Effect of tillage and weed control methods on yield and energetics of wheat (Triticum aestvium)

A field experiment on sandy loam soil was conducted during 2002 to 2004 to study the productivity and energetics of wheat (Triticum aestivum) under different tillage practices (zero, conventional and bed planting) and weed control treatments (weedy check, weed free, Isoproturon @ 1kg a.i./ha+ 2,4 D @ 0.5 kg a.i./ha and Metribuzin @ 0.275 kg a.i./ha), at Chatha, Jammu. Wheat under zero tillage recorded significantly higher number of tillers/m² as well as grain and straw yield of wheat during both the years of study than other tillage parctices. Zero tillage was more remunerative in lerms of labour, fuel and energy saving than the other methods. Zero tillage recorded significantly more energy use-efficiency (4.16 and 4.37 during the year 2002–03 and 2003–04, respectively) with higher energy productivity of 387.40 and 398.23 g/MJ/ha during the year 2002–03 and 2003–04, respectively than other methods of tillage, during both the years. However, among weed control methods, weed free (W₂) treatment had significant influence on growth, yield, energy-use-efficiency and energy productivity of wheat than other treatments. This was followed by (W₃) Isoproturon @1kg a.i./ha + 2,4-D @ 0.5 kg a.i./ha and (W₄) Metribuzin @ 0.275 kg a.i./ha treatments which remained at par with each other. Weedy check (W₁) produced significantly lowest number of tillers/m² resulting in lower grain and straw yield of wheat during both the years of study.