Impact of Crop Establishment Methods and Weed Management Practices on Productivity and Profitability of Rice-Wheat System in Indo Gangetic Plains

Abstract

Declining productivity of rice-wheat system in Indo–Gangetic Plains poses risk to conventional practices because of high production cost and low input use efficiency. Four crop establishment methods (CEM) and four weed management practices (WMP) were compared in a 2–year study to determine the productivity and profitability of rice-wheat system. Growth, yield traits and yields of rice was uninfluenced by CEM. Zero tillage rice (ZTR)–zero tillage wheat (ZTW) exhibited highest improvement in mean wheat yield, system productivity and profitability by 7.5%, 4.0% and 16.0%, respectively over conventional tillage rice (CTR)–conventional tillage wheat (CTW). CTR–ZTW recorded minimum total weed density and biomass in system. Post emergence application of bispyribac 25 g ha-1 + azimsulfuron 35 g ha-1 (bis + azim) in rice at 20 days after sowing (DAS)/days after transplanting (DAT); clodinofop 60 g ha-1 + carfentrazone 20 g ha-1 (clod + carf) in wheat at 30–35 DAS minimized total weed density and biomass, increased growth, productivity and profitability of the system. Results suggest that higher growth, productivity and profitability of rice–wheat system may be achieved by adoption of ZTR–ZTW with application of bis + azim in rice and clod + carf in wheat.