1

A Seminar On

EFFECT OF TILLAGE AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON WHEAT PRECEDED BY RICE

Presented by:Darvin PalId. No.- 1480

Ph.D.(Agronomy)

Department of AgronomySardar Vallabhbhai Patel Uni. of Ag. & Tech.

Meerut-250110

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the second most important cereal crop of India next to rice and accounts for 31.5% of the total food grain basket of the country.

It covers an area of 29.64 m ha with total production of 92.46 mt and average productivity of 31.20q ha-1.

The total area of wheat in the world is around 221.12 m ha with production of 697.8 mt. The average world productivity is 31.55q ha-1. Wheat crop contributes substantially to the national food security by providing more than 50 % of the calories to the people who mainly depend on it. In India, U.P having first rank in production(30.29,m.t) and area(9.73,m.ha) while in productivity Haryana having first rank with 50.30q ha-1 and UP forth rank with 31.13 q ha-1 yield.

INTRODUCTION

Rice and Wheat are two most common grain crops of

India. Occupying 42 and 29.64 million hectare area, respectively.These two crops contributes 75% of total food grainneeds.

In India the rice-wheat rotation is the dominant across in Indo- Gangetic flood plains and in the Himalayan foot hills.Approximately 73% of rice-grown in rotation with

wheat. Nearly 65% of total amount of fertilizer used in country

(13.88 mt) is applied to rice and wheat crops. In case of undulated type of topography the erosion risk is very high causes the decline in the soil quality in addition to this production cost of raising to crops (wheat) is also increasing.

These problems can be overcome to a great extent if appropriate tillage method is used by the farmers.

4

BIHAR5% G.J

4%HARYANA

14%

M.P11%

M.H1%

PUNJAB18%

RA-JASTH

AN10%

U.P32%

U.K1%

W.B1%

OTHERS2%

% Share in production

State wise contribution to wheat area and production

BIHAR; 7.79G.J; 1.84

HARYANA; 8.56

M.P; 14.77

M.H; 3.52

PUNJAB; 12.66RA-JASTHAN

; 9.65

U.P; 33.8

U.K; 1.5 W.B; 1.45

Chart Title

% Share in Area

Source- FAO STAT 2012

Importance of wheat in food grain production scenario

crops Normal Area ( M ha) and % of Total Area (In parentheses)

Normal Production ( M tons) and % share of Production (In parentheses)

Rice 42 (35) 89 (41)

Wheat 29(24) 80 (37)

Total food grains 121 218

Sources: Fertilizer statistics (2010-11)

Problems of Rice Wheat Cropping System

• Time consuming

• Delayed wheat sowing

• Flood irrigation

• Higher cost ofLabour

Water

Land preparation

Factor affecting yields of Rice and Wheat Cropping system

• In many areas, yields have stagnated at below potential level.

• The input use efficiency is low.

• Soil organic matter content has reduced.

• This can be improved by better tillage practices and balanced nutrient management.

Nutrients are being mined and transported long distances and lost permanently for

the sub region. Therefore, agronomic research related to rice-wheat system ecology

and its environment must be directed at enhanced and sustained productivity of this

important cropping system at reduced costs.

• This can only be possible if the planting techniques/ tillage methods of rice or wheat

crops are improved resulting to saving of time, cultivation cost and irrigation water.

Resource conserving technologies (e.g. zero-tillage, reduced tillage, bed planting or

direct seeding of rice) can be helpful in the achievements of major goals.

Yield gap (Improved practices and farmer practice) IGP

Crops State Improved practice (I) (kg/hectare)

Farmer practice (F) (kg/hectare)

Actual yield (A)(kg/hectare)

Gap (per cent)

I and F I and A

Wheat Bihar 3651 2905 1783 25.7 104.8

Uttar Pradesh

4206 3324 2794 26.6 50.5

Rice Bihar 4883 4158 1516 17.4 222.1

Uttar Pradesh

7050 5200 2187 35.6 222.4

Note: Yield gap was calculated for the years 2002-03 to 2004-05.

