# Legumes as Soil Building Crops for Improving Soil Quality Index in Sugarcane Production System

Ajeet Kumar, C.K Jha

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Ajeet Kumar, C.K Jha. Legumes as Soil Building Crops for Improving Soil Quality Index in Sugarcane Production System. 2021, pp.3 (6): 47-50. hal-05456929

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# Legumes as Soil Building Crops for Improving Soil Quality Index in Sugarcane Production System

Article ID: 11015

C. K. Jha<fnref n="1" />, Ajeet Kumar<fnref n="1" />, S. K. Sinha<fnref n="1" />

## Abstract

Sustainable agriculture is a long goal that seeks to overcome the problems and constraints that confront the economic viability, environmental soundness and social acceptance of agriculture production systems. No systems of farming will be sustainable unless the soil which forms pivot and is the most important natural resource is managed scientifically to meet the present and future needs, its productivity and quality are maintained continuously and there is no reduction of output, with input. Soil quality is yardstick of good soil management for sustainable farming. Continuous sugarcane cropping with imbalance use of fertilizers and the use of only inorganic fertilizers had led to depletion of organic carbon, available phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients in the soil and posing threat to the long-term productivity. In this context, introduction of legume assumes special significance because they contribute in nitrogen fixation and its biomass act as a source of novel green manure. Legume crop act as cover crop, green manure crop and provide unique environment for rhizosphere soil which favour greater microbial activity and fix substantial quantity of nitrogen in soil. It may improve soil quality indices for sustaining sugarcane production system in the long run.

## Introduction

Soils of the world's agro ecosystems (i.e., croplands, grazing lands, rangelands) are depleted of their soil organic carbon (SOC) stock by 25-75% depending on climate, soil type, and historic management, and the magnitude of this loss may be 10 to 50 Mg C ha⁻<fnref n="1" /> (Lal, 2011). Spring sugarcane produces lesser yield than autumn crop as the spring crop get shorter time for growth and development (Singh et al., 2010). Various organic sources like farmyard manure (FYM), oil cakes, press mud cake, vermicompost, green manure and legume as intercrops used as sources of nutrients since ages. Organic sources of nutrients not only help in supplementing the nutrients to sugarcane but also maintain favourable physical, chemical and biological soil environment. The deterioration in soil health and ecology has been reported in recent years mainly due to erratic climatic behaviour. Continuous use of heavy doses of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals potentially impaired the soil microbial activity, leading to poor soil health (Singh et al., 2007). A sugarcane crop giving cane yield of 100 t/ha may remove 205 kg N, 55 kg P and 275 kg K, 30 kg S, 3.5 kg Fe, 1.2 kg Mn, 0.6 kg Zn, 0.2 kg Cu sides the losses of nutrients during cropping season. The yield of sugarcane has reached a plateau due to decline in factor productivity (Yadav et al., 1998).

## Soil Sustainability and Soil Quality Index

Sustainable farming is the successful management of resources for agricultural production to satisfy the human needs while maintaining or enhancing the quality of environment and conserving natural resources. Sustaining or increasing soil organic matter is of great importance in terms of cycling plant nutrient, minimizing the need of inorganic fertilizer, and improving soil physical, chemical and biological properties. The soil organic matter (SOM) pool comprises of active, intermediate/slow and passive pools, which act as sensitive indicators of soil quality. The active pools generally contribute about 10-20% towards total SOM, whereas the stable or passive pools have 50-90% contribution towards total SOM. The soil organic carbon (SOC) stock is comprised of labile or actively cycling pool. Labile C pool is the fraction of SOC with rapid turnover rates. Some carbon pools like CO₂ evolution, soil microbial biomass carbon and water-soluble carbon are used as an indicator of soil quality. Soil microbial biomass study reflects energy flow, acts as an agent of transformation of all substances and reflects on a labile pool of C, N, P, S and micronutrients (Mishra et al., 2008). Soil quality is yardstick of good soil management for sustainable farming. Any system

<footnote n="1">¹Assistant Professor-cum- Scientist; Department of Soil Science, Sugarcane Research Institute, DRPCAU, Pusa (Samastipur)-848125, Bihar, India.</footnote>
of farming which causes adverse effect on soil quality parameters are unsustainable. These parameters for estimating soil quality index include nutrient availability-capacity and intensity factor, soil depth and water holding capacity, salinity and sodicity, soil physical environment-(aeration, drainage, structure etc), hydrological regimes, soil erosion, soil biology, microorganism and soil productivity as an integrated index of all these factors.

## Resource Constraints

Continued monocropping of sugarcane without crop rotation and organic recycling for several decades have depleted the soil fertility considerably. Singh (2008) reported that there is an estimated loss of 4.5 to 7.9% in sugarcane yield due to soil degradation in India. Productivity of the soils has come down due to the degradation of the physical and chemical properties and decline in rhizosphere microbial activities. Decline in soil organic carbon content has been very apparent over the years affecting productivity. Significant reduction in soil organic carbon content following continued sugarcane cultivation had also been reported from several parts of India. Continued monocropping of sugarcane also has resulted in depletion of water resources at an alarming rate. The water requirement of sugarcane crop is close to 2500 mm in tropics and 1500 in subtropics. Scarce rainfall and depletion of ground water is adversely affecting the cane area and production in serious proportions. The situation is grave enough to warrant moderation of water use of the crop through water use efficient varieties and micro irrigation methods.

## Scope of Intercropping in Sugarcane

Intercropping is the best alternative for increasing the area under sugarcane cultivation. Growing pulses with sugarcane crop not only increases the area under pulse crop but also reduces the intensity of weeds and provides mid-season income to house-holds for further use of critical inputs to sugarcane along with additional employment opportunities. Intercropping is an age-old practice of growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land. It is a technique of crop intensification in both time and space wherein competition between crops may occur during a part or whole growth period.

Autumn planted sugarcane is most suitable for growing intercrops as its growth slows down because of low temperature during November to February when condition is suitable for short duration rabi crop, which can be successfully grown between inter spaces of sugarcane. Several studies demonstrated that the total productivity of crops in sugarcane + rabi crops intercropping system is substantially higher than the total productivity of sole rabi crop in winter followed by sole sugarcane planted in spring season. Dwarf type crops with compact canopy including legumes, oilseeds, cereals, spices and vegetables are suitable as intercrops in autumn planted sugarcane.

## Effect of Legumes on Soil Quality

Legumes have long been recognized and valued as "soil building" crops. Growing legumes improves soil quality through their beneficial effects on soil biological, chemical and physical conditions. As we know Sugarcane is a long duration widely spaced crop with its sowing with spacing of 75 to 150 cm. It is a slow growing crop up to 80-90 days. Its efficient root system helps to tap plant nutrients and moisture from the soil deep layers allowing the intercrops to feed at the top layer of soil.

The enhancement in organic carbon content over control was up to the extent of 17.64 percent has been recorded due to intercropping of green gram in sugarcane production system (Ranjan and Jha, 2019). The application of only inorganic fertilizer was not effective for maintaining fertility status of soil. The application of organic manure improved BD and porosity of soil due to improvement in carbon content of soil. The SOC and its pool fractions lead to improved soil fertility, sustainability and environmental quality in long-run (Carter, 2002).

## Effect of Legumes on Soil Quality

Legumes improve quality of soil and it enhanced nutrient use efficiency, soil aeration, stimulate soil biological activity, increase the soil reserves of organic matter, enhance the N-supplying power of soils. It also reduces bulk density of soil, soil erosion and improve soil structure and water transmission characteristics of soil.
<figure><img src="image_2.png" /></figure>

## Leguminous as Intercrops

Crop rotation involving legumes and spatial arrangement of crops to accommodate legumes aid in fixing the atmospheric nitrogen in the legume rhizosphere in varying quantities depending on the species. Legume has a great potential to be used for the betterment of sugarcane plant- ratoon system. The raising of legume as intercrop with sugarcane short period of 45-50 days would add substantial quantity of nutrients in to the soil.

