR21122
Submitted: 7 May 2021  Accepted: 4 May 2022   Published: 14 June 2022

© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Context: Rice-based cropping system is a key for food security in the Indian subcontinent. However, the productivity of such systems has declined continuously due to deterioration in soil quality. The present study was carried out to identify key soil quality indicators and to develop indices of soil quality under long-term rice-based cropping systems in the hot sub-humid eco-region (HSE) of India.

Methods: Surface soil samples were collected from farmers’ field from two soil orders (Vertisols and Inceptisols) and with four long-term rice-based cropping systems: (1) rice-wheat (RW); (2) rice-chickpea (RC); (3) rice-lathyrus (RL); and (4) rice-fallow (RF). A minimum data set (MDS) of 24 soils attributes were screened to identify soil quality indicators using principal components analysis (PCA), and soil quality index (SQI) was determined.

Key results: The MDS indicators (in descending order of sensitivity) are field capacity (FC) (35.4%) followed by pH (30.5%) > porosity (13.6%) > potentially mineralisable carbon (PMC) (11.8%) > available boron (AB) (8.7%). Soil moisture content under FC was found as the most sensitive indicator affecting soil quality and rice equivalent yields (REY). The SQI of Vertisols (0.83) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than Inceptisols (0.73). SQI under RC (0.86) cropping systems was significantly higher than RL (0.81), RW (0.76) and RF (0.78) (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: The inclusion of legumes (chickpea and lathyrus) into cropping systems sustained better soil quality and productivity.

Implications: SQI is not only useful for assessing soil health but also provides indicators of best-bet management practices for sustaining intensive cultivation.

Keywords: field capacity, Inceptisols, legumes, MDS, PCA, rice-based cropping system, rice equivalent yield, soil quality index, soil health, Vertisols.


References

Anderson JPE (1982) Soil respiration. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 2: chemical and microbiological properties, 9.2.2’. 2nd edn. (Eds AL Page, RH Miller, DR Keeney) pp. 837–871. (American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America: Madison, WI)
| Crossref |

Andrews SS, Karlen DL, Cambardella CA (2004) The soil management assessment framework: a quantitative soil quality evaluation method. Soil Science Society of America Journal 68, 1945–1962.
The soil management assessment framework: a quantitative soil quality evaluation method.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Armenise E, Redmile-Gordon MA, Stellacci AM, Ciccarese A, Rubino P (2013) Developing a soil quality index to compare soil fitness for agricultural use under different managements in the Mediterranean environment. Soil and Tillage Research 130, 91–98.
Developing a soil quality index to compare soil fitness for agricultural use under different managements in the Mediterranean environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Arshad MA, Martin S (2002) Identifying critical limits for soil quality indicators in agro ecosystems. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 88, 153–160.
Identifying critical limits for soil quality indicators in agro ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bartlett MS (1937) Properties of sufficiency and statistical tests. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London: Series A – Mathematical and Physical Sciences 160, 268–282.
Properties of sufficiency and statistical tests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Basak N, Datta A, Mitran T, Singha Roy S, Saha BN, Biswas S, Mandal B (2016) Assessing soil-quality indices for sub-tropical rice-based cropping systems in India. Soil Research 54, 20–29.
Assessing soil-quality indices for sub-tropical rice-based cropping systems in India.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Berger KC, Troug E (1939) Boron determination in soil and plants. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Analytical Edition 11, 540–545.
Boron determination in soil and plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bhaduri D, Purakayastha TJ (2014) Long-term tillage, water and nutrient management in rice–wheat cropping system: assessment and response of soil quality. Soil and Tillage Research 144, 83–95.
Long-term tillage, water and nutrient management in rice–wheat cropping system: assessment and response of soil quality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bhattacharyya P, Pal R, Chakrabarti K, Chakraborty A (2004) Effect of composting on extractability and relative availability of heavy metals present in Calcutta municipal solid waste. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science 50, 181–187.
Effect of composting on extractability and relative availability of heavy metals present in Calcutta municipal solid waste.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bhattacharyya T, Pal DK, Velayutham M, Chandran P, Mandal C (2000) Total carbon stock in indian soils: issues, priorities and management. In ‘International Seminar on Land Resource Management for Food, Employment and Environmental Security (ICLRM)’, 8–13 November 2000, New Delhi, pp. 1–46. (ICLRM)