Source: Economic Survey 2007-08

StateAverage actual yield Average potential yield* Yield gap

Rice-Wheat

Rice Wheat Rice-Wheat

Rice Wheat Rice-Wheat

Rice Wheat

Punjab 9.76 5.44 4.32 18.29 10.60 7.69 8.53 5.16 3.37

Haryana 8.22 4.19 4.03 17.87 10.53 7.34 9.65 6.34 3.31

Uttar Pradesh

5.70 3.01 2.69 17.48 10.34 7.14 11.78 7.33 4.45

Bihar 3.97 2.00 1.97 16.43 9.73 6.70 12.46 7.73 4.73

West Bengal

5.94 3.65 2.29 13.37 8.07 5.30 7.43 4,42 3.01

IGP 6.72 3.66 3.06 16.70 9.88 6.82 9.98 6.22 3.76

YIELD GAP (ACTUAL AND SIMULATED POTENTIAL YIELD) IN IGP

Agarwal et al . 2004

t ha-1

TILLAGE• Manipulation of the soil with tools and implements for

obtaining conditions ideal for seed germination, seedling establishment and growth of crops is called tillage.

• The purpose of tillage is to prepare a seedbed, break weed, insect and disease cycles, bury plant residue, incorporate fertilisers and amendments, break surface crust and fracture plough pans or hard subsoil horizons(Jones et al 1990)

• Tillage is the agricultural preparation of soil by mechanical agitation of various types, such as digging, stirring, and overturning. Examples of human-powered tilling methods using hand tools include shovelling, picking, mattock work, hoeing, and raking.

Method of Tillage • Zero tillage: In zero tillage, seeds are placed directly in to narrow slits 2-4

cm wide and 4-7 cm deep with a zero till drill. Zero till drill machine has been developed by the G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar.

• Reduced/Minimum Tillage: A method aimed at reducing tillage to the minimum necessary for ensuring a good seedbed, rapid germination, satisfactory crop stand and favorable growing conditions (Arnon 1972)

• FIRB :For the past one and a half decades or more, efforts have been in place to popularize FIRBS of planting rice and wheat in the IGP. It is a system in which the crop is sown on ridges or raised beds of 15-20 cm height.

• Usually, the bed is 37.5 cm wide with furrow width of 30 cm (total bed size of 67.5 cm) to accommodate two rows of wheat. Beds of bigger size (90 or 120 cm wide) could also be prepared. The system aims at saving irrigation water and increasing nutrient-use efficiency.

• Conventional / farmer practices: At present farmer is adopting

Bed Planting System/FIRB

In bed planting systems, wheat or other crops are planted on raised beds.

• Management of irrigation water is improved.

• Bed planting facilitates irrigation before seeding and thus

provides an opportunity for weed control prior to planting.

• Plant stands are better.

• Wheat seed rates are lower.

Parameter Zero Tillage

Reduced Tillage

Conventional Tillage

Germination Count (m2) 199.75 194.5 187.59Plant Height at Harvest (cm) 103.48 96.38 92.91Fertile tillers (m2) 418.83 411.00 405.33Spike length (cm) 11.15 10.46 10.67No. of spikelets per spike 17.48 17.32 17.31

No. of grains per spike 52.92 51.41 50.501000-grain weight (gm) 50.34 46.82 44.45Biological Yield (t ha-1) 18.16 16.58 16.91Grain Yield (t ha-1) 4.87 4.47 4.53Straw Yield (t ha-1) 13.29 12.10 12.38Harvest Index (%) 26.84 27.03 26.80

Response of tillage methods on growth, yield and yield attributes of Wheat

Imran et al.,2013

Parameters Tillage technologies (Pooled data over 2 year)

ZT FIRB CT

Yield (t ha-1) 5.25 4.71 5.24

Cost of cultivation (Rs ha-1) 26058 27943 27943

Net return (Rs ha-1) 10187 4734 8214

Cost of production (Rs t-1) 433 531 470

B : C ratio 1.38 1.16 1.29

Effect of tillage methods on wheat productivity and economic parameters in 2001-02 to 2003-04

Singh and Kumar.(2004)

Growth and yield attributes of wheat influenced by different tillage method

Tillage practice

Plant height (cm)

Effective tillers m-2

Test wt.(g)

Grain yield tha-1

Biological yield tha-1

Zero 74.3 379 39.7 3.04 11.94

Conv. 85.3 509 39.2 4.04 14.64

Fresh raised bed

86.9 534 40.0 4.24 15.61

Permanent raised bed

86.6 464 39.5 3.80 14.92

SEm± 0.6 6 0.4 0.06 0.37

CD @ 5% 2.2 22 NS 0.21 1.27

Singh et al 2010

Yield and yield attributes of wheat is affected by different tillage management

Treatment Effective tillers m-2

Spike length (cm)

