Productivity, nutrient uptake and economics of wheat (Triticum aestivum) under various tillage and fertilizer management practices

A field experiment on sandy clay-loam soil was conducted during 2003–2005 at Chatha, Jammu to study the productivity, nutrient uptake and economics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) under different (zero and conventional) tillage practices, and 3 fertility levels (75, 100 and 125% of recommended fertilizer dose) in main plots and 5 N splits (N₁, 0:50:50; N₂, 20:40:40; N₃, 33:33:33; N₄, 50:25:25; and N₅, 50:50:0) in subplots replicated thrice. Zero-tilled wheat recorded yield attributes as well as grain and straw yield similar to conventionaly tilled crop. Increasing fertility level from 75 to 100% of recommended fertilizer dose (100, 50 and 25 kg N, P and K/ha) significanlty increased the grain yield and yield-attributing characters of wheat during both the years. Further increase to 125% of recommended fertilizer dose did not prove beneficial. Application of N in 3 splits (33:33:33, 20:40:40 and 50:25:25) recorded statistically similar but significantly higher grain and straw yields than applicationof N in 2 splits (0:50:50 and 50:50:0). Wheat sown under zero-tillage with 125% recommended fertilizer dose receiving N in splits proved profitable and beneficial option than conventionally sown crop.