Biswas S, Hazra GC, Purakayastha TJ, Saha N, Mitran T, Roy SS, Basak N, Mandal B (2017) Establishment of critical limits of indicators and indices of soil quality in rice-rice cropping systems under different soil orders. Geoderma 292, 34–48.
Establishment of critical limits of indicators and indices of soil quality in rice-rice cropping systems under different soil orders.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bornman TG, Adams JB, Bate GC (2008) Environmental factors controlling the vegetation zonation patterns and distribution of vegetation types in the Olifants Estuary, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 74, 685–695.
Environmental factors controlling the vegetation zonation patterns and distribution of vegetation types in the Olifants Estuary, South Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Campbell CA, Zenter RP, Selles F, Biederbeck VO, McConkey BG, Blomert B, Jefferson PG (2000) Quantifying short-term effects of crop rotations on soil organic carbon in southwestern Saskatchewan. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 80, 193–202.
Quantifying short-term effects of crop rotations on soil organic carbon in southwestern Saskatchewan.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Çelik I, Günal H, Acir N, Barut ZB, Budak M (2021) Soil quality assessment to compare tillage systems in Cukurova Plain, Turkey. Soil and Tillage Research 208, 104892
Soil quality assessment to compare tillage systems in Cukurova Plain, Turkey.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Chaudhuri S, McDonald LM, Skousen J, Pena-Yewtukhiw EM (2013) Soil organic carbon molecular properties: effects of time since reclamation in a mine soil chronosequence. Land Degradation and Development 26, 273–248.
Soil organic carbon molecular properties: effects of time since reclamation in a mine soil chronosequence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Chaudhury J, Mandal UK, Sharma KL, Ghosh H, Mandal B (2005) Assessing soil quality under long-term rice-based cropping system. Communication in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 36, 1141–1161.
Assessing soil quality under long-term rice-based cropping system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Chen Y-D, Wang H-Y, Zhou J-M, Xing L, Zhu B-S, Zhao Y-C, Chen X-Q (2013) Minimum data set for assessing soil quality in farmland of northeast China. Pedosphere 23, 564–576.
Minimum data set for assessing soil quality in farmland of northeast China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cherubin MR, Karlen DL, Cerri CEP, Franco ALC, Tormena CA, Davies CA, Cerri CC (2016) Soil quality indexing strategies for evaluating sugarcane expansion in Brazil. PLoS ONE 11, e0150860
Soil quality indexing strategies for evaluating sugarcane expansion in Brazil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26938642PubMed |

Chesnin L, Yien CH (1951) Turbidimetric determination of available sulphates. Soil Science Society of America Journal 15, 149–151.
Turbidimetric determination of available sulphates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Chodak M, Niklińska M (2010) Effect of texture and tree species on microbial properties of mine soils. Applied Soil Ecology 46, 268–275.
Effect of texture and tree species on microbial properties of mine soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Das S, Bhattacharyya R, Das TK, Sharma AR, Dwivedi BS, Meena MC, Dey A, Biswas S, Aditya K, Aggarwal P, Biswas AK, Chaudhari SK (2021) Soil quality indices in a conservation agriculture-based rice-mustard cropping system in North-western Indo-Gangetic Plains. Soil and Tillage Research 208, 104914
Soil quality indices in a conservation agriculture-based rice-mustard cropping system in North-western Indo-Gangetic Plains.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ditzler CA, Tugel AJ (2002) Soil quality field tools of USDA-NRCS soil quality institute. Agronomy Journal 94, 33–38.
Soil quality field tools of USDA-NRCS soil quality institute.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Doran JW, Parkin TB (1994) Defining and assessing soil quality. In ‘Defining soil quality for a sustainable environment’. SSSA special publication no. 35. (Eds JW Doran, DC Coleman, DF Bezdicek, BA Stewart) pp. 3–21. (ASA and SSSA: Madison, WI).
| Crossref |

Fernandes JC, Gamero CA, Rodrigues JGL, Miras-Avalo JM (2011) Determination of the quality index of a Paleudult under sunflower culture and different management systems. Soil and Tillage Research 112, 167–174.
Determination of the quality index of a Paleudult under sunflower culture and different management systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gan Y, Hamel C, O’Donovan JT, Cutforth H, Zentner RP, Campbell CA, Niu Y, Poppy L (2015) Diversifying crop rotations with pulses enhances system productivity. Scientific Reports 5, 14625
Diversifying crop rotations with pulses enhances system productivity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26424172PubMed |

Ganeshamurthy AN, Ali M, Srinivasarao C (2006) Role of pulses in sustaining soil health and crop production. Indian Journal of Fertilizers 1, 29–40.

