Effect of crop-establishment method, tillage, irrigation and nitrogen on production potential of rice (Oryza sativa)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy and winter seasons of 1999-2000 to 2001-2002 to assess the method of crop-establishment and irrigation schedule in rice (Oryza sativa L.) and tillage and nitrogen levels in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) after rice. Puddling and transplanting of rice seedlings along with irrigation scheduled at 1 or 3 days after infiltration of ponded water gave higher yield and nutrient uptake than other treatment combinations. Rice grown under unpuddled condition required more irrigations without the additional advantage in grain yield over puddled condition. In case of wheat, grown after rice, tillage level, i.e. cultivator twice + rotavator once was optimum for good seed-bed and grain yield of wheat. Under zero tillage sig- nificantly less wheat yield was compared to all the other tillage teatments. Consumptive use of water in wheat did not differ appreciably because the number of irrigation was similar to all the treatments.