Shishpal Poonia - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Shishpal Poonia
Soil Research, Oct 26, 2021
Context Conservation agriculture (CA) can potentially arrest deteorating soil fertility and impro... more Context Conservation agriculture (CA) can potentially arrest deteorating soil fertility and improve crop production in the middle Indo-Gangetic Plains of India. Methods A field experiment (ICAR RCER, Patna, India; 2009–2016) tested four common farming practices: S1, a wheat–rice fallow rotation with complete removal of crop residues; S2, best management practices (BMPs) with puddled transplanted rice, drill-seeded wheat in no-tillage (NT), and drill-seeded mungbean in conventional tillage (CT) in a wheat–mungbean–rice rotation where residues were retained on surface in rice and wheat, and residue incorporated in mungbean; S3, CA system in a wheat–cowpea–rice rotation; and S4, BMP intensified and diversified cropping system in a potato + maize–cowpea–rice rotation (unpuddled transplanted rice with dribbled maize + potato, intercropped) in CT and relayed dibbling of cowpea in NT. Full residues of potato and cowpea were incorporated and one-third portion of rice and maize residue were retained on soil. Key results After 7 years, S2, S3 and S4 systems lowered soil bulk density and penetration resistance compared to S1. S3 resulted in higher soil macro-aggregates (>0.125 mm) and lower soil micro-aggregates (<0.125 mm). Avoiding tillage in wheat and including a food legume in rotation in S2 increased annual rice equivalent yields by 30.5–34.4%. S4 had the highest water productivity (1.04 kg rice equivalent grain m−3) and S1 had the lowest (0.64 kg rice equivalent grain m−3). Conclusions and implications NT and retention of crop residues have potential to improve soil health and monetary gains.
European Journal of Soil Science, Sep 11, 2019
Short-term (5 yrs) impact of tillage and residue management practices on physical properties and ... more Short-term (5 yrs) impact of tillage and residue management practices on physical properties and organic carbon (OC) of a silty clay soil was evaluated in a rice-wheat rotation in the Indo-Gangetic Plains of Bihar. The experiment had three conservation agriculture (CA) practices: one full [direct-seeded rice (DSR)-no-tilled wheat (NTW)-no-tilled mung bean (NTMB); fCA], and two partial [puddled transplanted rice (PTR)-NTW-conventionally tilled mung bean (CTMB); pCA1 and unpuddled transplanted rice (UPTPR)-conventionally tilled potato+maize (CTP+M)-NTMB; pCA2], which were evaluated against full conventional practice [puddled transplanted rice (PTR)-conventionally tilled wheat (CTW); TA]. Subsurface compaction reduced and soil aggregation improved under both full and partial CA. Macro-and water-stable aggregates increased to a large extent (26 and 11%, respectively) in full CA, and to a lesser extent in partial CA, mostly due to increase in coarse macroaggregate (2-8 mm) contents in 0-10 and 10-20 cm layers. Steady-state infiltration rate nearly doubled under full CA, with larger pore volume recorded in 10-20 and 20-30 cm layers. The CA increased OC associated with all size fractions of aggregates in the surface layer (0-10 cm), but a higher amount of C was associated with macroaggregates indicating relative stabilization of OC in the soil under the CA. Change in bulk soil OC was larger at 0-10 cm layer in favour of CA, which also had an 11% increase in OC stock in 0-30 cm layer. Improvement in soil physical condition did not effectively translate into rice or wheat yields, but the system productivity increased largely.
Current Science, Aug 25, 2019
Field Crops Research, Jun 1, 2021
In the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (EIGP), conventional rice-wheat system has led to a decline i... more In the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (EIGP), conventional rice-wheat system has led to a decline in productivity, input-use efficiency, and profitability. To address these, a four-year field study was conducted to evaluate the performance of tillage and crop establishment (TCE) methods in rice-wheat-greengram rotation. The treatments included: 1) random puddled transplanted rice (RPTR)-conventional-till broadcast wheat (BCW)-zero-till greengram (ZTG); 2) line PTR (LPTR)-conventional-till drill sown wheat (CTW)-ZTG; 3) machine transplanted rice in puddled soil (CTMTR)-zero tillage wheat (ZTW)-ZTG; 4) machine transplanted rice in zero-till wet soil (ZTMTR)-ZTW-ZTG; 5) system of rice intensification (SRI)-system of wheat intensification (SWI)-ZTG; 6) direct-seeded rice (DSR)-ZTW-ZTG; and 7) zero-till DSR-ZTW-ZTG. During the initial two years, conventional rice system (PTR) recorded a 16.2 % higher rice grain yield than DSR system. Whereas in the fourth year, the rice yields under DSR and PTR were comparable. As compared to SRI/SWI, the average wheat yield in ZT system was significantly high, whereas in rice, SRI/SWI system was comparable with CT system. ZTW after non-puddled rice was at par to CTW after PTR. The ZT wheat produced 4.6 % more yield than CT system. DSR production system consumed 6.8 % less water compared to transplanted system. On the system basis, 10.8 % higher net returns were recorded with CA-based system compared to conventional system. The system energy productivity under CA-based production system was 14-36 % higher than PTR-based systems. CA-based system also led to 8-10 % lower global warming potential (GWP) than conventional methods. The current study indicated that as compared to conventional system, a significant gain in productivity, profitability and energy-use efficiency, and reduction in the environmental mitigation are possible with emerging alternative TCE methods. Long-term expansion and further refinement of these technologies in local areas need to be explored for the second green revolution.
Field Crops Research, Jun 1, 2019
Rice productivity in Eastern Indo-Gangetic plains (EIGP) is extremely low, in part due to the pre... more Rice productivity in Eastern Indo-Gangetic plains (EIGP) is extremely low, in part due to the prevailing practice of cultivating long-duration transplanted rice under rainfed conditions which leads to water stress and significant yield losses in many seasons. Rice establishment alternatives such as direct seeded rice (DSR) require less water at planting but also are accompanied by climate risks that constrain adoption. For both conventional transplanted and DSR systems, successfully addressing climate-based production risks may provide a strong basis for sustainable rice intensification in EIGP. In this ex ante study of rice yield and yield variability, the APSIM cropping system model was used to evaluate the efficacy of risk-reducing management practices in both transplanted and DSR systems. Simulations were conducted with 44 years (1970-2013) of historical weather data from central Bihar, India. Results confirm that the prevailing farmer practice of transplanting long-duration cultivars under rainfed conditions (fTR) often results in delayed transplanting and the use of older seedlings, leading to low (median 1.6 t ha −1) and variable (Standard deviation (SD) 2.1 t ha −1) rice yields. To improve the fTR system, simulations suggest that adoption of medium-duration hybrid rice (3.2 t ha −1), provision of supplemental post-establishment irrigation (3.2 t ha −1), or transplanting appropriately aged seedlings (3.4 t ha −1) can double yields as single interventions while, in the case of supplemental irrigation, significantly reducing inter-annual production variability. Additional gains are achievable when interventions are layered: supplemental irrigation paired with medium-duration hybrids increased median rice yields to 4.6 t ha −1 with much lower variability (SD 1.0 t ha −1). In these improved systems where irrigation is used to transplant the crop, simulations revealed the importance of timely planting: high and stable yields are achievable for long-duration cultivars when transplanting is completed by 2 August with this window of opportunity extending to 16 August for medium-duration hybrids. In rainfed DSR systems, the potential pay-offs from single interventions were even higher with medium-duration hybrids resulting in a median yield of 4.5 t ha-1 against 1.8 t ha −1 with longduration cultivars. For irrigated DSR systems, an optimum sowing window of early to mid-June was identified which resulted in higher and more stable yields with lower water requirements. Simulation results suggest several risk-reducing intensification pathways that can be selectively matched to farmer risk preferences and investment capabilities within the target region in EIGP. Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh) and Eastern zones (EIGPi.e. Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal in India, the Terai of Nepal, and NW Bangladesh). Cropping systems in the WIGP tend to be highly mechanized and fully irrigated (Ladha et al., 2003a, 2003b, Gupta et al., 2003), with the resulting rice yields averaging around 4.0 t ha −1 , providing approximately 75% of production in India and serving as a regional 'grain basket' (Dhillon et al.
