Effect of organic farming on the restoration of soil quality, ecosystem services, and productivity in rice–wheat agro-ecosystems

Excess use of hazardous agrochemicals and inorganic fertilizers resulted negative impact on environmental outcomes degraded soil function, biological diversity, ecosystem services. A 15-year long-term (2004–05 to 2017–18) field experiment was conducted improve the services with quality restoration stabilization yield through agronomic manipulation in rice ( Oryza sativa )–wheat Triticum aestivum ) system under Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). Three crop management practices (i) organic management, (ii) (iii) integrated were evaluated at four locations Jabalpur, Ludhiana, Pantnagar, (iv) Modipuram a factorial randomized block design replicated thrice each location. Among spatial variation, highest indicators like microbial biomass carbon (0.52 mg g ?1 ), fungal (46.2 CFU × 10 4 CFU), bacterial (54.2 6 actinomycetes viable cells (23.0 nutrients (available N available P) observed Pantnagar than other The p H varied from 7.2 8.3, lowest bulk density (?b) recorded Jabalpur Modipuram. Subsequently, higher productivity (8,196.7 kg ha net returns obtained > it 44.1–63.4% Jabalpur. significantly improved < 0.05) ?b, carbon, N, P, K by 3.7%, 33.3%, 16.4%, 37.8%, 20.3% over respectively. Similarly, bacterial, fungal, cell counts found plots, followed plots. In terms productivity, (ICM) had increased 4.7%–6.7% 22.2% 23.5% management. sustainability index (SYI) (0.77) as compared (0.74) (0.75). estimated 0.60, 0.53, 0.54 organic, inorganic, ICM, Hence, study indicated that application amendments or improves system’s resiliency sustainability. Therefore, concludes towards approach (integrated gradual reduction mineral fertilizers) is better suitable for keeping rice–wheat sustainable long term.