Impact of Tillage, Seedbed Preparation and FYM on Rainfed Sorghum

Abstract

A two-year field experiment was conducted during the kharif seasons of 2017–18 and 2018–19 at the College Farm, College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Bharuch, Gujarat, to assess the effects of tillage, seedbed preparation and farmyard manure (FYM) on rainfed sorghum. The split-plot experiment comprised two tillage practices, three seedbed preparation methods and two FYM levels, with four replications. Deep tillage using a mouldboard plough significantly improved ear head length, ear head girth, ear head weight, grain yield, straw yield, water-stable aggregates, infiltration rate and available soil nutrients compared with shallow tillage. Deep tillage produced 4,937 kg ha⁻¹ grain yield and 13,097 kg ha⁻¹ straw yield, representing increases of approximately 9.3% and 11.2%, respectively. Raised beds with conservation furrows after every three rows recorded the highest grain yield (4,908 kg ha⁻¹), straw yield (13,050 kg ha⁻¹), net returns (₹96,656 ha⁻¹) and benefit–cost ratio (3.50). FYM at 10 t ha⁻¹ increased grain and straw yields by approximately 4.5% and 5.4%, respectively, and improved selected soil properties; however, its higher application cost reduced net returns and the benefit–cost ratio. The interaction effects were non-significant. Overall, deep tillage combined with raised-bed planting and conservation furrows after every three rows improved productivity, soil physical conditions and economic returns under the study conditions.