Agronomy for Sustainable Development, Feb 18, 2021
Timely crop planting is a foundation for climate-resilient rice-wheat systems of the Eastern Gang... more Timely crop planting is a foundation for climate-resilient rice-wheat systems of the Eastern Gangetic Plains-a global food insecurity and poverty hotspot. We hypothesize that the capacity of individual farmers to plant on time varies considerably, shaped by multifaceted enabling factors and constraints that are poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, two complementary datasets were used to characterize drivers and decision processes that govern the timing of rice planting in this region. The first dataset was a large agricultural management survey (rice-wheat: n = 15,245; of which rice: n = 7597) from a broad geographic region that was analyzed by machine learning methods. The second dataset was a discussion-based survey (n = 112) from a more limited geography that we analyzed with graph theory tools to elicit nuanced information on planting decisions. By combining insights from these methods, we show for the first time that differences in rice planting times are primarily shaped by ecosystem and climate factors while social factors play a prominent secondary role. Monsoon onset, surface and groundwater availability, and land type determine village-scale mean planting times whereas, for resource-constrained farmers who tend to plant later ceteris paribus, planting is further influenced by access to farm machinery, seed, fertilizer, and labor. Also, a critical threshold for economically efficient pumping appears at a groundwater depth of around 4.5 m; below this depth, farmers do not irrigate and delay planting. Without collective action to spread risk through synchronous timely planting, ecosystem factors such as threats posed by pests and wild animals may further deter early planting by individual farmers. Accordingly, we propose a three-pronged strategy that combines targeted strengthening of agricultural input chains, agroadvisory development, and coordinated rice planting and wildlife conservation to support climate-resilient agricultural development in the Eastern Gangetic Plains.
Environment Conservation Journal, Jan 8, 2023
Conventional method of rice-wheat cropping system leads to deteriorate soil health drastically da... more Conventional method of rice-wheat cropping system leads to deteriorate soil health drastically day by day. An appropriate idea of particular soil health indicator that effects soil health directly should be known to make the crop productivity high. In order to determine the direct and indirect associations among various soil health properties with rice yield in rice-wheat cropping system a survey was done in farmer's field. Overall 100 soil samples were collected randomly from 100 farmer's field and studied to find out the soil health. Soil chemical properties (pH, EC, SOC, Avl. N, Avl. P2O5, Avl. K20), Soil physical properties (sand, silt, clay and Available water capacity) and soil biological properties (active carbon, soil respiration and autoclaved citrate extractable protein) were studied to find out the principal indicator for soil health that effects directly to rice yield. The study revealed that mainly soil organic carbon effects rice yield directly along with clay content of soil and soil respiration. Soil microbial activity is also very important in order to achieve good rice yield and positive correlated soil respiration value is evidence of it. Thus the results suggest that farmers should focus on enhancing soil organic carbon and microbial activity by means of soil respiration with best sustainable management practices in order to achieve higher productivity of rice.
Indian Journal of Soil Conservation, 2019
Scientific Reports
One way to meet growing food demand is to increase yields in regions that have large yield gaps, ... more One way to meet growing food demand is to increase yields in regions that have large yield gaps, including smallholder systems. To do this, it is important to quantify yield gaps, their persistence, and their drivers at large spatio-temporal scales. Here we use microsatellite data to map field-level yields from 2014 to 2018 in Bihar, India and use these data to assess the magnitude, persistence, and drivers of yield gaps at the landscape scale. We find that overall yield gaps are large (33% of mean yields), but only 17% of yields are persistent across time. We find that sowing date, plot area, and weather are the factors that most explain variation in yield gaps across our study region, with earlier sowing associated with significantly higher yield values. Simulations suggest that if all farmers were able to adopt ideal management strategies, including earlier sowing and more irrigation use, yield gaps could be closed by up to 42%. These results highlight the ability of micro-satell...
Frontiers in Microbiology
IntroductionConservation agriculture (CA) is gaining attention in the South Asia as an environmen... more IntroductionConservation agriculture (CA) is gaining attention in the South Asia as an environmentally benign and sustainable food production system. The knowledge of the soil bacterial community composition along with other soil properties is essential for evaluating the CA-based management practices for achieving the soil environment sustainability and climate resilience in the rice-wheat-greengram system. The long-term effects of CA-based tillage-cum-crop establishment (TCE) methods on earthworm population, soil parameters as well as microbial diversity have not been well studied.MethodsSeven treatments (or scenarios) were laid down with the various tillage (wet, dry, or zero-tillage), establishment method (direct-or drill-seeding or transplantation) and residue management practices (mixed with the soil or kept on the soil surface). The soil samples were collected after 7 years of experimentation and analyzed for the soil quality and bacterial diversity to examine the effect of t...
Environment Conservation Journal
Conventional method of rice-wheat cropping system leads to deteriorate soil health drastically da... more Conventional method of rice-wheat cropping system leads to deteriorate soil health drastically day by day. An appropriate idea of particular soil health indicator that effects soil health directly should be known to make the crop productivity high. In order to determine the direct and indirect associations among various soil health properties with rice yield in rice-wheat cropping system a survey was done in farmer’s field. Overall 100 soil samples were collected randomly from 100 farmer’s field and studied to find out the soil health. Soil chemical properties (pH, EC, SOC, Avl. N, Avl. P2O5, Avl. K20), Soil physical properties (sand, silt, clay and Available water capacity) and soil biological properties (active carbon, soil respiration and autoclaved citrate extractable protein) were studied to find out the principal indicator for soil health that effects directly to rice yield. The study revealed that mainly soil organic carbon effects rice yield directly along with clay content ...
