Crop yields and nutrient uptake by rainfed wheat and mungbean as affected by tillage, fertilization, and weeding

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted on rainfed wheat and mungbean for two consecutive seasons on a Udic Ustocrept to evaluate the effect of tillage techniques, fertilization, and weeding on crop yields and nutrient uptake. Tillage techniques were conventional, zero, and deep tillage. Fertilizer treatments consisted of a control, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer, and farmyard manure plus fertilizer. Grain yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was 2,404 kg/ha under conventional tillage, 2,008 kg/ha under zero tillage, and 2,839 kg/ha under deep tillage. Total dry matter of wheat was 7,612 kg/ha under deep tillage, 6,671 kg/ha under conventional tillage, and 6,016 kg/ha under zero tillage. Fertilizer application increased wheat grain yield by 112% and total dry matter by 150% over the control. Weed biomass of wheat was 57% greater under zero tillage than under conventional tillage. Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) grain yield was 371 kg/ha under conventional tillage, 248 kg/ha under zero tillage, and 367 kg/ha under deep tillage. Mungbean total dry matter yield was 2,018 kg/ha under deep tillage, 1,814 kg/ha under conventional, and 1,143 kg/ha under zero tillage. Dry weed biomass in mungbean was 38% greater under zero tillage and 6% lesser under deep tillage than that of conventional tillage. Nitrogen and P uptake by weeds was greater under zero tillage compared with conventional and deep tillage.