Influence of Wheat Establishment Techniques and Previous Kharif Season Crops on Productivity, Profitability, Water Use Efficiency, Energy Indices and Soil Properties in Central India

Abstract

A three-year field study was conducted to explore the efficacy of wheat (Triticum aestivum) crop establishment techniques comprising conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT), zero tillage (ZT) and broad bed furrow (BBF) after harvest of kharif (rainy) season crops of paddy (Oryza sativa), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucam) and cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba). Pooled data showed that yield attributing characters and grain yield of wheat were significantly higher which was recorded under BBF followed by ZT, CT ≈ MT. Likewise significantly, higher grain yield was recorded after harvest of pigeon pea followed by pearl millet, paddy and cluster bean, respectively. Grain yield of wheat grown after previous kharif season crops was significantly higher under BBF after harvest of paddy, pigeon pea and pearl millet, whereas ZT proved to be better after harvest of cluster bean. The study revealed that BBF method saved maximum of US$ 101 ha−1 followed by ZT (US$ 76 ha−1) and MT (US$ 43 ha−1) as compared with total cost of production under CT (US$ 497 ha−1). Net return was higher by 199 US$ ha−1 with BBF and US$ 156 ha−1 with ZT compared with CT (US$ 844 ha−1). Total water use by wheat was higher after cluster bean (38.6 cm) and least after paddy (35.7 cm). Total water use by wheat establishment techniques was 10.6 cm and 2.7 cm higher under CT compared with BBF and ZT, respectively. The delayed establishment of wheat after CT required more energy, while timely sown crop needed less energy and produced more energy, use efficiency and productivity of energy. After harvest of third crop of wheat, physicochemical properties significantly improved sown after pigeon pea compared to other kharif season crops. The overall improvement of physicochemical properties under BBF followed by ZT compared with MT and CT.