Data
Sub-optimal wheat productivity in the eastern Indo-Gangetic plain of India can largely be attribu... more Sub-optimal wheat productivity in the eastern Indo-Gangetic plain of India can largely be attributed to delayed sowing and the use of short duration varieties. The second week of November is the ideal time for sowing wheat in eastern India, though farmers generally plant later. Late-sowing farmers tend to prefer short-duration varieties, leading to additional yield penalty. To validate the effect of timely sowing and the comparative performance of long- and short-duration varieties, multi-location on-farm trials were conducted continuously over five years starting from 2016–2017. Ten districts were selected to ensure that all the agro-climatic zones of the region were covered. There were five treatments of sowing windows: (T1) 1 to 10 November, (T2) 11–20 November, (T3) 21 to 30 November, (T4) 1–15 December, and (T5) 16–31 December. Varietal performance was compared in T3, T4, and T5, as short-duration varieties are normally sown after 20 November. There is asymmetry in the distribu...
PLOS ONE
Remote sensing can be used to map tillage practices at large spatial and temporal scales. However... more Remote sensing can be used to map tillage practices at large spatial and temporal scales. However, detecting such management practices in smallholder systems is challenging given that the size of fields is smaller than historical readily-available satellite imagery. In this study we used newer, higher-resolution satellite data from Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and Planet to map tillage practices in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains in India. We specifically tested the classification performance of single sensor and multiple sensor random forest models, and the impact of spatial, temporal, or spectral resolution on classification accuracy. We found that when considering a single sensor, the model that used Planet imagery (3 m) had the highest classification accuracy (86.55%) while the model that used Sentinel-1 data (10 m) had the lowest classification accuracy (62.28%). When considering sensor combinations, the model that used data from all three sensors achieved the highest classificatio...
European Journal of Soil Science, 2021
Deteriorating soil health, diminishing soil organic carbon (SOC), development of subsurface hard ... more Deteriorating soil health, diminishing soil organic carbon (SOC), development of subsurface hard compact layer and declining system productivity are barriers to achieving sustainable production in the traditional rice–wheat cropping system (TA) in the eastern Indo‐Gangetic Plain of India. Conservation agriculture (CA), which favours minimum soil disturbance, crop residue retention and crop diversification could be a viable alternative to the TA to address most of those major problems. With that in mind, a long‐term experiment is being implemented at ICAR‐RCER, Patna, Bihar, India, with four treatments: (a) TA, (b) full CA (fCA) and (c and d) partial CA (pCA1 and pCA2), differing in crop establishment methods, cropping system and crop residue management in a randomized complete block design. Measurement of soil health parameters was carried out in the 11th year of the experiment. The results revealed a beneficial effect of CA and 46 and 40% increase in SOC concentration and stock, re...
Crop Protection, 2020
Viable weed seed density and diversity in soil were assessed in an experiment that comprised two ... more Viable weed seed density and diversity in soil were assessed in an experiment that comprised two types of crop rotation [rice-wheat and rice-maize], two crop residue management (without residue and with residue), and four tillage techniques: conventional tillage (CT) transplanted puddled rice (TPR)-CT wheat/maize (CTTPR-CT), unpuddled transplanted ricezero tillage (ZT) wheat/maize (UPTPR-ZT), ZT transplanted rice (ZTTPR)-ZT wheat/maize (ZTTPR-ZT), and ZT dry seeded rice (ZTDSR)-ZT wheat/maize (ZTDSR-ZT). The aim was to investigate the density and community composition of viable weed seed in soil in UPTPR-ZT, ZTTPR-ZT, and ZTDSR-ZT systems with and without crop residue, using the seedling germination method. The soil seed density was assessed in 2013-14 and 2014-15 after 4th and 5th year crop cycles established on a sandy loam soil of Patna, India. Total viable seed density was the highest for Cyperus iria L. irrespective of the treatment in both years. Rice-wheat system recorded 4% higher (mean of two years) seed density over the rice-maize system. Residue management practices did not differ for total viable seed density in both years. The ZTDSR-ZT, UPTPR-ZT, and ZTDSR-ZT systems resulted in significantly higher Shannon-Wiener, Simpson, and evenness indices compared to the CTTPR-CT system. Total viable seed density was the lowest for ZTDSR-ZT compared to the remaining tillage practices in both years. The sequence for Leptochloa chinensis (L.) Nees emergence was ZTTPR-ZT > ZTDSR-ZT > UPTPR-ZT > CTTPR-CT in 2014-15 (P < 0.05), signifying the more dominance of monocotyledons in ZT systems. The density of total aboveground weed density (no. m À 2) was higher in ZTDSR-ZT in 2013-14 and lower in 2014-15 compared with remaining tillage techniques at 65 days after sowing. Thus, higher aboveground weed density in ZTDSR-ZT system minimized the soil seed density over time. Complete ZT-based practices (ZTDSR-ZT, ZTTPR-ZT) with crop residue significantly enhanced the grain yield of component crops over the CTTPR-CT. Thus, it implies that exhaustion of soil seedbank in ZTDSR-ZT system after 5 years can reduce the aboveground weed infestation and attain the higher grain yield compared to the CTTPR-CT system.
Soil and Tillage Research, 2021
Rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) is the most important system occupying around 26 M ha spread ov... more Rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) is the most important system occupying around 26 M ha spread over the Indo Gangetic Plains in South Asia and China. Many long-term trials were led to assess the agronomic productivity and economic profitability of various combinations of conservation agricultural (CA) practices (zero tillage, residue management and crop establishment) in RWCS of Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (EIGP) of India. The purpose of this study was to investigate the best management practices involving different tillage-based crop establishment and residue retention techniques and their contribution to agricultural system sustainability through improvement in soil health by developing soil quality index (SQI). We have used SQI as an instrument based on physical [macro aggregate stability (MAS), available water capacity (AWC) and soil penetration resistance (SPR)], chemical [soil organic carbon (OC), available N, available P and available K] and biological [microbial biomass carbon (MBC), fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and dehydrogenase activity (DHA)] properties of soil, because these are very useful indicators of soil's functions for agronomic productivity and soil fertility. Soil properties like MAS, OC, MBC, FDA and DHA were higher by 47, 18, 56, 48 and 53%, respectively, under ZTDSR-ZTW (T 7 : Zero-till direct seeded rice-Zero-till wheat) than RPTR-CTW (T 1 : Random puddled transplanted rice-Conventional till broadcasted wheat), at 0-10 cm. CA based treatment T 7 also recorded lower SPR (126 N cm-1). SQI for different treatments were calculated by performing principal component analysis based on the total data set method. The higher system rice equivalent yield of 12.41 t ha-1 was observed at SQI value of 0.90 at 0-10 cm and 0.86 at 10-20 cm in T 7. It can be concluded that crop residue retention on the surface with zero tillage is beneficial for the sustainability and productivity of the RWCS in EIGP of India.
