Improving soil and crop productivity through resource conservation technologies in drought prone area

Resource conserving technologies (RCTs) provides immediate economic and environmental benefits of crop establishment and thus improve systems yield. Rice is transplanted in flat fields that are typically ponded for long periods that negatively affect soil properties for the non-puddled crop (Kumar et al. 2000). Yields of rice and wheat in heat and water-stressed environments can be raised significantly by adopting RCTs, which minimize unfavorable environmental impacts, small and medium-scale farms (Kataki, 2001). Inclusion of grain legumes in rice-wheat cropping system may be another option for increasing cropping intensity, soil fertility and productivity. Crop residue, raised beds along with efficient N fertilization strategies are likely to be key components of increase crop productivity and soil fertility. Thus, crop residue management under bed systems along with efficient N fertilization strategies were assessed the potential productivity and soil fertility in rice-wheat system