Tillage with crop residue and nitrogen to enhance the productivity of direct seeded rice

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during kharif season of 2012 and 2013 to see the influence of tillage and nitrogen on the productivity of direct seeded rice. In 2012, the maximum grain yield was obtained with zero tillage with wheat straw at 100 kg N/ha, it was statistically at par with zero tillage without wheat straw at 125 kg N/ha, but significantly varied from other treatment combinations. The application of 125 kg N/ha in zero tillage without wheat straw gave significantly higher yield than other levels of nitrogen in zero tillage without wheat straw. Conventional tillage with wheat straw responded up to 125 kg N/ha further increase in nitrogen dose did not show significant effect on the grain yield of rice. Similarly, the maximum grain yield was obtained in conventional tillage without wheat straw at 150 kg N/ha, which was significantly better than lower levels of nitrogen applied to the conventional tillage without wheat straw. In the second year, zero tillage with straw at 100 kg N/ha gave significantly higher grain yield than all other treatment combinations. In case of zero tillage without straw, addition of 125 kg N/ha gave the higher grain yield but was at par with 100 kg N/ha. Under conventional tillage with straw, the higher grain yield was obtained with 125 kg N/ha, which was at par with 150 kg N/ha. However, in conventional tillage without straw, addition of 150 kg N/ha produced the significantly higher grain yield than other treatment combinations.