Studies on tillage and green manuring for enhancing productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum)

A field experiment was conducted in 2016-17 and 2017-18 during kharif and rabi season at agricultural research farm of BHU, Varanasi, to study the effect of different tillage practices and green manuring on productivity and profitability of maize-wheat cropping system. The experiment was laid out in split plot design comprising 20 treatments. The four different tillage practices, viz. T-1 (Conventional tillage maize-Conventional tillage wheat), T-2 (Minimum tillage maize-Minimum tillage wheat), T-3 (Minimum tillage maize-Zero tillage wheat) and T-4 (Zero tillage maize-Zero tillage wheat) were assigned to main plot and five summer green manuring treatments, viz. M-1 (Summer fallowing), M-2 (Dhaincha), M-3 (Sunnhemp), M-4 (Clusterbean) and M-5 (Cowpea) were kept in sub plots. The treatment, T-4 and T-1 were at par with each other and registered higher yield attributing characters, grain (4814.61, 4931.94 and 4754.03, 4840.69 kg/ha during 2016-17 and 2017-18, respectively) and straw yield, quality and B:C ratio. In case of summer green manuring, M-2 (Dhaincha) recorded higher yield attributing characters, grain and straw yield and quality (4846.27, 4957.54 kg/ha during 2016-17 and 2017-18, respectively) over other treatments but it was at par with M-3 (Sunnhemp). It is recommended that ZT wheat and summer green manure Dhaincha residue mulching should be followed to achieve higher yield and profitability.