Response of Nature-Based and Organic Farming Practices on Soil Chemical, Biological Properties and Crop Physiological Attributes under Soybean in Vertisols of Central India

Abstract

In recent years, many sustainable farming approachbased on natural and organicinputs are gaining popularityacross the world. However, information on its impacts on soil health is quite scanty. Therefore, in present study we evaluated the effect of nature-based farming and different nutrient management practices on soil chemical, biological and crop physiological attributes after three years of adopting various nutrient management practices includingorganic farming during the kharif season of 2021 and 2022. The treatments comprised of: T1—control, T2—nutrient supplement through indigenous natural preparation, T3—organic farming, T4—integrated crop management + natural pest control, and T5—integrated crop management with chemical pesticides (ICM-P). In terms of soil nutrients status, integrated crop management) with need-based chemical pesticides had the highest available macro and micronutrients, followed by ICM with natural-basedfarming. The organic farming practice had the lowest soil pH, EC and the highest soil organic carbon. The higher soil enzymatic and biochemical activity was found under the organic farming and natural preparation. Enzymatic indices, including the biological activity index and the geometric mean of enzyme activities were greater in organic farming and natural preparation compared to control. At higher soil depth, nutrient availability and biological activity declined. Plant total chlorophyll and nitrate reductase activity found highest under ICM-P at 60 days after sowing under the ICM-P treatment; however, it declined thereafter. Soil enzymatic activity and all available nutrients are positively correlated. Integrating nutrient sources through nature-basedand organic farming can benefit soil fertility, biological activity, and overall system sustainability.