Production potential and economics of wheat, Triticum aestivum as influenced by different planting methods in Punjab, India

Abstract

The burning of rice straw after rice harvest in the Rice-Wheat System can be overcome by direct seeding of wheat by in standing and loose rice straw. To find out the most appropriate method of wheat sowing after rice crop in Sri Muktsar Sahib district, a field experiment was conducted with five different sowing methods including zero tillage and happy seeder. Among the different planting methods maximum grain yield was obtained with the conventional (52.26 q/ha) and happy seeder without loose straw (51.93 q/ha) planting method as compared to happy seeder with loose straw (50.83 q/ha), zero tillage (49.80 q/ha) and conventional method with mulching (49.66 q/ha). However, the benefit-cost ratio was higher by happy seeder with (2.38:1) and without loose straw (2.35:1) as compared to zero tillage method (2.31:1) and conventional (2.14:1). Higher B:C ratio with happy seeder was also due to its lesser cost of cultivation as compared to conventional method of sowing. The higher net return obtained from happy seeder with and without loose straw Rs. 50104 and Rs. 51019/ha respectively as compared zero tillage method (Rs 48663/ha) and conventional tillage method (Rs. 49856/ha). Although the grain yield under conventional method of sowing was higher but it failed to produce higher net return and B:C ratio. Happy Seeder technology is a time savings, good option against burning of rice residue in Punjab.