Effect of tillage on productivity and soil quality on diversified maize (Zea mays) based cropping system

An experiment was conducted during 2015–16, 2016–17 and 2017–18 at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to assess the yield advantage and net returns under conservation agricultural practices. The experiment was conducted in a split-plot design with 4 tillage systems, viz. conventional tillage (CT), CT + residues at 3 t/ha, zero tillage (ZT) and ZT+ residues at 3 t/ha in main plots, and 3 crop rotations viz., maize (Zea mays L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), maize-fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graccum L.) and maize-vegetable peas (Pisum sativum L.) in sub-plots with 3 replications. Maize yield and system productivity were found at par with ZT + residue at 3 t/ha (5.08 and 10.30 t/ha) and CT + residue at 3 t/ha (4.69 and 9.62 t/ha). A higher values of soilbulk density was recorded under ZT and ZT + residue treatments at 3 t/ha at 0–5 cm soil depth at the end of the study period. Maize-fenugreek and maize-vegetable peas gave the higher maize yield in 2015 and 2016. The highest net returns were found in maize-vegetable peas than maize-wheat system.