Effect of Residue Management and Fertilizer Levels on Weeds and Wheat Productivity in Rice-wheat Cropping System

Author: Preetam Kumar, Sandeep Rawal, A.K. Dhaka, Raj Kumar* and Kavita

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Abstract

Mechanization in rice-wheat has resulted into generation of large volume of crop residue. Scanty management of this surplus crop residue is a deliberate threat to sustainability of this major cropping system. An experiment was conducted during rabi 2019 at Research Farm Area, KVK Damla (Yamunanagar) of CCS Haryana Agricultural University Hisar. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with 3 replications consisting of six residue management practises (C0R1T3 = Combine harvesting of paddy without SMS, burning of crop residues and sowing of wheat by conventional tillage method; C0R2T1= Combine harvesting of paddy without SMS, residue shredding with mulcher followed by happy seeder sowing of wheat; C0R2T0= Combine harvesting of paddy without SMS, direct sowing of wheat with happy seeder; C1R2T0= Combine harvesting of paddy with SMS followed by sowing of wheat using happy seeder; C0R2T2= Combine harvesting of paddy without SMS, residue shredding with straw chopper followed by happy

Keywords

conservation, Indo-Gangetic plains, mulch, maturity, sustainability

Conclusion

Based on one year study it may be concluded that combine harvesting of paddy without SMS, residue shredding with mulcher followed by happy seeder sowing of wheat can reduce the yield losses due to weeds, enhance the growth, yield attribute and yield (grain and straw) of wheat. Application of 125 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer resulted in higher grain and straw yield of wheat under no-till residue retained condition as compared to conventional tillage practices with no-residue retention. However, contribution of nutrients from decomposition of residue may increase with successive inoculation of residue. There is need to fine tune the fertilizer level in long run of residue retention to sustain the crop yield along with improving the soil health.

References

INTRODUCTION Rice (Oryza sativa L.) – Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the most predominant productive as well as nutrient exhaustive cropping system of India. In the country, rice-wheat cropping system is practised in about 10 m ha in Indo-Gangetic plains (Kumar et al., 2019). Rice-wheat is very popular among farmers due to assured procurement, subsidized electricity and other inputs, development of superior photo and thermo-insensitive high-yielding varieties and the mechanised agriculture practises. Combine harvesting of paddy is easy to use, saves time and overcomes the shortage of labour in harvesting season. The combine harvesting pf paddy generates huge amount of loose residue which hinderers the tillage operations. Farmers find burning of these residues as most quick and economical method for preparation of the field for sowing of wheat. Burning of crop residue results in a number of problems like loss of moisture, nutrients, organic matter and degradation of soil (Sidhu et a

How to cite this article

Preetam Kumar, Sandeep Rawal, A.K. Dhaka, Raj Kumar and Kavita (2022). Effect of Residue Management and Fertilizer Levels on Weeds and Wheat Productivity in Rice-wheat Cropping System. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(1): 1562-1566.