1Ph. D. Scholar, Agronomy, VIAETSHUATS
2Professor of Agronomy, VIAETSHUATS
3Student of B. Tech. Food Technology, VIAETSHUATS
4Head of Department Naini Agricultural Institute (NAI), SHUATS, Paryagraj, 211 007
5Professor of Agronomy, Department of Agronomy, B.A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, 388 110
Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh, 211 007
*Corresponding author's Email: manojagric@gmail.com
Online published on 2 September, 2019.
A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2014–15 and 2015–16 at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, to evaluate the effect of tillage practices, nitrogen and zinc management on productivity and quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the North Eastern Plains Zone (NEPZ) of India. Treatments consisted of combinations of 2 tillage practices mainplots, viz. Conventional tillage (T1) and minimum tillage (T2) with different sources of organic manure and nitrogen management, viz. N0 (control); N1, [50% recommended dose of N (RDN) through (urea + diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer] + 50% RDN through FYM; N2, (25% RDN through (urea + DAP fertilizer] + 75% RDN through FYM; N3, 50% RDN through (urea + DAP fertilizer) + 50% RDN through vermicompost; N4, 25% RDN through (urea + DAP fertilizer) + 75% RDN through vermicompost; and N5, 100% RDN through (urea + DAP fertilizer), in subplots and 0.5% zinc foliar spray (Z1) along with the control (no foliar spray, Z0) were taken in sub-subplots in a split-split plot design with 3 replications. Pooled data indicated that, crop cultivated by conventional tillage resulted in significantly the highest grain yield (3.89 t/ha) and gross returns (93, 507/ha). However, significantly the highest benefit: cost ratio (1.407) was evident in conservation tillagebased minimum tillage. In balanced nitrogen-fertilization treatment N3 significant and maximum grain yield (4.14 t/ha), straw yield (8.39 t/ha) and gross returns (10, 025/ha) were obtained. Significant and maximum soil-fertility status was recorded for available N, P, K and B contents in treatment N4. Significantly the highest net returns (62, 285/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.944) were noted in the treatment N5. In zinc foliar spray, significantly higher grain (3.86 t/ha) and straw yields (7.86 t/ha), gross returns ( 93, 312/ha), net returns ( 53, 251/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.372) with soil fertility N (245.54 ppm) were recorded in treatment Z1. Interaction of T1N3Z1 treatment resulted significantly higher grain yield. However, significantly higher net returns were recorded in T1N5Z1. The benefit: cost ratio was maximum in interaction of T2N5Z1.
Growth, Nitrogen management, Tillage practices, Wheat, Yield, Zinc foliar spray
