Higher Yield and Economic Benefits for Wheat Planted in Conservation Till Systems

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Conservation till system can reduce the cost of production; improve yield as well as the economic outputs of a cropping system. Four tillage systems (The conventional tillage, reduced tillage, zero tillage, and deep tillage) were evaluated for their effects on soil organic matter, nutrients concentrations, yield, yield related traits and economic benefits in wheat crop. The experiment was conducted at the Agronomic Research Institute Faisalabad, Pakistan during 2010-11. Soil analysis carried out towards the harvest of the crop depicted no statistical variation among the experimental units for organic matter as well as phosphorus and potassium concentrations. Wheat sown under conservation till systems [zero till (ZT) and reduced till (RT)] had significantly higher grain yield (4457 and 4449 kg ha^-1, respectively) than the wheat planted in conventional till system (CT) (4192 kg ha^-1). Although, the highest grain yield (4566 kg ha^-1) was recorded for wheat plots sown after deep tillage, this treatment had lower net returns (US$ 508) than the ones gained in conservation till systems (ZT and RT). ZT and RT systems attained the highest net returns (US$ 558 and 535, respectively) and benefit cost ratio (2.02 and 1.94, respectively). The lowest net returns (US$ 445) and benefit cost ratio (1.72) were recorded for CT system. In conclusion, conservation tillage can be practiced to harness higher wheat grain yields and economic benefits.

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Conservation tillage , Economic benefits , Nutrients , Wheat , Yield

Yuzuncu Yil University Journal Of Agricultural Sciences

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Yuzuncu Yil University Journal Of Agricultural Sciences