No . of grains/ spike

Grain yield

(tha-1)

Straw yield

(tha-1)

Harvest index(%)

Zero Tillage 222 10.4 41.6 4.08 6.14 40.08

Conv. Tillage 224 10.2 42.4 4.13 6.02 40.16

ZT with residue 238 10.7 46.8 4.56 6.64 40.79

Bed planting 214 10.6 40.2 3.82 5.69 40.71

SEm± 2.1 0.4 0.34 0.03 0.02 0.5

CD @ 5% 6.4 NS 1.8 0.07 0.04 NS

Jha et al 2010

Nutrient management

Principle1. Match application to crop requirement, apply when crop is growing fast.2. Take all possible sources of nutrient into consideration3. Take all possible improving yield reducing nutrient loss measure into consideration!

Way to increase N use efficiency

• The number of split can be increased • Deep placement of N (5-8 cm below) as pellets• Fertilizers containing NO3-N are inferior to NH4 and

amide-N-containing fertilizers for rice• Slow-release fertilizers and urea super granules

increase NUE • Use of pre-incubated• Use of Neem seed cake

Yield and N-use efficiency of wheat as influence by various treatments

Treatment Grain yield (q/ha) N-use efficiency kg grains/ha

Nitrogen kg/ha 2001-02 2002-03

N0 23.4 18.3 -

N50 27.7 22.1 8.0

N100 39.4 34.9 16.2

N150 45.2 38.9 14.1

CD 3.0 2.5

Singh et al. 2006

Cereal production and fertilizer consumption in India

Year Cereal Production (Tg) Fertilizer consumption (Tg)Rice Wheat Total N P2O5 K20 Total

1950-51 20.6 6.5 42.4 0.055 0.009 0.006 0.07

1960-61 34.6 11.0 69.3 0.21 0.05 0.03 0.29

1965-66 30.6 10.4 62.4 0.57 0.13 0.08 0.78

1967-68 30.4 11.4 65.9 0.74 0.25 0.11 1.10

1970-71 37.6 16.5 82.9 1.03 0.33 0.17 1.54

1980-81 42.2 23.8 96.6 1.21 0.38 0.17 1.76

1990-91 53.6 36.3 119.0 3.68 1.21 0.62 5.51

1995-96 74.3 55.1 162.1 8.00 3.22 1.33 12.55

2000-01 77.0 62.1 168.1 9.82 2.90 1.55 13.87

2005-06 85.0 69.7 185.7 11.31 4.38 1.67 17.36

2007-08 91.8 69.3 195.2 12.72 5.20 2.41 20.33

2008-09 96.4 78.4 215.6 14.42 5.51 2.64 22.57

Sources: FAI 2009

Total uptake of major nutrients by cereal crops (Kg/tone of produce)

Crop Total Uptake (kg/tone of main produce)

N P2O5 K2O S Ca Mg

Rice 20.0 11.0 30.0 3.0 7.0 3.0

Wheat 25.0 9.0 33.0 4.7 5.3 4.7

Maize 29.9 13.5 32.8

(Source: Fertilizer Statistics 2007-2008, FAI New Delhi)

Spikes of wheat as affected by tillage and N levels during two growing seasons.Year N (kg. ha-1) Tillage

Zero Reduced Conventional Mean Spikes m-2

2007-08 0 177.1 177.6 186.8 180.5 80 248.3 248.6 233.5 243.5 120 283.6 266.5 251.0 267.0 160 298.7 280.4 273.2 284.1 200 311.1 298.9 291.3 300.4

Mean 263.8 254.4 247.2 255.1

2008-09 0 168.9 171.8 178.5 173.1 80 235.2 237.4 223.1 231.9 120 252.2 254.4 240.0 248.9 160 281.3 270.6 271.6 274.5 200 297.6 284.7 285.4 289.3

Mean 247.1 243.8 239.7 243.5

Mean (2 years) 0 173.0 174.7 182.7 176.8 80 241.8 243.0 228.3 237.7 120 267.9 260.4 245.5 258.0 160 290.0 275.5 272.4 279.3 200 304.4 291.8 288.4 294.8

Mean 255.4 249.1 243.5 249.3

Note: Means followed by same letter or no letter do not differ significantly at 5% level of probability.Usman et al . 2013

Biological yield as affected by tillage and N levels during two growing seasons.

