Response of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to Different Tillage Practices and Nitrogen Levels in a Clay Loam Soil

Abstract

We can overcome this global challenge by minimizing input costs and optimizing yields by employing appropriate tillage techniques and balanced fertilizer application. Appropriate tillage practices together with balanced fertilizer may be a promising practice of soil management to improve soil properties and crop production. The present study was carried out in wheat-maize cropping pattern (in the year 2019-20) at agricultural research farm of Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. The experiment was set up in a split-plot layout with a randomized complete blocks design. The nitrogen levels of 0, 90, 120, 150, and 180 kg N ha-1 were assigned to subplots. Tillage and nitrogen treatments separately had a significant impact on growth and yield characteristics, but the interaction between them had minimal effect, according to the findings. The tallest heights were found in the conventional tillage plots and the high N input (N180) plots, with heights of 101 and 104 cm, respectively. The spikes per m2 were found 242 in zero tillage plots, while the highest number of spikes per plot (265) was recorded in N180. The yield contributing factor number of grain spike-1 was 48.7 in zero tillage, while the nitrogen fertilizer @ 180 kg ha-1 yielded 52, 1000-grain weight of 35g was measured in conventional tillage and 38.8g in nitrogen fertilizer plots. Deep tillage where the nitrogen @ 150 kg ha-1 was applied gave the maximum grain yields, with 3113 kg ha-1 and 3415 kg ha-1, respectively. The benefit-cost ratio of different treatments was highest in zero tillage plots, with nitrogen @ 150 kg ha-1, at 1.65. Hence, it may be concluded from the study that both tillage and nitrogen levels influenced the agronomic properties of wheat, influenced the economics of farmers, and soil fertility.