Abstract
An experiment was conducted at Ludhiana, during Kharif and Rabi season on loamy sand soil consisting of twelve treatment combination arranged in split plot design and replicated three times with three bed planting, viz., Fresh bed (FB), Permanent bed (PB) and Alternate bed (FB/PB) in main plot two crop residue management viz., residue incorporation/ mulching (R) and no incorporation / no mulching (R0) and two seed rate/ nitrogen level viz., 75 kg ha-1 (S100) and 93.75 kg ha-1 (S125) / 90 kg N ha-1 (N90) and 120 kg N ha-1 (N120) in sub plot. In soybean treatment, R recorded significantly higher grain (22.60 q ha-1) and straw (44.50 q ha-1) yield as compared to R0. FB/ PB recorded highest grain (22.60 q ha-1) and straw (43.90 q ha-1) yield followed by PB (21.40 q ha-1) and FB (21.20 q ha 1). S125 recorded higher grain (22.30 q ha-1) and straw (44.80 q ha-1) yield then S100. Highest gross return (Rs ha-1), Net return (Rs ha-1), and B:C ratio was also obtained under FB/PB, R and S125 treatment as compared to other treatment . In wheat treatment FB recorded highest grain (41.40 q ha 1) and straw (53.60 q ha-1) then FB/PB and PB. R treatment recorded higher grain (41.10 q ha-1) and straw (53.30 q ha-1) yield then R0. N120 treatment recorded higher grain (41.20 q ha-1) and straw (53.30 q ha-1) yield. Highest net return (Rs 29442.20 ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.05) was obtained under PB then FB and FB/PB. R0 treatment recorded higher net return (Rs 30873.86 ha-1) and B: C ratio (2.15) then R treatment. N120 treatment recorded higher net return (Rs 29402.56 ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.0) under water stress condition in dry areas.
The bed planting system is found to be potential resource conservation technology which can play a big role to save the scarce natural resources like land and water (25%) and is gaining importance due to number of advantages like better irrigation management, better crop establishment, better light penetration within crop canopy, improve fertilizer use efficiency and reduces crop lodging. The combination of permanent beds and straw as stubble produced higher yield of wheat and increased soil quality by increasing soil microbial carbon than conventional with straw removed or incorporated (Limon et al. 2000). Similarly, nitrogen requirement may vary under bed planting as nutrients are collected along the soil under the seeding zone at the time of bed preparation. Moreover, leaching losses of nitrogen fertilizer are minimal in beds as irrigation is applied in furrows. Mulches keep the soil surface cool, wetter and mellower for longer period which may enhance the root and shoot growth of crops. Soil strength decreases with application of crop residue whereas infiltration rate, soil microbial biomass and carbon increase. Hence the present investigation made to find bed plantings, crop residue management and seed rates/nitrogen levels for maximization of the productivity of soybean- wheat system under water stress condition in dry areas of Punjab, India.
Keywords
Fresh Bed, Permanent Bed, Mulching, Yield, Net Return, B: C Ratio
Refbacks
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