Effect of Different Tillage Systems on Soil Properties and Yield of Wheat (Triticum Aestivum)

Time available for seedbed preparation of wheat in paddy- wheat rotation is limited to about 10–15 days and delayed sowing is one of the major factor leading to poor crop establishment and low yield of wheat corp. Study was conducted to see the effect of different tillage systems viz. zero tillage, reduced tillage and conventional tillage on soil properties, crop establishment and yield of wheat crop after paddy in heavy soil. A zero-tillage ferti-seed-drill was developed for direct sowing of wheat without any tillage operation. It was observed that, only two operations of rotavator (reduced tillage) resulted in better tilth, as compared to other tillage systems. 4% to 17.0%, more yield was obtained in reduced tillage as compared to zero tillage and conventional tillage (six operations of harrow), respectively whereas, 13.0% more yield was observed in zero tillage system as compared to conventional tillage.