Field Crops Research, 2020
Conventionally managed rice-wheat systems of the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (E-IGP) that rely o... more Conventionally managed rice-wheat systems of the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (E-IGP) that rely on soil puddling for rice and intensive tillage for wheat are low-yielding and resource-inefficient, leading to low profitability. While a host of alternative tillage and crop establishment (TCE) methods have been advocated as solutions for sustainably enhancing productivity and profitability, few systematic comparisons of these methods are reported. To address this gap, a three-year field study was conducted in Bihar, India with the goal of identifying TCE methods for rice-wheat systems that are high yielding, less resource-intensive, and more profitable. The following systems were evaluated: 1) puddled transplanted rice (PTR) followed by (fb) conventional tillage wheat (CTW) or zero-tillage wheat (ZTW); 2) machine transplanted rice in non-puddled soil (MTR) fb ZTW; 3) the system of rice intensification (SRI) fb system of wheat intensification (SWI); and 4) dry-seeded rice (DSR) fb ZTW. Rice cultivar duration (short versus medium-duration) was incorporated as a subplot treatment in all systems. Rice yields were similar with all methods, except DSR yield was 11 % lower and MTR yield was 7% higher than PTR in the third year. Cost of production was US$ 149 and 77 ha −1 lower in DSR and MTR, respectively, and US$ 84 ha-1 higher in SRI than PTR. The gross margin and benefit-cost (B:C) ratio was highest in MTR followed by DSR and lowest in SRI. In wheat, ZT resulted in a higher yield than CTW, especially when ZTW was cultivated after non-puddled rice (e.g., DSR or MTR). ZTW reduced production costs by US$ 69 ha-1 , whereas SWI increased it by US$ 139 ha-1 relative to CTW. The higher yield and lower cost of production resulted in a higher gross margin (US$ 82−355 ha −1 and US$ 129−409 ha −1 higher than CTW and SWI, respectively) and a higher B:C ratio in ZTW treatments than CTW and SWI. At the system level, MTR or DSR followed by ZTW had both superior crop yields and consistently higher gross margins (US $133 to 382 ha-1) than other practices. On the other hand, the SRI fb SWI system had no yield advantage and poorer economic performance than conventional practices. In all systems, the inclusion of a medium-duration rice hybrid resulted in higher rice and system yields. These results suggest that significant gains in profitability are possible with emerging TCE practices in rice-wheat systems, but alternatives such as the SRI and SWI will likely erode farmer incomes. Connor, 2001). The Indian western IGP (WIGP; Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh) has seen broad-scale adoption of 'Green Revolution' advances in crop genetics and agronomic management; high yields of rice and wheat are common, and crops are fully irrigated with
Crop Protection, 2018
A study was conducted in a cropping system mode for rice-wheat (RW) and rice-maize (RM) with crop... more A study was conducted in a cropping system mode for rice-wheat (RW) and rice-maize (RM) with crop residue management [without residue (R-) and with residue (R+)] under different tillage and crop establishment (T& CE) techniques. The T&CE techniques comprised conventional tillage (CT) puddled transplanted rice followed by (fb) CT wheat/maize (CTTPR-CT), unpuddled transplanted rice fb zero-tillage (ZT) wheat/maize (UPTPR-ZT), ZT-transplanted rice fb ZT wheat/maize (ZTTPR-ZT), and ZT dry-seeded rice fb ZT wheat/maize (ZTDSR-ZT). Results after four years revealed that the relative dominance of weeds followed the sequence of Echinochloa colona > Cyperus iria > Caesulia axillaris > Alternanthera philoxeroides > Ammannia baccifera in the rainy season, whereas for the winter season, the sequence was Medicago denticulata > Rumex dentatus > Phalaris minor > Chenopodium murale > Cyperus rotundus, irrespective of the treatments. In the rainy season of 2013, the highest total weed density was recorded in ZTDSR-ZT, which was 43.8%, 56.8%, and 46.7% higher than those in CTTPR-CT, UPTPR-ZT, and ZTTPR-ZT, respectively. However, in 2014, the highest total weed density, which was significant, was recorded in ZTTPR-ZT. The R+ treatment decreased the total narrow-leaved weed density by 7.3% compared to that in the R-treatment in 2014. In the winter season of 2013-14, the sequence of total weed density was ZTTPR-ZT > ZTDSR-ZT > UPTPR-ZT > CTTPR-CT, whereas during 2014-15, the sequence was UPTPR-ZT > ZTTPR-ZT > ZTDSR-ZT > CTTPR-CT. The P. minor density in the RW system was 86.7% and 16.2% higher in 2013 and 2014, respectively, than that in the RM system (P < 0.05). Narrow-leaved weeds represented > 65% of the total weed density in ZTDSR-ZT during the rainy season, whereas in the winter season, broad-leaved weeds represented > 90% of the total weed density in both years irrespective of the treatments. Shifting from CTTPR-CT to UPTPR-ZT and ZTDSR-ZT systems resulted in significantly higher Shannon, evenness, and richness indices, thus indicating that the reduction in tillage intensity increased the weed diversity. However, the ecological dominance (C) was higher in CTTPR-CT (0.234) than in the remaining T &CE practices. The contribution of narrow-leaved and broad-leaved weeds toward total weed biomass became pronounced in the UPTPR-ZT, ZTDSR-ZT, and ZTTPR-ZT compared to the CTTPR-CT. The intensity of the total weed density was diminished in the ZTTPR-ZT and ZTDSR-ZT during 2014-15 compared to that during 2013-14. The results of the study can contribute to the development of effective weed management strategies under changing tillage regime for higher crop productivity.
Paddy and Water Environment, 2018
Continuous practice of tillage intensive puddled rice-based systems in South Asia has developed s... more Continuous practice of tillage intensive puddled rice-based systems in South Asia has developed serious issues related to soil health and production sustainability. This has exaggerated the need for sustainable alternatives. Here, the impact of four tillage cum crop establishment practices [conventional puddled transplanted rice followed by conventional till maize/wheat (CTTPR-CT), non-puddled transplanted rice followed by zero-till maize/wheat (NPTPR-ZT), zero-till transplanted rice followed by zero-till maize/wheat (ZTTPR-ZT), zero-till direct seeded rice followed by zero-till maize/wheat (ZTDSR-ZT)], two residue management [residue removal, residue retention (~ 33.0%)] and two rice-based rotations (rice-wheat, rice-maize) on crop performance, system productivity, and production economics were evaluated. At 4th and 5th year of rotation, complete zero-tillage-based crop establishment (ZTDSR-ZT, ZTTPR-ZT) enhanced the grain yield of rice (9.3-20.6%), wheat (18.4-22.6%), and maize (10.8-11.8%) over CTTPR-CT, whereas yield advantage in NPTPR-ZT was marginal for all the crops. The higher grain yield of rice and wheat in ZTDSR-ZT and ZTTPR-ZT treatments was mainly attributed to higher tiller production (rice 11.5-23.2%; wheat 29.5-34.9%). Likewise, the higher aboveground biomass, cob length, cob weight, and grains weight cob −1 led to higher maize yield in conservation tillage treatments (NPTPR-ZT, ZTDSR-ZT, and ZTTPR-ZT). Retention of crop residue improved (p < 0.05) the yield of all crops being higher in maize (6.9-10.3%) followed by wheat (5.3-10.5%). The reduced cost of cultivation and higher return from produce in ZTDSR-ZT, ZTTPR-ZT, and NPTPR-ZT enhanced the net income by INR 48164, 35800, 25632, respectively, over CTTPR-CT. Thus, zero-tillage-based crop establishments with crop residue retention were found as potential alternative for improving crop productivity, profitability and sustainability of rice-based production systems.
