Response of zero-till lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) to residual effect of planting systems, nitrogen and weed management practices in rice

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the residual effects of rice planting systems with nitrogen and weed management practices as well as fertilizer application on the performance of zero-till lentil in a rice-lentil cropping sequence during 2009-10 and 2010-11. Rice was grown as transplanted, direct seeded or on dual cropping mode with sesbania and azolla with three weed management practices. During winter season, zero-till lentil was sown with 100 and 75% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) to evaluate both direct and residual effect of fertilizers by superimposing the treatment. Highest grain yield (2.58 t/ha), net return (INR 1,09,382/ha) and BCR (8.21) of lentil were obtained under the residual effect of Sesbania dual cropping in direct seeded rice (DSR) with 100% recommended Dose of nitrogen (RDN) and pretilachlor plus at 0.3 kg a.i./ha at 2 DAS followed by hand weeding at 45 DAS compared to all other treatments. Application of 100% RDF to lentil also produced significantly higher yield (2.27 t/ha), net return (INR 94,809/ha) and BCR (6.90) over control although it remained comparable to 75%RDF. Thus it can be inferred that growing of DSR during rainy season with dual cropping either with sesbania or azolla with 100% RDN and pretilachlor plus @ 0.3 kg a.i./ha at 2 DAS fb HW at 45 DAS and that of lentil with 100 or 75% RDF during winter season could be a viable option for sustaining productivity and profitability of rice-lentil cropping system of Eastern Uttar Pradesh.