Conservation Tillage's Relevance in Potato Production: Improving Soil Quality and Growth Performance

Abstract

In the conventional system, potato crop is grown under intensive tillage along with use of high inputs that led to deterioration of soil health and environment.  Hence, practicing of intensive tillage create hindrance for accommodating a second crop immediately after harvesting of rice.  That’s why in many parts of India, rice stubble burning is a common practice done by farmers to advance the time of planting. Thus, rice stubble burning which is accountable for the emission of CO2 considered as a serious issue in most of the rice growing areas. Considering the farmer’s benefit as well as soil health and environment, conservation tillage i.e., zero/minimum tillage could be one of the vital alternative options that could help to overcome the problem associated with conventional tillage. Therefore, an attempt has been made to interpret the findings of conservation tillage on performance of potato crop and its subsequent effect on soil health. Results showed variable response on crop performances due to conservation tillage, but improved the soil health and quality by increasing the soil organic carbon and nutrient availability.