Ghaemi M, Astaraei AR, Mahalati MN, Emami H, Sanaeinejad HH (2014) Spatio-temporal soil quality assessment under crop rotation irrigated with treated urban wastewater using fuzzy modeling. International Agrophysics 28, 291–302.
Spatio-temporal soil quality assessment under crop rotation irrigated with treated urban wastewater using fuzzy modeling.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Glover JD, Reganold JP, Andrews PK (2000) Systematic method for rating soil quality of conventional, organic, and integrated apple orchards in Washington State. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 80, 29–45.
Systematic method for rating soil quality of conventional, organic, and integrated apple orchards in Washington State.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gong L, Ran QY, He GX, Tiyip T (2015) A soil quality assessment under different land use types in Keriya river basin, Southern Xinjiang, China. Soil and Tillage Research 146, 223–229.
A soil quality assessment under different land use types in Keriya river basin, Southern Xinjiang, China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Govaerts B, Sayre KD, Deckers J (2006) A minimum data set for soil quality assessment of wheat and maize cropping in the highlands of Mexico. Soil and Tillage Research 87, 163–174.
A minimum data set for soil quality assessment of wheat and maize cropping in the highlands of Mexico.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Jenkinson DS, Powlson DS (1976) The effect of biological treatments on metabolism in soil—V: a method for measuring soil biomass. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 8, 209–213.
The effect of biological treatments on metabolism in soil—V: a method for measuring soil biomass.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kaiser HF (1960) The application of electronic computers to factor analysis. Educational and Psychological Measurement 29, 141–151.
The application of electronic computers to factor analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kaiser HF (1970) A second generation little jiffy. Psychometrika 35, 401–415.
A second generation little jiffy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Karthikeyan K, Kumar N, Prasad J, Srivastava R (2015) Soil quality and its assessment: a review. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 14, 100–108.

Kaur R, Shivay YS, Singh G, Virk HK, Sen S (2018) Increasing area under pulses and soil quality enhancement in pulse-based cropping systems – retrospect and prospects. Indian Journal of Agricultural Science 88, 10–21.

Klein DA, Loh TC, Goulding RL (1971) A rapid procedure to evaluate the dehydrogenase activity of soils low in organic matter. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 3, 385–387.
A rapid procedure to evaluate the dehydrogenase activity of soils low in organic matter.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Klute A (1986) Water retention: laboratory methods. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 1 physical and mineralogical methods, 5.1’, 2nd edn. (Ed. A Klute) pp. 635–662. (ASA and SSSA: Madison, WI)
| Crossref |

Klute A, Dirksen C (1986) Hydraulic conductivity and diffusivity: laboratory measurements. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 1: physical and mineralogical methods, 5.1’, 2nd edn. (Ed. A Klute) pp. 687–734. (ASA and SSSA: Madison, WI)
| Crossref |

