Effect of tillage and crop-establishment techniques on productivity, profitability and soil health under maize (Zea mays)-maize-field pea (Pisum sativum) cropping system

A field experiment was conducted at ICAR Research Complex for North-Eastern Hills Region Tripura Centre, Tripura (W), to study effect of tillage and crop-establishment techniques on productivity, profitability and soil health under maize (Zea mays L.)-maize-field pea (Pisum sativum L.) cropping system. The experiment comprised 6 treatments, viz. conventional tillage with flat bed planting (CT-FB), conventional tillage with ridge and furrow planting (CT-RF), conventional tillage with raised bed planting (CT-RB), no-till with flat bed planting (NT-FB), no-till with ridge and furrow planting (NT-RF) and no-till with raised bed planting (NT-RB). Green cobs yield of summer maize was 25.3–27.4% and field pea seed yield was 17.9–32.2% higher under NT-RF and NT-RB than CT-RF. Rainy season (kharif) maize grown under NT-RF recorded 12.66% less grain yield than the CT-RF. The NT-RB resulted in the maximum system productivity to the tune of 16.34 and 14.55 t/ha in 2012–13 and 2013–14, respectively. The average system productivity was 6.1% higher under systems than to CT systems. Net returns and benefit: cost ratios showed the similar trends as shown by system productivity. Under the NT-FB, soil organic carbon was 13.2% higher than CT-FB. However, the CT-RB recorded higher soil pH as compared to all the other treatments. The available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were higher with NT systems compared to CT systems. Therefore, cultivation of maize-maize-field pea cropping system under NT-RB system may be adopted for higher productivity and profitability and for sustaining the soil health.