Soil Research, Oct 26, 2021
Context Conservation agriculture (CA) can potentially arrest deteorating soil fertility and impro... more Context Conservation agriculture (CA) can potentially arrest deteorating soil fertility and improve crop production in the middle Indo-Gangetic Plains of India. Methods A field experiment (ICAR RCER, Patna, India; 2009–2016) tested four common farming practices: S1, a wheat–rice fallow rotation with complete removal of crop residues; S2, best management practices (BMPs) with puddled transplanted rice, drill-seeded wheat in no-tillage (NT), and drill-seeded mungbean in conventional tillage (CT) in a wheat–mungbean–rice rotation where residues were retained on surface in rice and wheat, and residue incorporated in mungbean; S3, CA system in a wheat–cowpea–rice rotation; and S4, BMP intensified and diversified cropping system in a potato + maize–cowpea–rice rotation (unpuddled transplanted rice with dribbled maize + potato, intercropped) in CT and relayed dibbling of cowpea in NT. Full residues of potato and cowpea were incorporated and one-third portion of rice and maize residue were retained on soil. Key results After 7 years, S2, S3 and S4 systems lowered soil bulk density and penetration resistance compared to S1. S3 resulted in higher soil macro-aggregates (>0.125 mm) and lower soil micro-aggregates (<0.125 mm). Avoiding tillage in wheat and including a food legume in rotation in S2 increased annual rice equivalent yields by 30.5–34.4%. S4 had the highest water productivity (1.04 kg rice equivalent grain m−3) and S1 had the lowest (0.64 kg rice equivalent grain m−3). Conclusions and implications NT and retention of crop residues have potential to improve soil health and monetary gains.
European Journal of Soil Science, Sep 11, 2019
Short-term (5 yrs) impact of tillage and residue management practices on physical properties and ... more Short-term (5 yrs) impact of tillage and residue management practices on physical properties and organic carbon (OC) of a silty clay soil was evaluated in a rice-wheat rotation in the Indo-Gangetic Plains of Bihar. The experiment had three conservation agriculture (CA) practices: one full [direct-seeded rice (DSR)-no-tilled wheat (NTW)-no-tilled mung bean (NTMB); fCA], and two partial [puddled transplanted rice (PTR)-NTW-conventionally tilled mung bean (CTMB); pCA1 and unpuddled transplanted rice (UPTPR)-conventionally tilled potato+maize (CTP+M)-NTMB; pCA2], which were evaluated against full conventional practice [puddled transplanted rice (PTR)-conventionally tilled wheat (CTW); TA]. Subsurface compaction reduced and soil aggregation improved under both full and partial CA. Macro-and water-stable aggregates increased to a large extent (26 and 11%, respectively) in full CA, and to a lesser extent in partial CA, mostly due to increase in coarse macroaggregate (2-8 mm) contents in 0-10 and 10-20 cm layers. Steady-state infiltration rate nearly doubled under full CA, with larger pore volume recorded in 10-20 and 20-30 cm layers. The CA increased OC associated with all size fractions of aggregates in the surface layer (0-10 cm), but a higher amount of C was associated with macroaggregates indicating relative stabilization of OC in the soil under the CA. Change in bulk soil OC was larger at 0-10 cm layer in favour of CA, which also had an 11% increase in OC stock in 0-30 cm layer. Improvement in soil physical condition did not effectively translate into rice or wheat yields, but the system productivity increased largely.
Current Science, Aug 25, 2019
Field Crops Research, Jun 1, 2021
In the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (EIGP), conventional rice-wheat system has led to a decline i... more In the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (EIGP), conventional rice-wheat system has led to a decline in productivity, input-use efficiency, and profitability. To address these, a four-year field study was conducted to evaluate the performance of tillage and crop establishment (TCE) methods in rice-wheat-greengram rotation. The treatments included: 1) random puddled transplanted rice (RPTR)-conventional-till broadcast wheat (BCW)-zero-till greengram (ZTG); 2) line PTR (LPTR)-conventional-till drill sown wheat (CTW)-ZTG; 3) machine transplanted rice in puddled soil (CTMTR)-zero tillage wheat (ZTW)-ZTG; 4) machine transplanted rice in zero-till wet soil (ZTMTR)-ZTW-ZTG; 5) system of rice intensification (SRI)-system of wheat intensification (SWI)-ZTG; 6) direct-seeded rice (DSR)-ZTW-ZTG; and 7) zero-till DSR-ZTW-ZTG. During the initial two years, conventional rice system (PTR) recorded a 16.2 % higher rice grain yield than DSR system. Whereas in the fourth year, the rice yields under DSR and PTR were comparable. As compared to SRI/SWI, the average wheat yield in ZT system was significantly high, whereas in rice, SRI/SWI system was comparable with CT system. ZTW after non-puddled rice was at par to CTW after PTR. The ZT wheat produced 4.6 % more yield than CT system. DSR production system consumed 6.8 % less water compared to transplanted system. On the system basis, 10.8 % higher net returns were recorded with CA-based system compared to conventional system. The system energy productivity under CA-based production system was 14-36 % higher than PTR-based systems. CA-based system also led to 8-10 % lower global warming potential (GWP) than conventional methods. The current study indicated that as compared to conventional system, a significant gain in productivity, profitability and energy-use efficiency, and reduction in the environmental mitigation are possible with emerging alternative TCE methods. Long-term expansion and further refinement of these technologies in local areas need to be explored for the second green revolution.
Field Crops Research, Jun 1, 2019
Rice productivity in Eastern Indo-Gangetic plains (EIGP) is extremely low, in part due to the pre... more Rice productivity in Eastern Indo-Gangetic plains (EIGP) is extremely low, in part due to the prevailing practice of cultivating long-duration transplanted rice under rainfed conditions which leads to water stress and significant yield losses in many seasons. Rice establishment alternatives such as direct seeded rice (DSR) require less water at planting but also are accompanied by climate risks that constrain adoption. For both conventional transplanted and DSR systems, successfully addressing climate-based production risks may provide a strong basis for sustainable rice intensification in EIGP. In this ex ante study of rice yield and yield variability, the APSIM cropping system model was used to evaluate the efficacy of risk-reducing management practices in both transplanted and DSR systems. Simulations were conducted with 44 years (1970-2013) of historical weather data from central Bihar, India. Results confirm that the prevailing farmer practice of transplanting long-duration cultivars under rainfed conditions (fTR) often results in delayed transplanting and the use of older seedlings, leading to low (median 1.6 t ha −1) and variable (Standard deviation (SD) 2.1 t ha −1) rice yields. To improve the fTR system, simulations suggest that adoption of medium-duration hybrid rice (3.2 t ha −1), provision of supplemental post-establishment irrigation (3.2 t ha −1), or transplanting appropriately aged seedlings (3.4 t ha −1) can double yields as single interventions while, in the case of supplemental irrigation, significantly reducing inter-annual production variability. Additional gains are achievable when interventions are layered: supplemental irrigation paired with medium-duration hybrids increased median rice yields to 4.6 t ha −1 with much lower variability (SD 1.0 t ha −1). In these improved systems where irrigation is used to transplant the crop, simulations revealed the importance of timely planting: high and stable yields are achievable for long-duration cultivars when transplanting is completed by 2 August with this window of opportunity extending to 16 August for medium-duration hybrids. In rainfed DSR systems, the potential pay-offs from single interventions were even higher with medium-duration hybrids resulting in a median yield of 4.5 t ha-1 against 1.8 t ha −1 with longduration cultivars. For irrigated DSR systems, an optimum sowing window of early to mid-June was identified which resulted in higher and more stable yields with lower water requirements. Simulation results suggest several risk-reducing intensification pathways that can be selectively matched to farmer risk preferences and investment capabilities within the target region in EIGP. Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh) and Eastern zones (EIGPi.e. Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal in India, the Terai of Nepal, and NW Bangladesh). Cropping systems in the WIGP tend to be highly mechanized and fully irrigated (Ladha et al., 2003a, 2003b, Gupta et al., 2003), with the resulting rice yields averaging around 4.0 t ha −1 , providing approximately 75% of production in India and serving as a regional 'grain basket' (Dhillon et al.
