Weed and nitrogen management in zero-till wheat (Triticum aestivum) grown after rice (Oryza sativa)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during 2020–21 at the Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh to study the effect of tillage, rice (Oryza sativa L.) residue, weed control and N fertilizer levels on weeds, and growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Weed infestation in zero-tillage (ZT) wheat was significantly lower (16.7–27.6%), more so when rice-residue was retained on soil surface compared with conventional tillage (CT). Post-emergence application of sulfosulfuron + 2,4-D (ester) at 30 days after sowing (DAS) provided near weed-free conditions, and integration with hand-weeding at 45 DAS increased the grain yield of wheat marginally (3.7–4.2%). The grain yield increased significantly by 0.91–1.27 t/ha under ZT compared with CT (2.27 t/ ha), the greater response was obtained with ZT + rice-residue and additional N fertilizer (150 kg N/ha). Higher net returns (` 44,400 per ha) and net energy output (141,300 MJ/ha) under ZT + rice-residue with 150 kg N/ha showed the potential of this technology in the Bundelkhand region.