Improving productivity and profitability of rice (Oryza sativa)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system through tillage and planting management

A field experiment was conducted at the Project Directorate for Cropping Systems Research, Modipuram, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, from the rainy season of 2000 to winter season of 2003, to evaluate the performance of the zero till drilling, strip till drilling, bed planting and conventional sowing in wheat (Triticum aestivuim L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) under varying sowing or planting methods of rice (Oiyza saliva L.), viz direct dry seeding, direct seeding of sprouted seeds, manual transplanting, and mechanical transplanting by self-propelled rice transplanter. The mechanical transplanting of rice resulted in 6.25 tonnes/ha grain and 6.94 tonnes/ha straw yields that were at par with manual transplanting but significantly higher than both direct-seeding methods. The mechanical transplanting was most cost-effective and energy-efficient, requiring lowest specific energy (408 kcal/kg) and specific cost (Rs 2.27/kg), and providing maximum benefit : cost ratio (2.34) and energy output : input ratio (7.36). In wheat,strip till drilling resulted in higher growth, grain (5.67 tonnes/ha) and straw (7.82 tonnes/ha) yields, followed by zero till drilling, conventional sowing and bed planting. The strip till drilling was most cost-effective and energy-efficient method, requiring lowest specific energy (430 kcal/kg) and specific cost (Rs 1.91/ kg), providing maximum benefit : cost ratio (3.67) and energy output : input ratio (6.98). However, conventional sowing was least cost-effective and energy-efficient, requiring maximum specific energy (543 kcal/kg) and specific cost (Rs 2.52/ kg), and providing minimum benefit : cost ratio (2.81) and energy output : input ratio (5.52).