Effect of tillage on productivity and soil quality on diversified maize (Zea mays) based cropping system

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during 2015–16, 2016–17 and 2017–18 at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to assess the yield advantage and net returns under conservation agricultural practices. The experiment was conducted in a split-plot design with 4 tillage systems, viz. conventional tillage (CT), CT + residues at 3 t/ha, zero tillage (ZT) and ZT+ residues at 3 t/ha in main plots, and 3 crop rotations viz., maize (Zea mays L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), maize–fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graccum L.) and maize–vegetable peas (Pisum sativum L.) in sub-plots with 3 replications. Maize yield and system productivity were found at par with ZT + residue at 3 t/ha (5.08 and 10.30 t/ha) and CT + residue at 3 t/ha (4.69 and 9.62 t/ha). A higher values of soilbulk density was recorded under ZT and ZT + residue treatments at 3 t/ha at 0–5 cm soil depth at the end of the study period. Maize–fenugreek and maize–vegetable peas gave the higher maize yield in 2015 and 2016. The highest net returns were found in maize–vegetable peas than maize–wheat system.