Influence of Different Tillage Practices, Irrigation and Nitrogen Levels on Yield and Economics of Rice Fallow Maize

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of different tillage practices, irrigation schedules and nitrogen levels on the grain yield, stalk yield, harvest index and economics of rabi maize in rice fallows. The design selected for this study was Split- split plot design. This experiment was conducted at Regional Agricultural Research Station farm, Polasa, Jagtial during rabi 2022 and 2023. The experiment was laid out in split- split plot design with twelve treatment combinations which are replicated thrice. The treatments are two main plots: T1- Zero tillage, T2- Conventional tillage (cultivator twice fb rotovator twice); three sub plots: I1- 60% ASM, I2- 40% ASM and I3- Irrigation at six critical stages; and two sub-sub plot treatments: N1- 100% RDN and N2- 120% RDN. Results indicated that higher grain yield, stalk yield, gross returns, net returns and B-C ratio were higher in conventional tillage among the two tillage practices, in I3 treatment among the three irrigation schedules and in N2 (120% RDN) among the two nitrogen levels. The lowest values were recorded with zero tillage, I2 treatment and N1 (100% RDN). Harvest index was significantly effected by tillage practices but it is non-significant with irrigation schedules and nitrogen levels.