Kumar N, Singh SK, Mishra VN, Obi Reddy GP, Bajpai RK (2017) Soil quality ranking of a small sample size using AHP. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 16, 339–346.
Soil quality ranking of a small sample size using AHP.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kumar U, Mishra VN, Kumar N (2018) Comparative study of soil quality indicators for rice-based cropping system in Vertisols of central plain of Chhattisgarh. Asian Journal of Soil Science 13, 136–147.
Comparative study of soil quality indicators for rice-based cropping system in Vertisols of central plain of Chhattisgarh.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kumar U, Mishra VN, Kumar N, Dotaniya CK, Mohbe S (2019b) Effects of long term rice-based cropping systems on soil quality indicators in central plain of Chhattisgarh. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 8, 1544–1552.
Effects of long term rice-based cropping systems on soil quality indicators in central plain of Chhattisgarh.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kumar U, Mishra VN, Kumar N, Jena RK, Srivastava LK, Bajpai RK (2019a) Characterization and classification of soils under rice-based cropping systems in Balod district of Chhattisgarh. Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science 67, 228–235.
Characterization and classification of soils under rice-based cropping systems in Balod district of Chhattisgarh.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kumar U, Mishra VN, Kumar N, Srivastava LK, Bajpai RK (2020) Soil physical and chemical quality under long-term rice-based cropping system in hot humid eastern plateau of India. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 51, 1930–1945.
Soil physical and chemical quality under long-term rice-based cropping system in hot humid eastern plateau of India.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lal R (2015) Restoring soil quality to mitigate soil degradation. Sustainability 7, 5875–5895.
Restoring soil quality to mitigate soil degradation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Li P, Zhang T, Wang X, Yu D (2013) Development of biological soil quality indicator system for subtropical China. Soil and Tillage Research 126, 112–118.
Development of biological soil quality indicator system for subtropical China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lima ACR, Hoogmoed W, Brussaard L (2008) Soil quality assessment in rice production systems: establishing a minimum data set. Journal of Environmental Quality 37, 623–630.
Soil quality assessment in rice production systems: establishing a minimum data set.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lindsay WL, Norvell WA (1978) Development of a DTPA soil test for zinc, iron, manganese, and copper. Soil Science Society of America Journal 42, 421–428.
Development of a DTPA soil test for zinc, iron, manganese, and copper.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Liu Z-J, Zhou W, Shen J-B, Li S-T, Liang G-Q, Wang X-B, Sun J-W, Ai C (2014) Soil quality assessment of acid sulfate paddy soils with different productivities in Guangdong Province, China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture 13, 177–186.
Soil quality assessment of acid sulfate paddy soils with different productivities in Guangdong Province, China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mandal B, Majumder B, Adhya TK, Bandyopadhyay PK, Gangopadhyay A, Sarkar D, Kundu MC, Gupta Choudhury S, Hazra GC, Kundu S, Samantaray RN, Misra AK (2008) The potential of double-cropped rice ecology to conserve organic carbon under subtropical climate. Global Change Biology 14, 2139–2151.
The potential of double-cropped rice ecology to conserve organic carbon under subtropical climate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Masto RE, Chhonkar PK, Singh D, Patra AK (2008) Alternative soil quality indices for evaluating the effect of intensive cropping, fertilisation and manuring for 31 years in the semi-arid soils of India. Environment Monitoring Assessment 136, 419–435.
Alternative soil quality indices for evaluating the effect of intensive cropping, fertilisation and manuring for 31 years in the semi-arid soils of India.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

McGarry D, Bridge BJ, Radford BJ (2000) Contrasting soil physical properties after zero and traditional tillage of an alluvial soil in the semi-arid subtropics. Soil and Tillage Research 53, 105–115.
Contrasting soil physical properties after zero and traditional tillage of an alluvial soil in the semi-arid subtropics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mitsch WJ, Nahlik A, Wolski P, Bernal B, Zhang L, Ramberg L (2010) Tropical wetlands: seasonal hydrologic pulsing, carbon sequestration, and methane emissions. Wetlands Ecology and Management 18, 573–586.
Tropical wetlands: seasonal hydrologic pulsing, carbon sequestration, and methane emissions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mohanty M, Painuli DK, Misra AK, Ghosh PK (2007) Soil quality effects of tillage and residue under rice-wheat cropping on a vertisol in India. Soil and Tillage Research 92, 243–250.
Soil quality effects of tillage and residue under rice-wheat cropping on a vertisol in India.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Moore JM, Klose S, Tabatabai MM (2000) Soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen as affected by cropping systems. Biology and Fertility of Soils 31, 200–210.
Soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen as affected by cropping systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mukherjee A, Lal R (2014) Comparison of soil quality index using three methods. PLoS ONE 9, e105981
Comparison of soil quality index using three methods.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25148036PubMed |

Nadimi-Goki M, Bini C, Haefele S, Abooei M (2013) Evaluation of soil quality indicators in paddy soils under different crop rotation systems. Geophysical Research 15, EGU2013-6278

Olsen SR, Cole CV, Watababe FS, Dean LA (1954) ‘Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by extraction with sodium bicarbonate.’ United States Department of Agriculture Circular 939 (p. 19). (US Department of Agriculture: Washington, DC)

