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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
Author(s) -
Kumar Vivak,
Gathala Mahesh Kumar,
Saharawat Yashpal S.,
Parihar Chiter M.,
Kumar Rajeev,
Kumar Robin,
Jat Mangi Lal,
Jat Arjun S.,
Mahala Deep M.,
Kumar Lalit,
Nayak Hari S.,
Parihar Muli D.,
Rai Vikas,
Jewlia Hemraj,
Kuri Bhola R.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
soil use and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.709
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1475-2743
pISSN - 0266-0032
DOI - 10.1111/sum.12473
Subject(s) - puddling , agronomy , tillage , no till farming , mathematics , conventional tillage , bulk density , crop residue , conservation agriculture , crop , soil water , agriculture , environmental science , biology , soil fertility , soil science , ecology
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.