SUSTAINABLE WHEAT PRODUCTION IN WESTERN INDO GANGETIC PLAINS: IMPACT OF TILLAGE AND RESIDUE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Crop residue management has emerged as a major challenge in recent years. No-till wheat sowing, aims to either incorporate paddy residue or retain it in the field, is one of the best technological measures to address this challenge. Therefore, a farmer participatory on-farm trial was conducted during 2020–21 and 2021–22 at five loca- tions in Rohtak to validate no-till wheat sowing for resource conservation, paddy residue management and its im- pact on wheat yield and profitability. The trial consisted of four different wheat establishment methods: conven- tional sowing, zero till drill sowing, happy seeder sowing and super seeder sowing. The no-till sowing resulted in 75–80% reduction in fuel consumption and 10–25% savings in water during first irrigation. Zero tillage and happy seeder methods showed 40–45% less weed flora incidence, especially of Phalaris minor. The grain yield was 5.3% higher under the super seeder than the conventional method, while zero till drill and happy seeder sowing were comparable to conventional sowing. However, the B: C ratio (3.5) was significantly higher under zero till drill sow- ing. Thus, the participatory on-farm trials demonstrates the potential benefits of no-till wheat sowing for sustainable crop production and better economics in western Indo-Gangetic plains.