Tillage and Nutrient Management on Maize-wheat Cropping System

The present study was carried out during 2013-14 and 2014-15 at Norman E. Borlaug CropResearch Centre, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, district Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand, India representing the Tarai belt of Uttarakhand to study the effect of tillage and nutrient management on growth, productivity, profitability and resource use efficiency of maize-wheat cropping system. Significantly higher maize yield and gross return, net return and benefit: cost ratio was recorded 18.3, 17.2 and 14.2% higher under FIRBS than CT, SS and ZT, respectively. The recommended dose of fertilizers also had significantly higher growth attributes, yield attributes, N, P and K content and uptake and economics. Wheat yield was recorded significantly higher under FIRBS and PRBS being both had equal values that was 9.5 and 16.0% greater than CT and MT, respectively. Similarly higher gross return, net return and benefit cost ratio were observed under FIRBS and followed by PRBS. It is therefore concluded that maize and wheat crops may be planted either on FIRBS or permanent raised bed system (PRBS) with application of recommended dose of fertilizers for maize and wheat.