Pagliai M, Vignozzi N, Pellegrini S (2004) Soil structure and the effect of management practices. Soil and Tillage Research 79, 131–143.
Soil structure and the effect of management practices.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pal DK, Wani SP, Sahrawat KL (2012) Vertisols of tropical Indian environments: pedology and edaphology. Geoderma 189–190, 28–49.
Vertisols of tropical Indian environments: pedology and edaphology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pancholy SL, Rice EL (1973) Soil enzymes in relation to old field succession: amylase, cellulose, invertase, dehydrogenase, and urease. Soil Science Society of America Journal 37, 47–50.
Soil enzymes in relation to old field succession: amylase, cellulose, invertase, dehydrogenase, and urease.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Parihar CM, Singh AK, Jat SL, Dey A, Nayak HS, Mandal BN, Saharawat YS, Jat ML, Yadav OP (2020) Soil quality and carbon sequestration under conservation agriculture with balanced nutrition in intensive cereal-based system. Soil and Tillage Research 202, 104653
Soil quality and carbon sequestration under conservation agriculture with balanced nutrition in intensive cereal-based system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Piper CS (1950) ‘Soil and plant analysis.’ (Hans Publishers: Mumbai), p. 368.

Qi Y, Darilek JL, Huang B, Zhao Y, Sun W, Gu Z (2009) Evaluating soil quality indices in an agricultural region of Jiangsu Province, China. Geoderma 149, 325–334.
Evaluating soil quality indices in an agricultural region of Jiangsu Province, China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rahmanipour F, Marzaioli R, Bahrami HA, Fereidouni Z, Bandarabadi SR (2014) Assessment of soil quality indices in agricultural lands of Qazvin Province, Iran. Ecological Indicators 40, 19–26.
Assessment of soil quality indices in agricultural lands of Qazvin Province, Iran.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rajpoot RS, Bajpai RK, Shrivastava LK, Kumar U, Tedia K, Mishra VN (2021) Evaluation of soil physical and chemical properties under rice-based cropping system in alfisols of Northern Hill Region of Chhattisgarh. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 10, 2748–2761.
Evaluation of soil physical and chemical properties under rice-based cropping system in alfisols of Northern Hill Region of Chhattisgarh.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

R Core Team (2020) R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing: Vienna, Austria. Available at https://www.R-project.org/.

Rezaei M, Tabatabaekoloor R, Mousavi seyedi SR, Nategh NA (2012) Effects of puddling intensity on the in-situ engineering properties of paddy field soil. Australian Journal of Agricultural Engineering 3, 22–26.
Effects of puddling intensity on the in-situ engineering properties of paddy field soil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rezaei SA, Gilkes RJ, Andrews SS (2006) A minimum data set for assessing soil quality in rangelands. Geoderma 136, 229–234.
A minimum data set for assessing soil quality in rangelands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Richards LA (1954) ‘Diagnosis and improvement of saline-alkali soils.’ USDA Handbook No. 60, (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC)

Saurabh K, Rao KK, Mishra JS, Kumar R, Poonia SP, Samal SK, Roy HS, Dubey AK, Choubey AK, Mondal S, Bhatt BP, Verma M, Malik RK (2021) Influence of tillage based crop establishment and residue management practices on soil quality indices and yield sustainability in rice-wheat cropping system of Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains. Soil and Tillage Research 206, 104841
Influence of tillage based crop establishment and residue management practices on soil quality indices and yield sustainability in rice-wheat cropping system of Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 33536693PubMed |

Shahid M, Nayak AK, Shukla AK, Tripathi R, Kumar A, Mohanty S, Bhattacharyya P, Raja R, Panda BB (2013) Long-term effects of fertilizer and manure applications on soil quality and yields in a sub-humid tropical rice-rice system. Soil Use and Management 29, 322–332.
Long-term effects of fertilizer and manure applications on soil quality and yields in a sub-humid tropical rice-rice system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Shailaja S, Sahrawat KL (1994) Phosphate buffering capacity and supply parameters affecting phosphorus availability in Vertisols. Journal of Indian Society of Soil Science 42, 329–330. oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/4234

Singh D, Chhonkar PK, Dwivedi BS (2005) Manual on soil, plant and water analysis. 200 p. Westville Publishing house, New Delhi.

Singh M, Wanjari RH (2017) Annual report 2016–17. All india coordinated research project on long term fertilizer experiments to study changes in soil quality, crop productivity and sustainability. AICRP-LTFE. Indian Institute of Soil Science (ICAR), Nabibagh, Bhopal, pp. 1–118.

