Changes in soil organic matter, plant nutrients and system productivity under conservation agricultural practices in the rice-jute cropping system

Soil organic matter (SOM) is central to soil quality and nutrient cycling. In Bangladesh, depletion of soil fertility is a serious threat to sustainability of agricultural production due to high cropping intensity and agriculture practices based on conventional tillage and residue removal (Rijpma and Jahiruddin, 2004). In this situation, CA practices (minimum tillage, crop residue retention and diverse crop rotations) could be a good option for the improvement of soil quality and crop productivity in Bangladesh. However, CA practices are poorly developed for intensive rice-based cropping system and their effect on SOM, plant nutrients and system productivity have not yet been properly addressed. Hence, the present study was undertaken to monitor the changes in SOM and other plant nutrients with system productivity under CA practices in the rice-jute cropping system in the Low Ganges River Floodplain of Bangladesh