On-Farm Economic Evaluation of Mechanized In-Situ Paddy Residue Management in Paddy-wheat Cropping System of Yamunanagar, Haryana, India

Abstract

The economics of super seeder machine sown wheat (paddy residue incorporated into the soil and side by side machine sowing) over conventionally sown wheat (manual broadcasting of wheat after burning paddy residue followed by tillage) was evaluated at farmers’ field. The study was conducted in paddy-wheat cropping system of Yamunanagar, Haryana. The study was carried out by CCS Haryana Agricultural University- Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Yamunanagar at farmers’ fields during Rabi 2022-23. The demonstrations were funded under the project “Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi.” This project was sponsored by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi through Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Jodhpur”. The study was conducted in selected villages of Yamunanagar district i.e. Bahadarpur, Khajuri and Laxibas. There were a total 250 demonstrations. These villages had predominant Paddy- wheat cropping system and considerable area under hybrid varieties with higher potential of residue generation. The maximum area under paddy was harvested through combine harvesters. The burning of paddy residue was a major challenge in the region. The super seeder sown wheat was found to be more economical and profitable. The average grain yield was found to be significantly higher (p < 0.0001) under super seeder (59.0 q/ha) compared to the conventional method (54.8 q/ha). To find the significant difference in the yield of both treatments, T-test was applied. Super seeded wheat produced a higher net return (Rs. 45960/ha) compared to conventional technique (Rs. 32084/ha). The Benefit cost ratio of super seeded wheat and conventional technique was 1.43 and 1.29 respectively. Apart from profitability to the farmers, the super seeder had an added environmental benefit of saving one irrigation along with avoiding of crop residue burning.