Microbial and Enzymatic Response of Soil to Organic and Natural Management Practices in Chickpea-based cropping systems at the Satpura Foothills

Abstract

Natural and organic farming systems are increasingly recognized as sustainable agro-ecological approaches that focus on regenerative practices, ecological balance, and reduced reliance on external inputs. To address this, a field study was carried out during the rabi seasons of 2022–23 and 2023–24 at the Centre for Organic Agriculture Research and Training, Department of Agronomy, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidhyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra, India. The objective was to assess the soil enzymatic and biological properties of chickpea-based intercropping systems under different organic nutrient management strategies. The experiment was conducted using a strip plot design with four replications. Four cropping systems were evaluated in a 2:2 row proportion: sole chickpea; chickpea intercropped with coriander; chickpea intercropped with linseed; and chickpea intercropped with sorghum. Three nutrient management approaches were tested: (i) organic farming practices, (ii) natural farming practices, and (iii) a combined approach integrating both organic and natural inputs. Results from both years demonstrated that sole chickpea consistently supported higher soil biological activity compared to other intercropping combinations. Compared with chickpea–sorghum intercropping under natural farming, sole chickpea integrated with organic and natural farming significantly enhanced soil fertility and biological activity, increasing soil nitrogen (60%), phosphorus (100%), potassium (192%), fungal (78.0%), bacterial (85.4%), and actinomycete (109.8%) populations. Soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen increased by 42.4% and 64.6%, respectively, while urease, dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase activities increased by 75.6%, 100%, 116.8%, and 42.4%, respectively. The improvement in microbial and enzymatic activity indicates better nutrient cycling and enhanced soil fertility. Among nutrient management strategies, the integrated application of organic and natural farming inputs showed superior performance in maintaining soil biological health compared to the individual approaches. The findings suggest that sole chickpea with integrated organic and natural nutrient management can improve soil biological properties and contribute to long-term sustainability of Inceptisols in the Satpura foothill region of India. This approach offers a practical pathway toward strengthening soil health, enhancing system productivity, and promoting environmentally sound agricultural practices under semi-arid conditions.