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The organic manures and biochar amendment plays a pivotal role in organic production system. A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of organic sources of nutrients and low-cost biochar technology on maize and black gram yield along with mineral nutrients acquisition pattern under fully organic production system. The results of this study revealed that the maize grain yield (t ha−1) was maximum in poultry manure 5 t ha−1+ biochar 5 t ha−1− T7(4.63) and minimum in FYM @ 10 t ha−1+ biochar 0 t ha−1− T2(4.04) compared to control (2.67). Similarly, the net return (× 103Rs. ha−1) and B:C ratio in maize was maximum in T7(50.12 and 1.77) and minimum in T2(37.45 and 1.53) compared to control (12.11 and 0.76). The black gram grain yield (kg ha−1) was maximum in T7(1094) and minimum in T2(952) compared to control (406). The net return (× 103Rs. ha−1) and B:C ratio of black gram was maximum in T7(42.86 and 3.12) and minimum in T2(32.19 and 2.71) compared to control (13.30 and 1.48). The maize grain N content and uptake was maximum in T7(2.52 and 91.38) and minimum in FYM @ 10 t ha−1+ biochar 2.5 t ha−1− T3(2.36 and 69.26) than control. The black gram grain N content and uptake was maximum in T7(3.19 and 98.63) and minimum in T3(3.03 and 78.51) than control. Similarly, maize stover grain N content and uptake was maximum in T7(0.51 and 61.16) and minimum in T3(0.40 and 45.74) than control. The black gram grain N content and uptake was maximum in T7(0.63 and 67.76) and minimum in T3(0.52 and 52.34) than control. Finally, it can be recommended that maize grain yield (t ha−1) was maximum in poultry manure 5.0 t ha−1+ biochar 5.0 t ha−1(4.63) and in black gram the grain yield (kg ha−1) was also maximum in poultry manure 5.0 t ha−1+ biochar 5.0 t ha−1(1094). Thus, this treatment can be recommended under Sikkim mid hill ecosystem of India for increasing the production and productivity in maize-black gram cropping system to restore soil productivity.

Land-use change, particularly soil organic carbon (SOC) loss induced by shifting cultivation (jhum) is a common land degradation issue in the hilly tracts of the humid tropics. The SOC concentration comprises different pools (labile and recalcitrant fractions), and each fraction responds to temporal dynamics of adopted management practices at varying magnitudes, such as deforestation followed by cultivation. However, information on the variation of different SOC pools due to cultural practices of vegetation burning and postburn agricultural practices (crop production) associated with shifting cultivation remains inadequate. In the present investigation, we examined the effect of burning and postburning cultivation on SOC pools across different forest fallow periods at Kolasib district, Mizoram state of the north-eastern Himalayan Region of India. Results revealed increase in the soil C stocks and total organic carbon (TOC) due to the increase in the length of fallow periods ranging from 3 to 23 years. The TOC decreased significantly compared with antecedent concentrations before vegetation burning. This was mostly attributed to the reduction in contribution of active pools (very labile and labile) to TOC from 69% to 60%. However, contribution of passive pools (less labile and nonlabile) to TOC concentration increased from 31% to 40%. Postburn cultivation also resulted in reduction of TOC as well as considerable variation in the proportion of different SOC pools to TOC concentration. Among the different pools of SOC, the very labile C pool was most sensitive to land-use change induced by shifting cultivation (phytomass burning and postburn cultivation). The labile SOC pools can act as a sensitive indicator for devising suitable location specific management practices for restoration of soil health through SOC dynamics in degraded jhum lands in hilly ecosystems.