Effect of Conservation Tillage and Precision Nitrogen Management on Wheat: A Review

Abstract

The most significant source of protein in the world is wheat, which accounts for roughly 21% of daily dietary protein requirements on average. With more than 60% of the population living in rural regions, the wheat crop system in Indian agriculture represents the backbone and the future of the country's economy. By speeding the oxidation and disintegration of organic matter, which results in the deterioration of soil characteristics, intensive ploughing causes a decrease in soil organic matter. To conserve resources, slow down soil degradation, adjust cropping systems to climate extremes, and increase agricultural sustainability over the long term, conservation agriculture (CA), which involves minimising soil disturbances, is widely supported. One of the greatest restrictions for CA is the immobilisation of N, which is mostly related to the presence of a continuous residue cover on the soil surface. The employment of some technologies, such as the SPAD metre, NDVI sensor, site-specific nutrient management through soil test crop response, nutrient expert LCC, etc., during the growing season for precision N management aids in meeting the crop's nitrogen needs with the least amount of environmental impact. This study aims to examine the research studies where precision nitrogen management technologies were applied in conservation agriculture and discuss the effects of these tools and techniques on wheat growth, productivity, and nutrient usage efficiency (NUE).