Weed interference and wheat productivity in a conservation agriculture-based maize-wheat-mungbean system

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during rabi seasons of 2018-19 and 2019-20 cropping cycles in wheat involving maize-wheat-mungbean system to assess the effects of conservation agriculture (CA) on weed interference and crop productivity. Results showed that CA-based practices with residue retention resulted in significant reduction of weed growth and led to higher yield as well as economic benefits when compared to conventional tillage (CT). The plots under permanent broad bed with residue with 100% N (PBB+R+100N) resulted in significant reduction of weed density and biomass and led to ~27% higher grain yield of wheat compared to CT. The PBB+R+100N plots also had considerably higher net returns. The CA practice involving PBB+R+100N led to considerable reduction in weed density and biomass and was found to be more productive and remunerative. However, permanent broad bed with residue with 75% N (PBB+R+75N) was found comparable in this regard and hence can be recommended for sustainable wheat production under maize-wheatmungbean system in north-western Indo-Gangetic plains of India.