Excess use of hazardous agrochemicals and inorganic fertilizers resulted negative impact on environmental outcomes and degraded soil function, biological diversity, and ecosystem services. A 15-year long-term (2004–05 to 2017–18) field experiment was conducted to improve the ecosystem services with soil quality restoration and stabilization of yield through agronomic manipulation in the rice (Oryza sativa)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) system under Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). Three crop management practices (i) organic crop management, (ii) inorganic crop management, and (iii) integrated crop management were evaluated at four locations (i) Jabalpur, (ii) Ludhiana, (iii) Pantnagar, and (iv) Modipuram in a factorial randomized block design and replicated thrice at each location. Among the spatial variation, the highest soil quality indicators like soil microbial biomass carbon (0.52 mg g⁻¹), fungal (46.2 CFU × 10⁴ CFU), bacterial (54.2 CFU × 10⁶ CFU), and actinomycetes viable cells (23.0 CFU × 10⁶ CFU), and nutrients (available N and available P) were observed at Pantnagar than other location. The soilpH varied from 7.2 to 8.3, and the lowest bulk density (ρb) was recorded at Jabalpur and Modipuram. Subsequently, higher system productivity (8,196.7 kg ha⁻¹) and net returns were obtained in Pantnagar > Ludhiana, and it was 44.1–63.4% higher than in Modipuram and Jabalpur. Among the crop management, organic crop management significantly improved (p< 0.05) ρb, soil organic carbon, available N, available P, and available K by 3.7%, 33.3%, 16.4%, 37.8%, and 20.3% over inorganic crop management, respectively. Similarly, the highest bacterial, fungal, and actinomycetes viable cell counts were found under the organic plots, followed by integrated plots. In terms of productivity, integrated crop management (ICM) had increased the system productivity by 4.7%–6.7% and net returns by 22.2% and 23.5% over inorganic and organic crop management. Similarly, the highest sustainability yield index (SYI) was recorded in integrated crop management (0.77) as compared to inorganic (0.74) and organic management (0.75). The soil quality index was estimated as 0.60, 0.53, and 0.54 in organic, inorganic, and ICM, respectively. Hence, the study indicated that the application of organic amendments under organic or integrated crop management improves the system’s resiliency and sustainability. Therefore, the study concludes that towards organic approach (integrated application of organic amendments with a gradual reduction in mineral fertilizers) is better suitable for keeping the rice–wheat system productivity and sustainable in the long term.

Soil quality restoration and crop productivity maximization are the global challenge to feed the galloping population. The task is much more daunting in a risk-prone, fragile, and low productive hilly region due to the depletion of supporting and regulating ecosystem services. A five-year long-term (2012–2017) field experiment was conducted to stabilize the yield and soil quality through legume green manuring and crop residue recycling in intensified cropping systems in the Eastern Himalayan region of India. Four treatments involving three green manures [green gram (Vigna radiata); cowpea (Vigna unguiculata);Sesbania(Sesbania aculeata) along with control (no-green manure)], three cropping systems [groundnut (Arachis hypogaea)—pea (Pisum sativum); maize (Zea mays)—pea, and maize + groundnut–pea] and two levels of residue management practices [residue removal and residue retention] were evaluated in three times replicated split–split plot design. Among the green manure options,Sesbaniaexerted a significant positive impact on the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock, available micro- (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu), and macronutrients (N, P and K) in surface (0–0.15 m) and subsurface (0.15–0.45 m) soils. The improvement in soil enzymatic activities (acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, dehydrogenase, beta-glucosidase, and aryl sulfatase activity) (p< 0.05) inSesbania-treated soil was +28.1% to +38.9% in surface and +18.3% to +27.3% in subsurface soils over non-green manure.Sesbania-treated soils also exhibited higher soil quality index (SQI) and stratification ratio (SR) of available soil nutrients and enzymes over non-green manured soils. Among the cropping systems, groundnut intercropped with maize followed by peas (MGP) within situresidue retention increased (p< 0.05) the available soil macro- and micronutrients, SOC stock, soil enzymes, SR, and SQI in comparison to other cropping systems.Sesbaniagreen manuring and residue retention improved the yield sustainability by +19% and +11% in the MGP system over non-green manuring and residue removal, respectively. Therefore,Sesbaniagreen manuring in the MGP cropping system along with residue retention is recommended for stabilizing the soil quality through enhancing supporting and regulating ecosystem services and maintaining long-term productivity in the fragile Eastern Himalayan ecosystem of India.