International Journal of Plant & Soil Science

Modern agriculture in the Tarai region faces increasing pressure from declining productivity and deteriorating soil health. A two-year field study was conducted during 2023-24 and 2024-25 at Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, to evaluate the influence of eight diversified cropping systems on Yield Sustainability Index (YSI) and selected soil properties at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths. The soil parameters assessed included pH, electrical conductivity (EC), bulk density (BD), and water holding capacity (WHC). The YSI varied significantly among cropping systems in both years. Sweet corn-broccoli-okra recorded the highest YSI values of 4.32 and 4.59 in 2023-24 and 2024-25, respectively, whereas black gram-gram-Sesbania recorded the lowest value of 1.00 in both years. Soil pH remained statistically unaffected by cropping systems at both depths. At the 0-15 cm depth, EC and BD differed significantly among systems, while differences at 15-30 cm were non-significant. Basmati rice-potato-maize recorded higher EC, whereas rice-wheat-fallow recorded higher BD. Legume- and green manure-based systems, particularly black gram-gram-Sesbania and rice-lentil-cowpea, improved WHC at both depths. The findings indicate that sweet corn-broccoli-okra enhanced yield sustainability, while legume-inclusive systems contributed to improved soil physical properties. Diversified cropping systems may therefore support productivity and soil quality in the Tarai region of the Indo-Gangetic Plains.