Agronomy for Sustainable Development, Feb 18, 2021
Timely crop planting is a foundation for climate-resilient rice-wheat systems of the Eastern Gang... more Timely crop planting is a foundation for climate-resilient rice-wheat systems of the Eastern Gangetic Plains-a global food insecurity and poverty hotspot. We hypothesize that the capacity of individual farmers to plant on time varies considerably, shaped by multifaceted enabling factors and constraints that are poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, two complementary datasets were used to characterize drivers and decision processes that govern the timing of rice planting in this region. The first dataset was a large agricultural management survey (rice-wheat: n = 15,245; of which rice: n = 7597) from a broad geographic region that was analyzed by machine learning methods. The second dataset was a discussion-based survey (n = 112) from a more limited geography that we analyzed with graph theory tools to elicit nuanced information on planting decisions. By combining insights from these methods, we show for the first time that differences in rice planting times are primarily shaped by ecosystem and climate factors while social factors play a prominent secondary role. Monsoon onset, surface and groundwater availability, and land type determine village-scale mean planting times whereas, for resource-constrained farmers who tend to plant later ceteris paribus, planting is further influenced by access to farm machinery, seed, fertilizer, and labor. Also, a critical threshold for economically efficient pumping appears at a groundwater depth of around 4.5 m; below this depth, farmers do not irrigate and delay planting. Without collective action to spread risk through synchronous timely planting, ecosystem factors such as threats posed by pests and wild animals may further deter early planting by individual farmers. Accordingly, we propose a three-pronged strategy that combines targeted strengthening of agricultural input chains, agroadvisory development, and coordinated rice planting and wildlife conservation to support climate-resilient agricultural development in the Eastern Gangetic Plains.
Environment Conservation Journal, Jan 8, 2023
Conventional method of rice-wheat cropping system leads to deteriorate soil health drastically da... more Conventional method of rice-wheat cropping system leads to deteriorate soil health drastically day by day. An appropriate idea of particular soil health indicator that effects soil health directly should be known to make the crop productivity high. In order to determine the direct and indirect associations among various soil health properties with rice yield in rice-wheat cropping system a survey was done in farmer's field. Overall 100 soil samples were collected randomly from 100 farmer's field and studied to find out the soil health. Soil chemical properties (pH, EC, SOC, Avl. N, Avl. P2O5, Avl. K20), Soil physical properties (sand, silt, clay and Available water capacity) and soil biological properties (active carbon, soil respiration and autoclaved citrate extractable protein) were studied to find out the principal indicator for soil health that effects directly to rice yield. The study revealed that mainly soil organic carbon effects rice yield directly along with clay content of soil and soil respiration. Soil microbial activity is also very important in order to achieve good rice yield and positive correlated soil respiration value is evidence of it. Thus the results suggest that farmers should focus on enhancing soil organic carbon and microbial activity by means of soil respiration with best sustainable management practices in order to achieve higher productivity of rice.
Indian Journal of Soil Conservation, 2019
Scientific Reports
One way to meet growing food demand is to increase yields in regions that have large yield gaps, ... more One way to meet growing food demand is to increase yields in regions that have large yield gaps, including smallholder systems. To do this, it is important to quantify yield gaps, their persistence, and their drivers at large spatio-temporal scales. Here we use microsatellite data to map field-level yields from 2014 to 2018 in Bihar, India and use these data to assess the magnitude, persistence, and drivers of yield gaps at the landscape scale. We find that overall yield gaps are large (33% of mean yields), but only 17% of yields are persistent across time. We find that sowing date, plot area, and weather are the factors that most explain variation in yield gaps across our study region, with earlier sowing associated with significantly higher yield values. Simulations suggest that if all farmers were able to adopt ideal management strategies, including earlier sowing and more irrigation use, yield gaps could be closed by up to 42%. These results highlight the ability of micro-satell...
Frontiers in Microbiology
IntroductionConservation agriculture (CA) is gaining attention in the South Asia as an environmen... more IntroductionConservation agriculture (CA) is gaining attention in the South Asia as an environmentally benign and sustainable food production system. The knowledge of the soil bacterial community composition along with other soil properties is essential for evaluating the CA-based management practices for achieving the soil environment sustainability and climate resilience in the rice-wheat-greengram system. The long-term effects of CA-based tillage-cum-crop establishment (TCE) methods on earthworm population, soil parameters as well as microbial diversity have not been well studied.MethodsSeven treatments (or scenarios) were laid down with the various tillage (wet, dry, or zero-tillage), establishment method (direct-or drill-seeding or transplantation) and residue management practices (mixed with the soil or kept on the soil surface). The soil samples were collected after 7 years of experimentation and analyzed for the soil quality and bacterial diversity to examine the effect of t...
Environment Conservation Journal
Conventional method of rice-wheat cropping system leads to deteriorate soil health drastically da... more Conventional method of rice-wheat cropping system leads to deteriorate soil health drastically day by day. An appropriate idea of particular soil health indicator that effects soil health directly should be known to make the crop productivity high. In order to determine the direct and indirect associations among various soil health properties with rice yield in rice-wheat cropping system a survey was done in farmer’s field. Overall 100 soil samples were collected randomly from 100 farmer’s field and studied to find out the soil health. Soil chemical properties (pH, EC, SOC, Avl. N, Avl. P2O5, Avl. K20), Soil physical properties (sand, silt, clay and Available water capacity) and soil biological properties (active carbon, soil respiration and autoclaved citrate extractable protein) were studied to find out the principal indicator for soil health that effects directly to rice yield. The study revealed that mainly soil organic carbon effects rice yield directly along with clay content ...
