Effect of green manuring and residue incorporation on soil properties and seed yield of rapeseed mustard

The different organic amendments which were tested during investigations included direct incorporation of mustard crop residue in the field and green manuring at 50 and 75 per cent RDF. These amendments significantly increased seed yield in rapeseed mustard during 2nd and 3rd years of experimentation. Nutrients uptake in terms of N, P and K was also positively affected by soil amendments in both the crops. Physical properties like bulk density (BD), water holding capacity (WHC) and infiltration rate were numerically but non-significantly increased in organically amended plots when compared to the control or to initial values. BD decreased from 1.47 g/cc to 1.44 g/cc while the water holding capacity and infiltration rate increased from 23.4 to 23.7 per cent and 2.76 to 2.79 cm/h respectively in organically amended plots. There was slight decline in soil pH in the plots amended with soil amendments but this decline was non-significant. EC was not affected but organic carbon, available N and available P were significantly affected by organic amendments. Biological properties in terms of dehydrogenase activity (DHA), alkaline phosphatase activity and viable microbial count significantly varied in treated plots as compared to 50 or 75 per cent RDF alone or over with initial values.