Productivity, energetics and economics of wheat-maize system as affected by tillage and nitrogen levels

A field experiment was conducted to work out the optimum dose of nitrogen and economics under different tillage systems in a wheat-maize system. The experiment was conducted in split-plot design with three replications. The main plot treatments comprised of five tillage systems viz., zero-tillage, conventional tillage, fresh beds, permanent beds and deep tillage at 1.0 m apart and sub plot consisted of three levels of nitrogen viz., 75, 100 and 125% of recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN). System productivity (maize grain productivity) was at par among tillage systems. Among N levels, system productivity increased significantly upto 100% of RDN. The highest energy use efficiency was recorded in zero tillage which was closely followed by permanent bed planting. Among tillage treatments, B: C was the highest in zero tillage. Among N levels, B: C increased significantly upto 100% RDN. Thus, it can be concluded that for getting highest economic returns in a wheat-maize system, zero-tillage and 100% of recommended dose of nitrogen is the best combination.