Data
Sub-optimal wheat productivity in the eastern Indo-Gangetic plain of India can largely be attribu... more Sub-optimal wheat productivity in the eastern Indo-Gangetic plain of India can largely be attributed to delayed sowing and the use of short duration varieties. The second week of November is the ideal time for sowing wheat in eastern India, though farmers generally plant later. Late-sowing farmers tend to prefer short-duration varieties, leading to additional yield penalty. To validate the effect of timely sowing and the comparative performance of long- and short-duration varieties, multi-location on-farm trials were conducted continuously over five years starting from 2016–2017. Ten districts were selected to ensure that all the agro-climatic zones of the region were covered. There were five treatments of sowing windows: (T1) 1 to 10 November, (T2) 11–20 November, (T3) 21 to 30 November, (T4) 1–15 December, and (T5) 16–31 December. Varietal performance was compared in T3, T4, and T5, as short-duration varieties are normally sown after 20 November. There is asymmetry in the distribu...
PLOS ONE
Remote sensing can be used to map tillage practices at large spatial and temporal scales. However... more Remote sensing can be used to map tillage practices at large spatial and temporal scales. However, detecting such management practices in smallholder systems is challenging given that the size of fields is smaller than historical readily-available satellite imagery. In this study we used newer, higher-resolution satellite data from Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and Planet to map tillage practices in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains in India. We specifically tested the classification performance of single sensor and multiple sensor random forest models, and the impact of spatial, temporal, or spectral resolution on classification accuracy. We found that when considering a single sensor, the model that used Planet imagery (3 m) had the highest classification accuracy (86.55%) while the model that used Sentinel-1 data (10 m) had the lowest classification accuracy (62.28%). When considering sensor combinations, the model that used data from all three sensors achieved the highest classificatio...
European Journal of Soil Science, 2021
Deteriorating soil health, diminishing soil organic carbon (SOC), development of subsurface hard ... more Deteriorating soil health, diminishing soil organic carbon (SOC), development of subsurface hard compact layer and declining system productivity are barriers to achieving sustainable production in the traditional rice–wheat cropping system (TA) in the eastern Indo‐Gangetic Plain of India. Conservation agriculture (CA), which favours minimum soil disturbance, crop residue retention and crop diversification could be a viable alternative to the TA to address most of those major problems. With that in mind, a long‐term experiment is being implemented at ICAR‐RCER, Patna, Bihar, India, with four treatments: (a) TA, (b) full CA (fCA) and (c and d) partial CA (pCA1 and pCA2), differing in crop establishment methods, cropping system and crop residue management in a randomized complete block design. Measurement of soil health parameters was carried out in the 11th year of the experiment. The results revealed a beneficial effect of CA and 46 and 40% increase in SOC concentration and stock, re...
Crop Protection, 2020
Viable weed seed density and diversity in soil were assessed in an experiment that comprised two ... more Viable weed seed density and diversity in soil were assessed in an experiment that comprised two types of crop rotation [rice-wheat and rice-maize], two crop residue management (without residue and with residue), and four tillage techniques: conventional tillage (CT) transplanted puddled rice (TPR)-CT wheat/maize (CTTPR-CT), unpuddled transplanted ricezero tillage (ZT) wheat/maize (UPTPR-ZT), ZT transplanted rice (ZTTPR)-ZT wheat/maize (ZTTPR-ZT), and ZT dry seeded rice (ZTDSR)-ZT wheat/maize (ZTDSR-ZT). The aim was to investigate the density and community composition of viable weed seed in soil in UPTPR-ZT, ZTTPR-ZT, and ZTDSR-ZT systems with and without crop residue, using the seedling germination method. The soil seed density was assessed in 2013-14 and 2014-15 after 4th and 5th year crop cycles established on a sandy loam soil of Patna, India. Total viable seed density was the highest for Cyperus iria L. irrespective of the treatment in both years. Rice-wheat system recorded 4% higher (mean of two years) seed density over the rice-maize system. Residue management practices did not differ for total viable seed density in both years. The ZTDSR-ZT, UPTPR-ZT, and ZTDSR-ZT systems resulted in significantly higher Shannon-Wiener, Simpson, and evenness indices compared to the CTTPR-CT system. Total viable seed density was the lowest for ZTDSR-ZT compared to the remaining tillage practices in both years. The sequence for Leptochloa chinensis (L.) Nees emergence was ZTTPR-ZT > ZTDSR-ZT > UPTPR-ZT > CTTPR-CT in 2014-15 (P < 0.05), signifying the more dominance of monocotyledons in ZT systems. The density of total aboveground weed density (no. m À 2) was higher in ZTDSR-ZT in 2013-14 and lower in 2014-15 compared with remaining tillage techniques at 65 days after sowing. Thus, higher aboveground weed density in ZTDSR-ZT system minimized the soil seed density over time. Complete ZT-based practices (ZTDSR-ZT, ZTTPR-ZT) with crop residue significantly enhanced the grain yield of component crops over the CTTPR-CT. Thus, it implies that exhaustion of soil seedbank in ZTDSR-ZT system after 5 years can reduce the aboveground weed infestation and attain the higher grain yield compared to the CTTPR-CT system.
Soil and Tillage Research, 2021
Rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) is the most important system occupying around 26 M ha spread ov... more Rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) is the most important system occupying around 26 M ha spread over the Indo Gangetic Plains in South Asia and China. Many long-term trials were led to assess the agronomic productivity and economic profitability of various combinations of conservation agricultural (CA) practices (zero tillage, residue management and crop establishment) in RWCS of Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (EIGP) of India. The purpose of this study was to investigate the best management practices involving different tillage-based crop establishment and residue retention techniques and their contribution to agricultural system sustainability through improvement in soil health by developing soil quality index (SQI). We have used SQI as an instrument based on physical [macro aggregate stability (MAS), available water capacity (AWC) and soil penetration resistance (SPR)], chemical [soil organic carbon (OC), available N, available P and available K] and biological [microbial biomass carbon (MBC), fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and dehydrogenase activity (DHA)] properties of soil, because these are very useful indicators of soil's functions for agronomic productivity and soil fertility. Soil properties like MAS, OC, MBC, FDA and DHA were higher by 47, 18, 56, 48 and 53%, respectively, under ZTDSR-ZTW (T 7 : Zero-till direct seeded rice-Zero-till wheat) than RPTR-CTW (T 1 : Random puddled transplanted rice-Conventional till broadcasted wheat), at 0-10 cm. CA based treatment T 7 also recorded lower SPR (126 N cm-1). SQI for different treatments were calculated by performing principal component analysis based on the total data set method. The higher system rice equivalent yield of 12.41 t ha-1 was observed at SQI value of 0.90 at 0-10 cm and 0.86 at 10-20 cm in T 7. It can be concluded that crop residue retention on the surface with zero tillage is beneficial for the sustainability and productivity of the RWCS in EIGP of India.
