Economics and yield response in rice (Oryza sativa)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system as influenced by different tillage and sowing methods in Eastern Region

A field experiment was carried out during the rainy (kharif) and winter (rabi) seasons of 2011 to 2014 at ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna, Bihar to evaluate the performance of rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system under different tillage practices and sowing methods with economics. Four methods of sowing in rice, viz. zero-tilled rice (ZT), wet sowing through drum seeder, unpuddled mechanical trans planted rice (UT) and puddled transplanting (CT); whereas in wheat 3 methods of sowings, viz. zero-till-sowing (ZT), manual line sowing (CT) and sowing with Turbo Happy seeder (HS), were evaluated and compared. Unpuddled mechanical transplanting of rice followed by manual sowing of wheat recorded the least bulk density (1.52 Mg/m3), which was statistically at par with puddled transplanting of rice followed by zero/reduced tilled wheat (1.55 Mg/m3). The CT-HS and CT-ZT practice under rice–wheat cropping system showed higher water-holding ca pacity (42.34%), mean weight diameter (0.943 mm), water-stable aggregates (32.45%) and higher hydraulic con ductivity (3.05 mm/ hr) over ZT-ZT and CT-CT practice at 0–15 cm of soil depth. Grain yield of conventionally transplanted rice (4.56 t/ha) was statistically at par with unpuddled mechanical transplanted rice, however the highest output : input ratio of 2.4 was recorded in unpuddled mechanically transplanted rice. Wheat grown in plots of manually transplanted rice and mechanical transplanted rice, gave significantly higher yield, i.e. 4.54 and 4.4 t/ ha, with an output : input ratio of 2.1 and 2.2 respectively. Wheat sown by Turbo Happy seeder gave significantly higher grain yield (4.38 t/ha) over other methods of sowing. Zero-tilled rice and mechanically transplanted rice saved 81.6 and 72.3% of sowing cost and 97.3 and 95.6% in terms of time taken in sowing/transplanting on hect are basis respectively. Sowing of wheat through zero-till-drill and Turbo Happy Seeder economized the overall cost of cultivation by 9,800 and 9,110/ha respectively along with 10–12 days earliness in sowing of wheat after harvesting of rice crop. In terms of system productivity, CT-HS and UT-HS practices provided the maximum pro ductivity with higher benefit: cost ratio. From soil health and yield point of view, zero/reduced tillage followed by conventional tillage or conventional tillage followed by zero/reduced tillage in rice–wheat system (CT-ZT scenario) was found most promising tillage practice.