Resource Conservation Agricultural Practices, Rhizosphere and Diseases of Wheat under Wheat-Rice Cropping System

The effect of Resource Conservation Agricultural Practices (RCAPs) on rhizospheric microbes of wheat under rice-wheat cropping system was observed in various residue management options i.e. burning, removal, incorporation or soil surface retention of both or either of rice and wheat crop residues in the main plots and Nitrogen doses (100,150 and 200 kg/ha) in the sub plots. Differences in populations of bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi were observed amongst various treatments. These crop residue and nitrogen management options may have bio-control properties against soil borne diseases. Likewise root architecture also changed due to the RCAPs thus affecting the vigor of plants. The dehydrogenase activity also differed in treatments of RCAPs. Amongst different RCAPs, retention of crop residue at the soil surface, after harvest of both wheat and rice crops, was the best option for soil and plant health. The work conducted on effect of RCAPs on wheat diseases was not conclusive keeping in view results of different reports.