Conservation agriculture practices for improving productivity and soil health in maize–wheat systems under Indian conditions

• ZT+ R + P5 achieved highest MEY (8.17 Mg/ha) and SP (15.5 Mg/ha) in maize-wheat systems. • Significant improvements in soil health indicators at ZT+ R + P5, including SOC and biological properties. • Economic benefits with ZT+ R + P5: highest SGR ($3924/ha) and SNR ($2701/ha) observed. • Enhanced energy efficiency with ZT+ R + P5, recording 471 × 103 MJ/ha in system energy gross returns. • Sustainable practices like ZT and residue retention crucial for optimizing P application and crop productivity. Achieving sustainable development in agri-food production systems requires integrated strategies that boost productivity while preserving soil and environmental health. This study examined the conservation agriculture (CA) practices (tillage, crop residue management, and phosphorus fertilization) on the performance of a maize–wheat (M-W) system in India. A two-year field experiment involving fifteen treatment combinations was conducted. The results showed that zero tillage (ZT) with residue retention (+ R ) and phosphorus dose (34.4 kg P ha⁻¹) produced the highest (8.17 t ha⁻¹) maize equivalent yield (MEY), system productivity (15.5 t P ha⁻¹), and net economic return ($2701 ha⁻¹). This strategies also significantly enhanced soil organic carbon, water-stable aggregates, microbial biomass, and enzymatic activities. In contrast, phosphorus application with microbial inoculants under ZT without residue (- R ) yielded the highest energy use efficiency (23.3). These integrated practices further increased the net energy return to 373 × 10³ MJ ha⁻¹. The findings demonstrate that integrating CA-practices and optimal phosphorus management enhances system productivity, profitability, and soil sustainability. These practices support national goals for agri-food security, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals.