The traditional rice-wheat cropping cycle is degrading soil health, according to a long-term study by agricultural scientists in Punjab. The study, published in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, compared ten different cropping systems to evaluate their impact on soil fertility and structure.
The dominant rice-wheat system relies on intensive tillage and “puddling,” which has led to soil compaction, reduced porosity, and loss of organic carbon. On the other hand, systems incorporating maize, basmati rice, cowpeas, mungbeans, and berseem showed significantly improved Soil Quality Index values.
K B Singh, the director of PAMETI, emphasized the benefits of diversification, mentioning that growing fodders can increase farmers’ income directly and indirectly. The researchers advocate for an integrated farming system that includes green manuring, leguminous plants, horticulture, and dairy to create a self-sufficient and resilient farm ecosystem.
