Impact of tillage and crop establishment methods on crop yields, profitability and soil physical properties in rice–wheat system of Indo‐Gangetic Plains of India

Conservation agriculture ( CA ) based on best‐bet crop management practices may increase crop and water productivity, as well as conserve and sustain soil health and natural resources. In a 2‐year study, we assessed the effects of tillage and crop establishment ( TCE ) methods on productivity, profitability and soil physical properties in a rice–wheat ( RW ) system. The six TCE treatments were used to study the impact, which are puddled transplanted rice followed by conventionally tilled wheat ( CTPR – CTW ), direct‐seeded rice on the flat followed by zero‐till wheat ( CTDSR – ZTW ), zero‐till direct‐seeded rice with residue followed by zero‐till wheat with residue ( ZTDSR +R– ZTW +R), transplanted rice after rotavator puddling followed by zero‐till wheat ( RTTPR – ZTW ), transplanted rice after rotavator puddling followed by rotary till wheat ( RTTPR – RTW ) and farmer practice rice–wheat ( FP – RW ). Result of the study revealed that mean rice yield was not significantly affected by different TCE methods. Wheat planted with ZTDSR +R– ZTW +R gave 30% larger grain yield than FP‐RW . Overall, among all the TCE treatments, the RW system yields and net returns were maximum under ZTDSR +R– ZTW +R. The fastest mean infiltration rate (0.10 cm hr –1 ) was registered in ZTDSR +R– ZTW +R plots, whereas the slowest was in FP‐RW plots (0.05 cm hr –1 ). Bulk density at 15–20 cm soil depth was least in ZTDSR +R– ZTW +R (1.70 Mg m –3 ) and greatest in FP‐RW (1.73 Mg m –3 ). Results from this study revealed that conventionally tilled ( CT ) and transplanting of rice could be successfully replaced by adoption of the profitable double ZT – RW system.