Enhancement of productivity potential of wheat (Triticum aestivum) under different tillage and nitrogen-management strategies

A field experiment was carried out during 201516 and 201617 at Kalyani, West Bengal, to evaluate the pro- ductivity potential of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in relation to tillage and timing of nitrogen application. The high- est grain yield was obtained with reduced tillage (3.8 t/ha), being statistically superior to other options. This was followed by zero (3.4 t/ha) and conventional tillage (3.2 t/ha). Sowing of wheat under reduced tillage showed yield superiority of 23.86, 19.43 and 11.14%, respectively, to the surface seeding, conventional and zero tillage owing to better utilization of available resources with minimum disturbance of soil, and higher values of yield-attributing components. Results indicated that increasing the number of splits cannot compensate for basal nitrogen applica- tion. Application of nitrogen in 3 splits [one-half before sowing + one-fourth at 21 days after sowing (DAS) + one- fourth at 42 DAS] resulted in significantly taller plants, more dry-matter accumulation, higher leaf-area index and grain yield (3.6 t/ha). This treatment showed parity with one-third N before sowing + one-third at 21 DAS + one- third N at 42 DAS (3.4 t/ha). Reduced tillage resulted in higher net returns ( 51 103 /ha) and benefit: cost (B:C) ratio (2.22) than the other tillage practices. Time of nitrogen application revealed that, one-half before sowing + one-fourth at 21 DAS + one-fourth at 42 DAS resulted in more net returns ( 42.8 103/ha) and B:C ratio (2.06) and was followed by zero tillage for net returns ( 43.9 103 /ha) and B:C ratio (2.18).