Singh M, Wanjari RH, Kumar U, Chaudhari SK (2019) AICRP on long-term fertilizer experiments: salient achievements and future directions. Indian Journal of Fertilizers 15, 356–372.

Singh SR, Yadav P, Singh D, Tripathi MK, Bahadur L, Singh SP, Mishra A, Kumar S (2020) Cropping systems influence microbial diversity, soil quality and crop yields in Indo-Gangetic plains of India. European Journal of Agronomy 121, 126152
Cropping systems influence microbial diversity, soil quality and crop yields in Indo-Gangetic plains of India.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sinha NK, Chopra UK, Singh AK (2014) Cropping system effects on soil quality for three agro-ecosystems in India. Experimental Agriculture 50, 321–342.
Cropping system effects on soil quality for three agro-ecosystems in India.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Soil Survey Staff (2014) ‘Keys to soil taxonomy.’ 12th edn. (United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service: Washington, DC)

Subbiah BV, Asija GL (1956) A rapid procedure for the determination of available nitrogen in soils. Current Sciences 25, 259–260.

Tabatabi MA, Bremner JM (1969) Use of p-nitrophenyl phosphate for asses of phosphate activity. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 1, 301–307.
Use of p-nitrophenyl phosphate for asses of phosphate activity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tamgadge DB, Gahbhiya KS, Pandey GP (2002) Soil Series of Chhattisgarh, Technical bulletin. NBSS Publ. No. 85. National bureau of soil survey and land use planning, Nagpur, p. 183.

Tandon HLS (1993) Method of analysis of soils, plant, water and fertilizers (Ed.). Fertilizer development and consultation organization, New Delhi.

Toth SJ, Prince AL (1949) Estimate of cation exchange capacity and exchangeable Ca, K, Na, content of soil by flame photometer technique. Soil Science 67, 439–446.
Estimate of cation exchange capacity and exchangeable Ca, K, Na, content of soil by flame photometer technique.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Vasu D, Singh SK, Ray SK, Duraisami VP, Tiwary P, Chandra P, Nimkar AM, Anantwar SG (2016) Soil quality index (SQI) as a tool to evaluate crop productivity in semi-arid Deccan plateau, India. Geoderma 282,
Soil quality index (SQI) as a tool to evaluate crop productivity in semi-arid Deccan plateau, India.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Venkanna K, Mandal UK, Raju AJS, Sharma KL, Adake RV, Pushpanjali Reddy BS, Masane RN, Venkatravamma K, Babu PD (2014) Carbon stocks in major soil types and land-use systems in semiarid tropical region of southern India. Current Science 106, 604–611. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24100069?seq=1

Vizioli B, Cavalieri-Polizeli KMV, Tormena CA, Barth G (2021) Effects of long-term tillage systems on soil physical quality and crop yield in a Brazilian Ferralsol. Soil and Tillage Research 209, 104935
Effects of long-term tillage systems on soil physical quality and crop yield in a Brazilian Ferralsol.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Walkley A, Black IA (1934) Rapid titration method of organic carbon of soils. Soil Science 37, 29–38.
Rapid titration method of organic carbon of soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Waring S, Bremner J (1964) Ammonium production in soil under waterlogged conditions as an index of nitrogen availability. Nature 201, 951–952.
Ammonium production in soil under waterlogged conditions as an index of nitrogen availability.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wilding LP (1985) Spatial variability: its documentation, accommodation, and implication to soil surveys. In ‘Soil spatial variability’. (Eds DR Nielsen, J Bouma) pp. 166–194. (Pudoc: Wageningen, The Netherlands)

Yao R, Yang J, Gao P, Zhang J, Jin W (2013) Determining minimum data set for soil quality assessment of typical salt-affected farmland in the coastal reclamation area. Soil and Tillage Research 128, 137–148.
Determining minimum data set for soil quality assessment of typical salt-affected farmland in the coastal reclamation area.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Yoder RE (1936) A direct method of aggregate analysis of soils and a study of the physical nature of erosion losses. Agronomy Journal 28, 337–351.
A direct method of aggregate analysis of soils and a study of the physical nature of erosion losses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Zhang G, Baia J, Xi M, Zhao Q, Lu Q, Jia J (2016) Soil quality assessment of coastal wetlands in the Yellow River Delta of China based on the minimum data set. Ecological Indicators 66, 458–466.
Soil quality assessment of coastal wetlands in the Yellow River Delta of China based on the minimum data set.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |