Physico-chemical properties of soil after harvest of rabi sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) as influenced by tillage practices and nitrogen management

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2011 at Research Farm, RARS, Bijapur on a deep black soil under rainfed condition with an objective to study the effect of different tillage practices imposed during kharif and nitrogen management on physical and chemical properties of soil after harvest of rabi sunflower. Soil properties like organic carbon, pH, electrical conductivity, available NPK and bulk density were not significantly influenced by tillage practices. Soil moisture content was significantly higher with minimum tillage than conventional tillage. Among nitrogen management practices, significantly higher soil organic carbon was seen with sunnhemp incorporation @ 2.5 t/ ha+50% RDN through fertilizer (N2) than farmer’s practice (N4 ) but was at par with rest of the treatments. Soil pH, EC, available phosphorus and bulk density were not influenced due to nitrogen management. Significantly higher available nitrogen was seen with sunnhemp green manure incorporation @ 5 t biomass/ha (N1) over 100% RDF through fertilizer (N3) and farmers’ practice (N4) but was at par with rest of the treatments. Significantly higher available potassium was seen with 100% RDF through fertilizer (N3) than (N4) and (N5) but was at par with rest of the treatments. Significantly higher soil moisture content after harvest of sunflower was recorded with sunnhemp incorporation @ 2.5 t/ha+50% RDN through urea (N2) over 100% RDF through fertilizer (N3) but was at par with rest of the treatments.