Year N (kg. ha-1) TillageZero Reduced Conventional Mean

Biological Yield2007-08 0 4528 5944 6352 5608

80 8154 10,214 7918 8762 120 13,583 14,735 14,742 14,353 160 17,596 18,626 18,368 18,197 200 22,403 20,171 20,679 21,084

2008-09 0 4396 5771 6167 5444 80 7917 9917 7688 8507

120 13,188 14,306 14,313 13,935 160 17,083 18,083 17,833 17,667 200 21,750 19,583 20,076 20,470

Mean 12,867 13,532 13,215 13,205 Mean (2 years) 0 4462 5857 6259 5526

80 8035 10,065 7803 8635 120 13,385 14,520 14,527 14,144 160 17,340 18,355 18,101 17,932 200 22,076 19,877 20,378 20,777

Mean 13060 13735 13414 1304

Note: Means followed by same letter or no letter do not differ significantly at 5% level of probability.

Usman et al. 2013

Grain yield as affected by tillage and nitrogen levels during two growing seasons

Year N (kg. ha-1) TillageZero Reduced Conventional Mean

Grain Yield (kg·ha−1) 2007-08 0 1700 2146 2401 2083

80 2869 3443 2805 3039 120 4718 5114 4994 4942 160 6503 6269 6588 6453 200 7459 6609 6670 6912

Mean 4650 4716 4691 46862008-09 0 1667 2104 2354 2042

80 2813 3375 2750 2979 120 4625 5014 4896 4845 160 6375 6146 6458 6326 200 7313 6479 6539 6777

Mean 4558 4624 4599 4594 Mean (2 years) 0 1683 2125 2378 2062

80 2841 3409 2778 3009 120 4671 5064 4945 4893 160 6439 6207 6523 6390 200 7386 6544 6604 6845

Mean 4604 4670 4645 4640

Note: Means followed by same letter or no letter do not differ significantly at 5% level of probability.

Usman et al 2013

Net benefit as affected by tillage and N levels during two growing seasons.

Year N (kg. ha-1) TillageZero Reduced Conventional Mean

Net benefit (US$ ha−1) 2007-08 0 209 305 336 283

80 459 586 402 482 120 889 973 913 925 160 1303 1235 1282 1273 200 1518 1301 1286 1368

Mean 876 880 844 866 2008-09 0 248 357 396 333

80 527 671 468 555 120 1011 1106 1044 1054 160 1477 1401 1458 1445 200 1718 1475 1461 1551

Mean 996 1002 965 988 Mean (2 years) 0 228 331 366 308

80 493 628 435 519 120 950 1039 979 990 160 1390 1318 1370 1359 200 1618 1388 1373 1460

Mean 936 941 904 927

Note: Means followed by same letter or no letter do not differ significantly at 5% level of probability.

Usman et al 2013

Mean effects of tillage systems and nutrient management strategies on grain and total biomass yield ( t ha -1)

Treatments Grain yield (2010-11)

Total biomass yield (2010-11)

Grain yield (2011-12)

Total biomass yield (2011-12)

Tillage

CT 4.53 b 10.95 b 5.40 a 11.93 a

NT 4.80 a 11.49 5.55 a 12.12 a

Nutrient management

NE 33:33:33 4.91 b 11.69 a 5.85 a 12.65 a

NE 80:20 4.64 c 11.13 a 5.50 b 12.09 b

NE 80:GS 5.17 a 11.60 a 5.77 a 12.47 ab

SR 4.63 c 11.33 a 5.43 b 11.91 b

FFP 4.31 d 10.60 b 4.98 c 11.26 c

a within a factor, means in the same column followed by different letters are significantly different from one another based b CT is conventional tillage and NT is no tillage.c see materials an methods for details of nutrient management treatments

Sources: Sapkota et al 2013

Effect of fertilizer N management on yield, total N uptake and agronomic efficiency (AE) of N in wheat

Treatmenta N management Grain yield (t/ha)

Straw yield (t/ha)

Total N uptake (kg/ha)

AE (kg grain/kg N)

