Effect of conservation agriculture practices and irrigation scheduling on water use and productivity of maize – wheat cropping system”
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Date
2016
Authors
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Publisher
WATER TECHNOLOGY CENTRE ICAR- INDIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE NEW DELHI
Abstract
A field experiment entitled ‗Effect of conservation agriculture practices and irrigation
scheduling on water use and productivity of maize – wheat cropping system‘ was carried
out for two consecutive years at the research farm of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research
Institute, New Delhi, India, during 2011-12 and 2012-13 insandy loam soil.The water
and energy use efficiency, growth, productivity and economic feasibility as well as soil
properties of maize-wheat cropping systemwere studied under different conservation
practices and irrigation scheduling. The treatments comprised of 3 crop establishment
practices of raised bed (RB), zero-tillage (ZT), conventional tillage (CT) and 3 irrigation
regimes viz. 40%,50%and 60% available soil moisture depletion (ASMD) for maize and
crop growth stages (CGS),crop water stress index (CWSI) and 60%ASMD for wheat
with this two residue application treatment. Weather condition varied over the
years,which resulted in variable crop performance,resulted in better yield in the second
year irrespective of treatments.The grain yield of maize was significantly higher under
RB planting to the tune of 13.3% over CT during both the years. The RB planting in
maize gave 31% while ZT gave 14% more net returns over CT. The maximum energyuse
efficiency of maize was recorded under RB while the lowest under CT. The
percentage increase in irrigation water-use efficiency (IWUE) of maize was 40-46% and
10-16% higher with RB and ZT over CT, respectively.Residue retention was more
beneficial under RB than residue incorporation in CT.In wheat,6-13% higher grain yield
under RB was found in comparison to CT. In general, RB planting gave 15-25% while
ZT gave 9-15% higher net returns over CT in wheat during both the year. The
percentage increase in IWUE of wheat was found higher in RB (32-40%) compared to
ZT (8-12%)over CT as the grain yield was more with per unit of water applied under
RB. The highest system productivity was recorded under RB followed by ZT and
minimum under CT during both the years of study. The yield crops and system
productivity improved due to application of crop residue.The results also revealed that
system productivity of maize -wheat cropping system were significantly influenced due
to different irrigation scheduling during both the years.The soil physical properties, viz.
hydraulic conductivity, infiltration rate, soil aggregation, organic carbon as well as
biological properties were improved with RB and ZT treatments compared to CT. It was
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concluded that adoption of RB with crop residue along with 40% ASMD was essential
for improving productivity and sustainability of maize – wheat cropping system.
Description
t-9396
Keywords
Effect of conservation agriculture practices and irrigation scheduling on water use and productivity of maize – wheat cropping system”