Improving Soil Health and Crop Yields Through Conservation Agriculture and Nutrient Management in Central India

Abstract

Maintaining soil health and crop productivity in the semi‐arid Vertisols of central India poses a significant challenge under intensive agricultural practices. This 6‐year field study assessed the combined impact of different tillage methods, maize‐based crop rotations, and nitrogen management on soil's physical, chemical, and biological characteristics, soil quality indices (SQI), and crop yields. The experiment used a split‐split‐plot design, featuring no‐till (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) as the main treatments, maize‐wheat and maize–chickpea rotations as sub‐treatments, and four nitrogen levels (0%, 50%, 100%, and 150% of the recommended dose) as sub‐sub treatments. Compared to CT, NT significantly increased soil organic carbon by 13%–21%, the mean weight diameter of aggregates by 29%–32%, available phosphorus by up to 110% in surface soils, and microbial activity, as evidenced by a 15% rise in dehydrogenase activity and a 5%–16% increase in β ‐glucosidase activity in the 0–5 cm layer. There were strong positive correlations between SOC and aggregate stability ( r  = 0.78) and nutrient availability ( r  = 0.70–0.78), underscoring the crucial role of organic matter in soil function. The maize‐wheat rotation consistently surpassed maize‐chickpea in soil quality metrics due to higher residue retention, while nitrogen fertilization showed a dose‐dependent enhancement in soil properties and crop yields. Grain yields of maize, wheat, and chickpea under NT were 21%, 15%, and 31% higher, respectively, than under CT. Although the highest yields were achieved at 150% N, the 100% N rate offered a favorable balance between improving soil health and sustaining yields. Overall, the study illustrates that long‐term use of no‐till, combined with a residue‐rich maize‐wheat rotation and optimized nitrogen management, significantly enhances soil quality, carbon sequestration, and crop productivity in semi‐arid Vertisols, providing a viable approach for sustainable intensification in similar agroecological areas.