T1 0-0-0 1.96 2.25 35.3 -

T2 120-0-0 4.37 5.44 90.6 18.7

T3 90-0-30 4.98 6.22 90.2 20.4

T4 60-60-0 4.18 5.21 83.7 17.9

T5 60-30-30 4.29 5.29 88.4 18.8

T6 30-30-60 4.13 5.12 86.3 18.2

T7 90-30-0 5.26 6.83 80.4 21.6

T8 (burnt) 60-60-0 4.09 5.17 89.7 16.8

LSD (0.05) - 0.43 0.58 9.3 2.7

Naresh et al., 2010Naresh et al., 2010

Planting method Bulk density ( g cm-3 )0-15 cm 15-30 cm 30-45 cm

Happy seeder 1.40 1.45 1.52

Zero tillage 1.44 1.44 1.55

Rotavator 1.53 1.59 1.56

Conventional tillage 1.46 1.62 1.49Initial bulk density 1.47 1.46 1.44

Effect of methods of planting and N levels on bulk density of wheat

Meenakshi 2010•Corresponding values at 15-30 cm depth were higher except zero tillage and happy seeder.

•At 30-45 cm, the values were higher than initial bulk density under all the methods.

• The initial bulk density decreased in the soil profile of soil from 0-15 to 30-45

•The bulk density was same at 0-15 and 15-30 cm in zero tillage but at 30-45 was increased at harvest.

Infiltration rate (cm min-1)

Happy seeder

Zero tillage Rotavator Conventional tillage

5 min 1.3 1.7 1.5 2.2

10 min 3.1 3.4 3.0 4.9

20 min 5.9 5.7 5.1 8.4

30 min 9.0 8.0 7.2 12.3

60 min 13.7 11.4 10.4 15.3

Effect of planting methods and N levels on infiltration rate in wheat

Source: Meenakhi 2010

Effect of planting methods and N levels on soil temperature in wheat

Planting methods

Soil temperature (0C)

22-3-2010 29-03-2010 7-04-2010 12-04-2010

Happy seeder 30.5 28.0 38.5 41.7

Zero tillage 31.4 28.3 39.0 42.0

Rotavator 31.8 28.7 39.6 42.6

Conventional tillage

31.8 28.5 39.6 43.4

Source: Meenakhi 2010

Agronomic management practices

Grain Yield (kg/ha)

Straw yield(kg/ha)

Cost of cultivation ($/ha)

Net returns($/ha)

Gross returns($/ha)

Incrementalnet returns ($/ha)

B : C ratio

T1 3203 4107 333 577 911 — 1.73

T2 3464 4387 347 639 986 62 1.84

T3 3802 4777 364 728 1092 151 1.99

T4 4254 5392 380 830 1210 252 2.18

SEm 49 74 2 13 15 — —

C.D at 5% 139 209 5 38 41 — —

Grain, straw yield and economics of different agronomic management practices in wheat crop (pooled data of four years)

Singh et al. 2014

Yield, fertilizer use and economic comparison between farmers practice (FP) and Nutrient Expert based recommendation(NEE) in conventionally tilled wheat

Parameter Unit FP NE NE-FP

Grain yield Kg/ha 3504 4436 932***

Fertilizer N Kg/ha 134 141 6**

Fertilizer P2O5 Kg/ha 57 54 -2ns

Fertilizer K20 Kg/ha 13 76 63***

Fertilizer cost INR/ha 2436 2933 496***

1 GRF INR/ha 36804 46742 9938***

***, **, *: significant at <0.001, 0.01, and 0.05 level; ns = not significant; 1 GRF = gross return above fertilizer cost; Prices (in INR/kg): wheat = 11.20; N =10.50; P2O5 = 16.22; K2O = 7.50

Kaushik et al 2010

Long-term strategies for increasing wheat production

• Sustainability of rice-wheat system through – Resource conservation technologies– Refinement of machines– Developing tillage specific varieties– Diversification/intensification– Water and nutrient use efficiency– Tackling weeds and pests under new tillage– Residue management– Land leveling through laser leveler

• Improving soil health– Increasing carbon content– Correction of micro-nutrient deficiencies/toxicity– Balance use of fertilizers

CONCLUSION• Tillage significantly increase the growth and yield• Zero tillage practices gives better response then other tillage

practices.• Fresh raised bed found better growth and grain yield. • Tillage improve the physical properties of soil.• Nitrogen application to crop requirement, apply when crop is

growing fast.• The higher nutrient use efficiency can be obtained with

application of 100 kg/ha.• Zero tillage with 200 kg/ha dose of nitrogen provide

maximum grain yield.