Effect of Tillage and Weed Management Practices on Growth, Yield Attributes, and Economics of Wheat

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi2023-24 at the research farm, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar.The experiment consisted of three tillage operations in main plots and six weed management practices in sub plots laid out in split plot design with three replications. Results revealed that zero tillage with paddy residue led to higher plant height (102.97 cm), leaf area index (2.56), biomass accumulation (570.90 g m-2), no. of spikes m-2(256.45), no. of grains spike-1(49.08), grainyield (3640.86 kg ha-1), net returns (65638 ₹ ha-1) and  benefit cost ratio (1.69) which was statistically at par with zero tillage without residue.Among weed management practices, hand weeding treatment was found significantly superior in all crop traits but it was not economical for farmers due to higher cost of cultivation. However different herbicidal treatments, sulfosulfuron+ metsulfuron methyl (30+2) g a.i. ha-1 were found significantly superior, higher plant height (102.62 cm), leaf area index (2.42), biomass accumulation (580.48 g m-2),no. of spikes m-2(270.36), no. of grains spike-1(49.59), grainyield (3895.68 kg ha-1), net returns(70756 ₹ ha-1) and  B:C ratio (1.81) which was followed bymesosulfuron methyl + iodosulfuron methyl sodium (12+2.4) g a.i. ha-1.