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SUSTAINING RICE-WHEAT SYSTEM THROUGH
MANAGEMENT OF LEGUMES I: EFFECT OF GREEN MANURE LEGUMES ON RICE
YIELD AND SOIL QUALITY
ZAHIR SHAH1*, S. RASHID AHMAD2 AND
HIDAYAT UR RAHMAN3
Abstract: This study
was aimed to attempt if we can fit a green manure legume in the gap
between wheat harvest and rice plantation for sustainable rice (Oryza
sativa) -wheat (Triticum aestivum) system. The effect of six
green manure legumes viz. mungbean (Vigna radiata), cowpea (Vigna
unguiculata), soybean (Glycine max), sesbania (Sesbania
rostrata), pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) and guar (Cyamopsis
tetragonoloba) was assessed on rice yields and soil organic
fertility in rice-wheat system for three consecutive years
(2001/02-2003/04) at Agriculture Research Institute, Tarnab, Peshawar
(Pakistan). The paddy and straw yields of rice were significantly
increased by all green manure legumes during all the three years.
However, on average, the greatest paddy and straw yields were recorded
for cowpea and sesbania. The N uptake in rice was also significantly
increased by legumes. However, the greatest N uptake occurred in the
sesbania plot. Significantly positive effects of green manure legumes
were also observed on soil organic matter, total N and mineral N
relative to the fallow-based rice-wheat system. Our results suggest that
the gap between wheat harvest and rice plantation can be effectively
used to grow any green manure legume in general and sesbania or cowpea
in particular in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for sustainable rice-wheat
system. Although this technology was tested in Peshawar valley, it has
equal applications any where in the rice-wheat system.
1Department
of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural
University, Peshawar, Pakistan
2SPN
Directorate, ARI, Tarnab, Peshawar, Pakistan
3Department
of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural
University, Peshawar, Pakistan
*Corresponding
author e-mail:
zahirshah59@yahoo.com
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