CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE BASED MANAGEMENT IN MAIZE – WHEAT CROPPING SYSTEM
Loading...
Date
2012
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand
Abstract
In maize-wheat system, crops are grown by thoroughly tilling the field to obtain
high yield in conventional tillage practices. Operational energy and the cost of cultivation
is higher in conventional tillage system production than in reduced tillage (Singh et al.
2009). Conservation agriculture based technologies have proved to produce more at less
cost. In recent years, site specific nutrient management is gaining more attention to obtain
higher yields.
Keeping this in view an experiment entitled “Conservation Agriculture based
Management in Maize-Wheat Cropping System” was carried out in Alfisol under sub
humid agro-climatic condition at Rice Research Farm, BAU, Kanke, Ranchi (Jharkhand)
during 2011-2012. Soil of the experimental plot was Sandy loam with pH 5.6 having
available N, P & K (253.42, 19.12 , 215 kg/ha). In kharif 2011, maize hybrid HQPM-1
was sown at a spacing of 70 x 20 cm and in rabi 2011-12, wheat var. BAZZ at 25cm. The
Recommended Dose of fertilizer @ 120: 60:40 kg/ha N:P:K for both crops, SSNM @ 208:
107: 86 kg/ha N:P:K in maize & SSNM @ 196: 123: 85 kg/ha N:P:K in wheat was applied
as per recommended splits.
In order to find out a suitable tillage practice and nutrient level, the present
investigation was conducted under Split Plot Design replicated thrice with five tillage
practices in the main plot (T1- Conventional tillage, T2- Permanent Wide Bed with residue,
T3- Permanent wide bed without residue, T4- No-till with residue, T5- No till without
residue) and three nutrient levels in the sub plot (F1- Recommended Dose of fertilizer, F2-
SSNM- 2 N splits @ 80% basal+20% top dressing, F3- SSNM-3 N splits @
1/3rd+1/3rd+1/3rd).
Results revealed that permanent wide bed with residue recorded significantly
higher vegetative growth characters of maize hybrid HQPM-1 and wheat variety Bazz
namely dry matter production (573.54, 191.18 g / m row length) and LAI (4.52, 2.17) as
compared to no-till or conventional tillage, respectively. In wheat maximum number of
total tillers/m2 (530.11) was also recorded with permanent wide bed with residue. Plant
height did not differ significantly due to tillage practices in maize but significant
difference was observed in wheat. Significantly higher grain yield (65.71, 42.39 q/ha) and
straw yield (92, 60.53 q/ha) were recorded with permanent wide bed with residue and
lowest was obtained with no-till without residue in maize and wheat, respectively. Tillage
practices did not influence yield attributes of maize significantly. However, in wheat no.
of filled grains/earhead (50), 1000 grain weight (40.54 g) and no. of effective tillers/ m2
(510) differed significantly due to permanent wide bed with residue. Total nutrient uptake
(kg/ha) of N (241.66, 136.41), P (14.88, 20.26) and K (170.52, 117.43) was significantly
higher with permanent wide bed with residue in both maize and wheat crop, respectively.
Among various nutrient levels, SSNM- 3 splits recorded significantly higher
vegetative characters of maize and wheat namely dry matter production (522.54, 174.18
g/m row length) and LAI (4.37, 2.21) as compared to SSNM-2 splits and recommended
dose. In wheat maximum tillers/m2 (505) was recorded with SSNM-3 splits. Plant height
differed significantly due to nutrient levels in maize and wheat (234.8,101.7), respectively.
Nutrient levels did not influence yield attributes of maize significantly. However, in wheat
no. of filled grains/earhead (51.41) and effective tillers/m2 (485.07) differed significantly
due to SSNM-3 splits. Significantly higher grain yield (64.88, 40.51 q/ha) and straw yield
(90.80, 54.87 q/ha) were recorded with SSNM-3 splits and lowest yield was obtained with
recommended dose in maize and wheat, respectively. Total uptake (kg /ha) of N (240.56,
126.78), P (14.94, 19.14) and K (156.78, 111.79) was significantly higher with SSNM-3
splits in maize and wheat, respectively.
Results in respect to maize-wheat system revealed that permanent wide bed with
residue recorded significantly higher system yield (118.7 q/ha), gross return
(Rs140011/ha), net return (Rs 90978/ha) and B:C ratio (1.85).Also the total nutrient
uptake by the system was observed significantly higher with Permanent wide bed with
residue (N- 378.86, P- 35.14, K- 260.95). Among various nutrient levels, SSNM-3 splits
recorded significantly higher system yield (115.51 q/ha), gross return (Rs 135581/ha), net
return (Rs 86314 /q) and B:C ratio (1.75). Total nutrient uptake (kg/ha) was also
significantly higher in SSNM-3 splits (N-367.35, P-34.09, K-268.57 kg/ha).
Hence, on the basis of the experiment, it can be concluded that: The tillage
practice, permanent wide bed with residue is economical for obtaining higher system yield
(118.70 q/ha), net return (Rs 90978 /ha) and B:C ratio (1.85) and the nutrient level SSNM-
3 split is economical for obtaining higher system yield (115.51 q/ha), net return (Rs
86315/q) and B:C ratio (1.75) under conservation agriculture based management in maizewheat
system.
Interaction of tillage practices and nutrient levels was not found significant
throughout the crop growth period. Since it was the first year of the investigation, no
residue was applied in case of maize. Therefore there was no effect of residue on maize. In
wheat, though maize residue was retained, no significant effect was observed as it was the
first year of residue application.
Description
CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE BASED MANAGEMENT IN MAIZE – WHEAT CROPPING SYSTEM
Keywords
null