Is Sustainable Groundnut Cultivation Achievable through Residue Application and Tillage Optimization in a Groundnut Wheat System?

Abstract

The growing concern for food security necessitates the identification of an environmental friendly and crop yield sustainable system of tillage production, which would ensure soil protection and restoration of natural biocoenosis. This study aimed to evaluate the conservation tillage practices for efficient utilization of resources and increasing crop productivity and profitability. The study was carried out on a fixed site at Research Farm, College of Agriculture, RVSKVV, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. We studied the impact of tillage practices with residue management on the growth, productivity and profitability of kharif groundnut under groundnut-wheat cropping system. The results revealed that the conventional tillage-raised bed system with residue incorporated on the surface (CT-raised bed+Residue) resulted in significantly higher crop growth, yield and profitability during both years over conventional and conservation tillage systems. The pooled analysis of the data exhibited that kernel (2135 kg/ha) and pod yields (3100 kg/ha) were significantly higher under a conventional tillage-raised bed system with residue incorporation. However, this treatment was found at par with conventional tillage-flat bed with residue for kernel and pod yields values during both years. The same treatment recorded significantly the highest uptake of nutrients (N, P, K) during both years and on pooled basis. The pooled economic analysis of the data showed that significantly the highest net and gross returns were fetched with conventional tillage practised on raised bed with residues incorporated on the surface in comparison to other tillage practices. However, during the two experimental years, this treatment was statistically similar to conventional tillage-flat bed with residue incorporation. With respect to benefit cost ratio and harvest index the treatments significantly varied and recorded higher values of B:C (2.18) and HI (0.55) on a pooled basis under conventional tillage-raised bed with residues and conventional tillage-flat bed with residues, respectively. Zero tillage without residue incorporation remained the least performing treatment, recording the lowest values of all parameters.