Influence of tillage and target yield approach on growth, yield and economics of maize – chickpea cropping system

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif and rabi seasons of 2013-14 and 2014-15 at Agricultural Research Station, Bheemarayanagudi to study the influence of tillage and target yield approach on growth, yield and economics of maize – chickpea cropping system. The results indicated that the growth and yield parameters of maize and chickpea at harvest did not influence due to tillage practices. All these yield parameters were relatively higher in zero tillage with mulch @ 5 t ha-1 when compared to conventional tillage. Grain and stover yield of maize did not differ significantly due to different tillage management practices. But, zero tillage with mulch @ 5 t ha-1 produced relatively higher yield (65.9 q ha-1) than the zero tillage (64.3 q ha-1) followed by conventional tillage (55.8 q ha-1). Further, due to nutrient management strategies, the growth and yield parameters of maize differed significantly. Target yield of 10 t ha-1 exhibited significantly higher growth and yield attributes at harvest when compared to other treatments except targeted yield of 8 t ha-1 and 150% RDF. The lowest values of these attributes were recorded in farmer’s practice of nutrient management followed by RDF. The grain yield and stover yield (69.9 q ha-1and 89.5 q ha-1, respectively) of maize was significantly higher with targeted yield of 10 t ha-1 followed by targeted yield of 8 t ha-1 and 150% RDF. The lowest grain and stover yield (53.6 q ha-1 and 74.3 q ha-1, respectively) was recorded in farmers practice followed by RDF. Non significant differences for grain and stover yield of maize was recorded due to interaction of tillage and target yield approach. The growth and yield and yield parameters of chickpea did not differ due to tillage practices and target yield approaches followed for maize. Maize equivalent yield of chickpea and system productivity were followed same trend as that of maize yield. Among different tillage practices, significantly higher gross returns (Rs.1,25,981 ha-1) and net returns (Rs. 88,017 ha-1) were recorded with zero tillage with mulch @ 5 t ha-1 followed by zero tillage. But, B:C ratio (2.33) in zero tillage was slightly higher than zero tillage with mulch @ 5 t ha-1 (2.32). Significantly lower gross return (Rs.1,10,391 ha-1), net returns (Rs. 69,527 ha-1) and B:C (1.70) ratio were recorded in conventional tillage. Significantly higher gross return (Rs.1,33,050 ha-1), net returns (Rs. 92,570 ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.30) were recorded in target yield of 10 t ha-1 and was followed by target yield of 8 t ha-1. The lowest gross returns (Rs.1,05,762 ha-1) and net returns (Rs. 71,018 ha-1) were obtained with farmers’ practice’ followed by RDF. Significantly lowest B:C ratio was recorded with RDF (1.88) followed 150% RDF (1.95) and found to be on par with farmers’ practice (2.07).