EFFECT OF CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE PRACTICES ON PRODUCTIVITY AND RESOURCE USE EFFICIENCY IN MAIZE-CHICKPEA SEQUENCE CROPPING
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Date
2014-07
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University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad
Abstract
Investigation to study the effect of conservation agriculture practices on productivity and resource use efficiency in maize- chickpea sequence cropping was conducted during 2010-11 and 2011-12 at the Main Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. Conventional tillage recorded highest maize grain (59.1 q/ha) and stover (8.1 t/ha) yields. Mulching practice of maize stover @ 4t per ha recorded highest maize grain and stover yields. Application of atrazine @ 1.25 kg a.i. per ha followed by 2,4-D sodium salt @ 2.00 kg a.i. /ha recorded highest grain (59.8 q/ha) and stover yields (7.9 t/ha) and was on par with application of atrazine @ 1.25 kg a.i. /ha. Minimum tillage with mulching @ 4 t per ha and application of atrazine followed by 2, 4-D was on par with conventional and zero tillage practices with respect to growth, yield and yield components, water use efficiency, protein yield, availability of major nutrients, uptake, gross returns ( 62901/ha), net returns ( 37165/ha) and B-C ratio (2.44). Energy use efficiency (EUE) was highest in minimum tillage (5.56) and was on par with zero tillage practice. Minimum tillage with no mulching and application of atrazine recorded highest EUE (8.73) in maize.
In sequence crop of chickpea, conventional tillage recorded higher grain (14.2 q/ha) and haulm (2.2 t/ha) yields over minimum and zero tillage practices. Mulching practice recorded highest growth, yield and yield components. Application of pendimethalin @ 1.00 kg a.i. /ha recorded highest grain (14.3 q/ha) and haulm (2.2 t/ha) yields. Minimum tillage with mulching @ 4 t per ha and application of pendimethalin was on par with zero and conventional tillage practices with respect to growth, yield, protein content and protein yield, availability of major nutrients, uptake, gross returns ( 48266/ha) and net returns ( 32875/ha). Zero tillage with no mulching and unweeded check recorded higher EUE (13.21) in chickpea and was on par with zero tillage with no mulching and application of alachlor @ 1.25 kg a.i. /ha. The results indicated that minimum tillage with mulching and application of atrazine @ 1.25 kg a.i. /ha followed by 2,4-D sodium salt @ 2.00 kg a.i. /ha in maize was performed better with respect to yield, quality, soil properties, EUE and economics. Whereas in chickpea, minimum/zero tillage with mulching and application of pendimethalin @ 1.00 kg a.i./ha was better with respect to yield, soil properties, EUE and economics.
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