Conservation and organic management practices influenced wheat (Triticum aestivum) productivity, profitability and weed dynamics

Abstract

Present study was carried out during winter (rabi) seasons of 2018–19 and 2019–20 at the Agricultural Research Station of Agriculture University, Kota, Rajasthan to assess the effects of conventional and conservation tillage with organic and chemical management on growth, yield attributes, yields, economics and weed dynamics in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Vertisols. Five different crop-management practices, viz. conservation tillage with organic management (CAO), conservation tillage with chemical management (CAC), conventional tillage with chemical management (CTC), conventional tillage with organic management (OCT) and package of practice (PoPs) were studied in a randomized block design (RBD) with 4 replications. Pooled data revealed that significantly higher plant height (97.7 cm), dry matter accumulation (169.24 g/0.5 metre row length), number of tillers (47.05/0.5 meter row length), chlorophyll content of leaves (2.186 mg/g), number of effective tillers (43.15/0.5 meter row length), spike length (12.86 cm), weight per spike (2.49 g), test weight (45.61 g), grain yield (5214 kg/ha), straw yield (7941 kg/ha), and net returns (` 90891/ha) were recorded under CAC practice over CAO and OCT, although it was observed to be comparable to the PoPs and CTC management practices. Comparing conservation tillage with chemical management to other crop management techniques at 60 DAS, it was found to be the most successful practice for controlling total weeds (9.40/m2) and decreasing the buildup of weed dry matter (167.21 kg/ha).