Impact of tillage and crop establishment methods on crop yields, profitability and soil physical properties in rice wheat system of Indo Gangetic Plains of India
Conservation agriculture (CA) based on best bet crop management practices may increase crop and water productivity, as well as conserve and sustain soil health and natural resources. In a 2 year study, we assessed the effects of tillage and crop establishment (TCE) methods on productivity, profitability and soil physical properties in a rice wheat (RW) system. The six TCE treatments were used to study the impact, which are puddled transplanted rice followed by conventionally tilled wheat (CTPR CTW) direct seeded rice on the flat followed by zero till wheat (CTDSR ZTW) zero till direct seeded rice with residue followed by zero till wheat with residue (ZTDSR+R ZTW+R) transplanted rice after rotavator puddling followed by zero till wheat (RTTPR ZTW) transplanted rice after rotavator puddling followed by rotary till wheat (RTTPR RTW) and farmer practice rice wheat (FP RW) Result of the study revealed that mean rice yield was not significantly affected by different TCE methods. Wheat planted with ZTDSR+R ZTW+R gave 30% larger grain yield than FP RW. Overall, among all the TCE treatments, the RW system yields and net returns were maximum under ZTDSR+R ZTW+R. The fastest mean infiltration rate (0.10 cm hr 1) was registered in ZTDSR+R ZTW+R plots, whereas the slowest was in FP RW plots (0.05 cm hr 1) Bulk density at 15 20 cm soil depth was least in ZTDSR+R ZTW+R (1.70 Mg m 3) and greatest in FP RW (1.73 Mg m 3) Results from this study revealed that conventionally tilled (CT) and transplanting of rice could be successfully replaced by adoption of the profitable double ZT RW system.
Soil Use and Management