Field Crops Research, 2020
Conventionally managed rice-wheat systems of the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (E-IGP) that rely o... more Conventionally managed rice-wheat systems of the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (E-IGP) that rely on soil puddling for rice and intensive tillage for wheat are low-yielding and resource-inefficient, leading to low profitability. While a host of alternative tillage and crop establishment (TCE) methods have been advocated as solutions for sustainably enhancing productivity and profitability, few systematic comparisons of these methods are reported. To address this gap, a three-year field study was conducted in Bihar, India with the goal of identifying TCE methods for rice-wheat systems that are high yielding, less resource-intensive, and more profitable. The following systems were evaluated: 1) puddled transplanted rice (PTR) followed by (fb) conventional tillage wheat (CTW) or zero-tillage wheat (ZTW); 2) machine transplanted rice in non-puddled soil (MTR) fb ZTW; 3) the system of rice intensification (SRI) fb system of wheat intensification (SWI); and 4) dry-seeded rice (DSR) fb ZTW. Rice cultivar duration (short versus medium-duration) was incorporated as a subplot treatment in all systems. Rice yields were similar with all methods, except DSR yield was 11 % lower and MTR yield was 7% higher than PTR in the third year. Cost of production was US$ 149 and 77 ha −1 lower in DSR and MTR, respectively, and US$ 84 ha-1 higher in SRI than PTR. The gross margin and benefit-cost (B:C) ratio was highest in MTR followed by DSR and lowest in SRI. In wheat, ZT resulted in a higher yield than CTW, especially when ZTW was cultivated after non-puddled rice (e.g., DSR or MTR). ZTW reduced production costs by US$ 69 ha-1 , whereas SWI increased it by US$ 139 ha-1 relative to CTW. The higher yield and lower cost of production resulted in a higher gross margin (US$ 82−355 ha −1 and US$ 129−409 ha −1 higher than CTW and SWI, respectively) and a higher B:C ratio in ZTW treatments than CTW and SWI. At the system level, MTR or DSR followed by ZTW had both superior crop yields and consistently higher gross margins (US $133 to 382 ha-1) than other practices. On the other hand, the SRI fb SWI system had no yield advantage and poorer economic performance than conventional practices. In all systems, the inclusion of a medium-duration rice hybrid resulted in higher rice and system yields. These results suggest that significant gains in profitability are possible with emerging TCE practices in rice-wheat systems, but alternatives such as the SRI and SWI will likely erode farmer incomes. Connor, 2001). The Indian western IGP (WIGP; Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh) has seen broad-scale adoption of 'Green Revolution' advances in crop genetics and agronomic management; high yields of rice and wheat are common, and crops are fully irrigated with
Crop Protection, 2018
A study was conducted in a cropping system mode for rice-wheat (RW) and rice-maize (RM) with crop... more A study was conducted in a cropping system mode for rice-wheat (RW) and rice-maize (RM) with crop residue management [without residue (R-) and with residue (R+)] under different tillage and crop establishment (T& CE) techniques. The T&CE techniques comprised conventional tillage (CT) puddled transplanted rice followed by (fb) CT wheat/maize (CTTPR-CT), unpuddled transplanted rice fb zero-tillage (ZT) wheat/maize (UPTPR-ZT), ZT-transplanted rice fb ZT wheat/maize (ZTTPR-ZT), and ZT dry-seeded rice fb ZT wheat/maize (ZTDSR-ZT). Results after four years revealed that the relative dominance of weeds followed the sequence of Echinochloa colona > Cyperus iria > Caesulia axillaris > Alternanthera philoxeroides > Ammannia baccifera in the rainy season, whereas for the winter season, the sequence was Medicago denticulata > Rumex dentatus > Phalaris minor > Chenopodium murale > Cyperus rotundus, irrespective of the treatments. In the rainy season of 2013, the highest total weed density was recorded in ZTDSR-ZT, which was 43.8%, 56.8%, and 46.7% higher than those in CTTPR-CT, UPTPR-ZT, and ZTTPR-ZT, respectively. However, in 2014, the highest total weed density, which was significant, was recorded in ZTTPR-ZT. The R+ treatment decreased the total narrow-leaved weed density by 7.3% compared to that in the R-treatment in 2014. In the winter season of 2013-14, the sequence of total weed density was ZTTPR-ZT > ZTDSR-ZT > UPTPR-ZT > CTTPR-CT, whereas during 2014-15, the sequence was UPTPR-ZT > ZTTPR-ZT > ZTDSR-ZT > CTTPR-CT. The P. minor density in the RW system was 86.7% and 16.2% higher in 2013 and 2014, respectively, than that in the RM system (P < 0.05). Narrow-leaved weeds represented > 65% of the total weed density in ZTDSR-ZT during the rainy season, whereas in the winter season, broad-leaved weeds represented > 90% of the total weed density in both years irrespective of the treatments. Shifting from CTTPR-CT to UPTPR-ZT and ZTDSR-ZT systems resulted in significantly higher Shannon, evenness, and richness indices, thus indicating that the reduction in tillage intensity increased the weed diversity. However, the ecological dominance (C) was higher in CTTPR-CT (0.234) than in the remaining T &CE practices. The contribution of narrow-leaved and broad-leaved weeds toward total weed biomass became pronounced in the UPTPR-ZT, ZTDSR-ZT, and ZTTPR-ZT compared to the CTTPR-CT. The intensity of the total weed density was diminished in the ZTTPR-ZT and ZTDSR-ZT during 2014-15 compared to that during 2013-14. The results of the study can contribute to the development of effective weed management strategies under changing tillage regime for higher crop productivity.
Paddy and Water Environment, 2018
Continuous practice of tillage intensive puddled rice-based systems in South Asia has developed s... more Continuous practice of tillage intensive puddled rice-based systems in South Asia has developed serious issues related to soil health and production sustainability. This has exaggerated the need for sustainable alternatives. Here, the impact of four tillage cum crop establishment practices [conventional puddled transplanted rice followed by conventional till maize/wheat (CTTPR-CT), non-puddled transplanted rice followed by zero-till maize/wheat (NPTPR-ZT), zero-till transplanted rice followed by zero-till maize/wheat (ZTTPR-ZT), zero-till direct seeded rice followed by zero-till maize/wheat (ZTDSR-ZT)], two residue management [residue removal, residue retention (~ 33.0%)] and two rice-based rotations (rice-wheat, rice-maize) on crop performance, system productivity, and production economics were evaluated. At 4th and 5th year of rotation, complete zero-tillage-based crop establishment (ZTDSR-ZT, ZTTPR-ZT) enhanced the grain yield of rice (9.3-20.6%), wheat (18.4-22.6%), and maize (10.8-11.8%) over CTTPR-CT, whereas yield advantage in NPTPR-ZT was marginal for all the crops. The higher grain yield of rice and wheat in ZTDSR-ZT and ZTTPR-ZT treatments was mainly attributed to higher tiller production (rice 11.5-23.2%; wheat 29.5-34.9%). Likewise, the higher aboveground biomass, cob length, cob weight, and grains weight cob −1 led to higher maize yield in conservation tillage treatments (NPTPR-ZT, ZTDSR-ZT, and ZTTPR-ZT). Retention of crop residue improved (p < 0.05) the yield of all crops being higher in maize (6.9-10.3%) followed by wheat (5.3-10.5%). The reduced cost of cultivation and higher return from produce in ZTDSR-ZT, ZTTPR-ZT, and NPTPR-ZT enhanced the net income by INR 48164, 35800, 25632, respectively, over CTTPR-CT. Thus, zero-tillage-based crop establishments with crop residue retention were found as potential alternative for improving crop productivity, profitability and sustainability of rice-based production systems.