Influence of preceding crops and nutrient management on productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum)–based cropping system

A field experiment was conducted during 2007–08 and 2008–09 at Anand to study the productivity and soil fertility as affected by preceding crops and nutrient management in wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Paol & Fiori] based cropping system. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications, keeping three preceding crops maize [Zea mays (L.)], soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] in main plots and two levels of vermicompost (0 and 2.0 t/ha vermicompost), two nitrogen levels (60 and 120 kg N/ha) and two levels of phosphorus (0 and 17.6 kg P/ha) in sub-plots. Growing soybean and greengram as the preceding crops resulted significantly higher grain and straw yields of wheat than preceding maize crop. Among the different cropping sequences, maximum system productivity in terms of wheat grain equivalent yield (WGEY) was recorded with soybean–wheat, which was 20.3 and 43.9% higher than that of greengram–wheat (6.85 t/ha) and maize–wheat (5.73 t/ha). Nutrient management in wheat crop produced the highest grain yield (3.60 t/ha), straw yield (5.39 t/ha) and harvest index (39.6%) of wheat under 2.0 t/ha vermicompost, which was 4.9% more over control (3.43 t/ha). Application of 120 kg N/ha and 17.6 kg P/ha were optimum for securing maximum grain yield of wheat (3.67 t/ha) and net returns (38,469/ha). Soybean–wheat crop sequence secured maximum net returns, WGEY, production efficiency and land use efficiency, when crop fertilized with 120 kg N and 17.6 kg P/ha.