Effect of tillage and mechanization on production potential of rice (Oryza sativa)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system

Abstract

A field trial was conducted during 1998-99 and 1999-2000 at Varanasi, to compare the performance of the conventional tillage, reduced tillage (Chinese rotavator), zero tillage in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.] under varying sowing/transplanting methods of rice (Oryza sativa L.), viz. direct dry sowing, direct wet sowing, manual transplanting and mechanical transplanting by self-propelled transplanter. The manual and mechanical transplanting of rice ('HUR 36') being at par produced significantly higher grain yield than direct seedings. However, the use of self-propelled transplanter gave the maximum output:input ratio (2.53), followed by direct wet sowing with anaerobic seeder (2.10). Labour utilization was very poor under manual transplanting. As regards the wheat ('HUW 234'), Chinese rotavator proved most effective and recorded markedly higher values of yield-attributing characters, grain yield and output:input ratio. Conventional tillage though resulted in higher grain yield than zero tillage, the latter proved more remunerative.