Annals of Plant Protection Sciences

Long-term field trials in rice-wheat system were conducted in Typic Ustochrept alluvial sandy loam soils [rice (Saket-4) and wheat (HD-2285)] with combinations of eight tillage systems and two moisture regimes. In direct seeded rice, tillage systems as well as moisture regimes were significantly influenced weed biomass and dry matter production. Significantly higher weed biomass was recorded in direct seeded compared to puddled condition. Considerably higher plant height, panicle length and grain yield of rice was found under puddled (4.20 t ha⁻¹) compared to direct seeded (2.31 t ha⁻¹) condition. While in wheat, considerably higher ear length, number of ears and yield was recorded when grown after direct seeded rice (4.01 t ha⁻¹) compared to puddled (3.86 t ha⁻¹) condition indicating adverse impact of puddling on succeeding crop of wheat. After direct seeded rice, grain yield of wheat was not significantly affected by levels of tillage. Maximum productivity of the system was obtained with conventional puddling in rice and conventional tillage in following wheat under well watered conditions. Almost, a similar trend was found in total harvestable biomass. In rice, considerably higher harvest index (HI) was recorded under puddled (39.6%) compared to direct seeded (31.3%) condition. However, it was not much affected by tillage systems practiced in fallowing wheat. In the system, considerably higher HI was found under puddled (40.6%) compared to direct seeded (36.0%) condition. It was found that after direct seeded rice, wheat could be grown with reduced tillage without significantly affecting its yield which resulted in saving of energy and money.