Productivity, Profitability and Energy Efficiency Analysis of Rice-Wheat Cropping System in Mid Hills of Himachal Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the productivity, profitability and energy efficiency analysis of rice-wheat cropping system on a silty clay loam soil of Himachal Pradesh. Tillage options had no significant effect on the grain yield of wheat while significantly higher grain yield of rice was recorded in conventional tillage as compared to zero tillage. Zero tillage resulted in higher net returns per rupee invested as compared to conventional tillage whereas among nutrient management practices, N-rich plot recorded maximum net returns per rupee invested as compared to other treatments in rice-wheat cropping system. Maximum energy input and output was obtained in conventional tillage followed by zero tillage. However, energy use efficiency and energy productivity was highest in zero tillage as compared to conventional tillage. In case of nutrient management practices, energy use efficiency and energy productivity was maximum in SSNM + Green Seeker with top dressing of nitrogen before irrigation followed by other treatments.