Effect of tillage and weed management on wheat yield and economics in an aerobic rice-wheat cropping system

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Palampur during rabi 2022-23 in wheat under aerobic rice-wheat cropping system following strip plot design with fifteen treatments i.e. five tillage in main plots and three weed management in sub-plots. Amongst tillage treatments, significantly higher wheat grain equivalent yield and other attributes were recorded with zero tillage with residues of preceding aerobic rice under ZT+R-ZT+R than conventional tillage (CT-CT). Crop profitability with higher gross return of ¹ 132575 ha^-1 and benefit cost ratio of 1.89 was noted with ZT-ZT+R outperforming CT-CT. Among different weed management practices, post emergence application of clodinafop 60 g ha^-1 along with metsulfuron-methyl 4 g ha^-1 recorded higher plant height, yield attributes, wheat grain equivalent yield, gross and net returns over integrated weed management practices. ZTR+H-ZTR+H (Conservation tillage combined with herbicide application) was found to be comparatively better than others for yield attributes and monetary gains in rice-wheat cropping system.