Growth analysis and yield evaluation under tillage and weed management practices in maize-wheat cropping system

Abstract

Integrated weed management strategies combine tillage systems and weed control strategies. Conservation agriculture (CA) and sustainable intensification cropping systems are potential sources of improved growth and overall productivity. This study evaluated tillage and weed management strategies effects on crop growth parameters and biological yields in maize-wheat cropping system in North Western Himalayan region. Different tillage (five) and weed management practices (three) were evaluated from 2018 to 2020 on growth indices and yield with fifteen treatments. Conservation agriculture (CA) based production system (ZT, zero tillage; crop rotation and intensification; residue management i.e. ZTR-ZTR) had higher crop dry matter accumulation (DMA), relative growth rate (RGR), crop growth rate (RGR) and biological yield of maize (28698 kg/ha) and wheat crops (18750 kg/ha). The zero tillage in maize and wheat (ZT-ZT) resulted in lowest maize (24677 kg/ha) and wheat biological yield (14009 kg/ha. Among weed management treatments, application of recommended herbicides in maize and wheat crop (H-H) resulted in higher crop DMA and biological yield of maize (27652 kg/ha) and wheat crop (19540 kg/ha). Therefore, for North Western Himalayan conditions, ZTR+H-ZTR+H (Conservation tillage combined with herbicide application in maize and wheat) is superior to other combinations for growth and yield.

Keywords

• Biological yield
• Cereal crops
• Conservation agriculture
• Crop dry matter accumulation
• Crop growth rate
• Weeds management