Weed and nitrogen management in zero-till wheat (Triticum aestivum) grown after rice (Oryza sativa)

An experiment was conducted during 2020-21 at the Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh to study the effect of tillage, rice (Oryza sativa L.) residue, weed control and N fertilizer levels on weeds, and growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Weed infestation in zero-tillage (ZT) wheat was significantly lower (16.7-27.6%), more so when rice-residue was retained on soil surface compared with conventional tillage (CT). Post-emergence application of sulfosulfuron + 2,4-D (ester) at 30 days after sowing (DAS) provided near weed-free conditions, and integration with hand-weeding at 45 DAS increased the grain yield of wheat marginally (3.7-4.2%). The grain yield increased significantly by 0.91-1.27 t/ha under ZT compared with CT (2.27 t/ ha), the greater response was obtained with ZT + rice-residue and additional N fertilizer (150 kg N/ha). Higher net returns (44,400 per ha) and net energy output (141,300 MJ/ha) under ZT + rice-residue with 150 kg N/ha showed the potential of this technology in the Bundelkhand region.