Evaluation of different alternative crops for saline vertisols under different tillage methods in rice fallows in tungabhadra command area of Karnataka

All crops are not suitable for salt affected soils as uptake of nutrients is affected especially calcium and micronutrients. Use of alternate crops which provide both food and fodder is beneficial for livelihood of the farmers. Resource conserving technologies proved better in management of salt affected soils as they minimizes the loss of carbon from the soil. The investigation carried out to find out alternate crops under different tillage methods for rice fallows revealed that, among the different tillage methods, zero tillage recorded significantly higher grain and straw yield for all the three crops (15.33 and 21.44 q/ha) compared to minimum (11.81 and 17.78 q/ha) and conventional tillage (10.66 and 15.89 q/ha). Among the crops (sub-plot), sorghum grain and straw yield was significantly higher (17.24 and 30.56 q/ha) than sunflower (11.63 and 14.00 q/ha) and cluster bean (8.92 and 10.56 q/ha). Interaction effect of tillage methods and crops were also found significant. Among the treatments, zero tillage with sorghum recorded significantly higher grain yield as compared to other tillage methods. Generally, sorghum and sunflower crops performed better under zero tillage. Soil pH and ECe were not affected due to tillage methods and crop sown. Significantly lower cost of cultivation was incurred in zero tillage with sorghum crop. Gross returns, net returns and B: C ratio were significantly higher in zero tillage with sorghum crop as compared to other methods and crops.