## Legume as Inter Crops

Sugarcane is planted generally at in row 90 cm. It's normally taken 30-45 day for germination and the initial growth of crops is also slow up to 100 day after planting and also in case of ratoon (Singh and Singh,1992). As a result of the laetrile spread of crop, foliage is not much, secondly green manuring prior to sugarcane is considered as waste full practices because of population pressure on land and availability of chemical fertilizer at cheaper rate. It's not preferred to miss a kharif crops for green manuring so legume in inter row spaces as intercrop is taken. Legumes suitable for intercropping with sugarcane, in autumn planted sugarcane ratoon, berseem, gram, lentil, pea, khesari and for spring planted cane ratoon, summer legume like moong, urd, and cowpea are popular intercrop (Singh et al., 2015).

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /><figcaption>Sugarcane +Rajma</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /><figcaption>Sugarcane +Green</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /><figcaption>Sugarcane +Lentil</figcaption></figure>

## Biofertilizers and Legume Crop

Several studies clearly indicate that among the different types of biofertilizers available at present, Rhizobium is relatively more effective and widely used. Considering an average N fixation rate of 25 kg/N ha per 500 g application of Rhizobium. The biofertilizer inoculated legume enhanced the nutrient use pattern and efficiency of applied fertilizer. The additional benefits of nutrient contributed when legumes are grown with sugarcane inoculated with biofertilizer. On the other hand Azotobacter, which is used in non-legume crops has given inconclusive results. The use of Azospirillum inoculation in non-legume crops as biotic N source should be advocated. Biofertilizers are also associated with the liberation of growth substances which promote germination and plant growth. As regards phosphate, several phosphate solubilising bacteria are known to mobilize the significant quantities of soil phosphate.

## Legume Biomass as Green Manure

Crop residues are parts of the plant left in the field after crops have been harvested and threshed or left after pasture are grazed. In India about 100 million tonnes of crop residues are available for recycling in agriculture annually. Crop residue when incorporated also improves the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil. Umrit et al. (2009) demonstrated that incorporation of legume green manure crops in the soil resulted in substantial amounts of N which became available to the subsequent sugarcane crop. Burning is a minor practice in India and burn the residues causing loss of precious organic matter, plant nutrients and environmental pollution. Rain fed soils are deficient in organic matter. There is need to replenish it by every possible means to sustain soil productivity. Crop residues are reservoir of plant nutrients (especially K) and improve soil physical and biological properties and protect the soil from wind and water erosion. Beneficial effect of legume residue incorporation in rain fed soils on yields of crops have been widely reported.

## Legume for Soil Fertility

The nutrient supplying capacity of soil can be improved by introduction of legume crop in long duration sugarcane crop in both autumn and spring planted sugarcane. Legume crop act as cover crop and provide unique environment of rhizosphere soil favour greater microbial activity through excretion of amino acids. The legume crop has ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in soil and became available for sugarcane crop during the current season. Bhullar et al. (2005) from their experiments on intercropping in sugarcane reported that intercropping summer moong and summer mash when green manured in the field after
picking the pods, the nitrogen dose to green manured spring cane was reduced by 25%. The legume crop completes their life cycle in three months with enrichment of nitrogen status which remains available for sugarcane crop standing for nine months. A large biomass is available after legume harvest which act as source of green manure for sugarcane and its incorporation improved organic carbon and available N content of soil.

Conclusion

Nutrient mining in sugarcane production system is alarming and causing negative nutrient balance which is indicative of deterioration in soil health in the long run. The depletion of organic matter and multi micronutrient deficiency coupled with deterioration in physical and biological properties of soil became a serious threat for sustainable agriculture. Due to unavailability of traditional source of organic manure in the era of mechanization, raising of leguminous crop as intercrop in sugarcane is feasible and economically viable option and will pave a way for maintaining soil fertility and nutrient requirement of sugarcane.

References

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2. Carter, M.R. (2002). Soil quality for sustainable land management: Organic matter management and aggregation interactions that maintain soil functions. Agronomy Journal 94: 38-47.

3. Kumar, Vijay and Chand, Mehar. (2009).Integrated nutrient management in sugarcane Eds. Sugarcane: Crop Production and Improvement, Singh, S. B.,Rao, G. P., Soloman, S. and Gopalasundarm, Ist Eds. Studium Press LLC, Texas, USA.

4. Lal, Rattan (2004). Soil Carbon Sequestration Impacts on Global Climate Change and Food Security. Science (New York, N.Y.). 304. 1623-7. 10.1126/science.1097396

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