Zero tillage in wheat under rice-wheat cropping system in Kymore Plateau and Satpura Hills Region of Madhya Pradesh

The study was conducted in the different blocks of Rewa district in Madhya Pradesh. On farm trials with zero tillage wheat has shown primarily positive impact on wheat crop management, particularly through reduced input needs combined with yield increase. The trials were conducted during the rabi season at 40 farmers fields, to assess the production potential and economic benefit of sowing of wheat under zero tillage method versus conventional tillage (farmer’s practice). Improved technology consisted of wheat variety GW 322, integrated nutrient management (100:60:40:25 kg of N:P:K:S/ha+ Azotobacter + PSB @ 10 ml/kg of seed), integrated pest management (deep ploughing + seed treatment with Trichoderma viridae @ 10 ml/kg seed) under irrigated conditions during rabi seasons of 2016-17 to 2019-20. The improved technologies recorded mean yield of 44.66q/ha, which was 24 per cent higher than that obtained under farmers’ practice of 38.29q/ha. Similarly, improved technologies gave higher mean net return of Rs. 59874/-ha with a benefit cost ratio 3.41 as compared to farmers’ practice (Rs. 43848/-ha).