Productivity and economics of different cropping systems in relation to tillage, mulching and fertilizer management practices in north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains of India

Abstract

Diversification and intensification of existing rice-wheat cropping system in north-west Indo-Gangetic Plains with suitable resource conserving practices is the key answer for increasing profitability. Keeping this in view, a field experiment was conducted at Ludhiana during 2014-15 and 2015-16 to study the effect of tillage, mulching and fertilizer management practices on productivity and economics of different cropping systems. The results showed that minimum tillage produced significantly higher economic yield of maize (Zea mays L.) (42.98 and 44.86 q/ha), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (47.57 and 48.30 q/ha), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) (252.42 and 254.93 /ha), vegetable pea (Pisum sativum L.) (132.42 and 137.08 q/ha) and spring maize (64.88 and 66.55 q/ha). Significantly higher maize equivalent yield (4.6 and 3.5%), higher net returns (Rupees 153445 and 170803/ha) and B:C (1.33 and 1.43) was obtained under minimum tillage than conventional tillage. The productivity of maize-based cropping systems was significantly higher than conventional rice-wheat cropping systems. Maize-vegetable pea-spring maize produced 119 and 137% higher MGEY and higher net returns (Rupees 218738 and 259235/ha), while maize-potato-spring maize showed 82 and 74% higher MGEY over rice-wheat cropping systems. Organic manures (FYM) in conjugation with inorganic fertilizers (75% RDF + 25% N through FYM) resulted in comparable MGEY with inorganic fertilizer (100% RDF). Application of mulch along with fertilizer treatments resulted in significantly higher MGEY as compared to fertilizer treatments without mulch. Gross returns were higher under mulch with fertilizer treatments, while the B:C ratio under mulch with fertilizer treatments was less as compared to fertilizer treatments without mulch.