Prof. U. P. SinghDepartment of Agronomy,

Institute of Agricultural Sciences,B.H.U. Varanasi, U.P. (India)

Wheat Production Wheat Production Technologies for Eastern Technologies for Eastern

UPUP

Exploding population – little control / No control Exploding population – little control / No control Harvested area Harvested area shrinking (?)- crop intensification crop intensification Greater Greater competition for land, labor and water- for land, labor and water- good land diverted to other sectorsgood land diverted to other sectorsIncreasing production costsClimate change more apparent – terminal heat, Climate change more apparent – terminal heat, rusts etc.rusts etc.Resource fatigue - Reducing factor productivity, land degradation‘One size fits all’ approach and untrained extension staff.

Challenges for Food Challenges for Food Security Security

Issues Realized And SolutionsIssues Realized And Solutions

Poor quality seed Use of quality seeds

Issues Solution

Weed infestation Integrated weed management

Spray techniques and equipment

Timely availability of suitable spray equipments and proper use of spray techniques Low tendency of

herbicide usePopularize and change in mind set for appropriate herbicide use

Water shortages GW development, save water, reduce evaporation, weed control

Poor land leveling Precise leveling of lands

Machinery problem (operational)

Machines perfections:For loose residue situationsSupply of improved quality machines

Diversification of R-W system

Adequate irrigation facilities and community approach for diversification

Issues Solution

Conservation Agriculture (CA) is now a globally accepted agro-ecological approach to sustainable intensification of crop production.

CA comprises resource conserving agricultural production practices that aim to produce more at less costs while enhancing the quality of the natural resource base.

CA is all about generating multiple options for farmers who are endowed differentially.

Meeting the Food Security Challenge

Conservation Agriculture Means Dramatic Tillage Reductions Combined

with Adequate Surface Retention of Crop Residues

Conventional Till Systems CA Zero Till Systems

CA is Enhanced by Diversified, Economical Crop Rotations

Properly Managed CA Encourages Sustainable Soil

Management

Physical Physical Soil QualitySoil Quality

ChemicalChemicalSoil QualitySoil Quality

BiologicalBiologicalSoil QualitySoil Quality

Soil Soil Organic Organic MatterMatter

ConservatiConservation on

Agriculture Agriculture enhances enhances biological biological

tillage tillage instead of instead of

mechanical mechanical tillage tillage

Resource Conserving Technologies (RCTs)

1. No-tillage

2. Laser land leveling

3. Direct seeding of rice

4. Leaf colour chart for N

5. Crop diversification

Conventional

RCTs

Tillage

Conventional

Unpuddled Raised bed Zero-tillage

Resource conservation technologies in rice-wheat systems

Crop establishment

Transplanting Direct-drill-seeding

CA based RCTs options for System sustainability

Zero tillage

Paired row ZT

Control traffic ZT

Direct seeding

Unpuddled transplanting

Reduced tillage

Bed planting

Surface seeding

Zero Tillage – A cost effective and input use efficient technology

Zero Till (ZT) –Wheat SeedingZero Till (ZT) –Wheat Seeding

• Reduced costs (Rs 2000-2500/ha) due to savings in fuel and labor

• Timely planting of kharif and winter season crops, resulting in higher yields

• Lower density of herbicide resistance in comparison to traditional tillage.

• Significant irrigation water savings (up to 15-20%)

• Improved input use efficiency because of the right placement of seed and fertilizer nutrients

• Better plant stands• Less burning of crop resides

Advantages of Zero Tillage

Permanent FIRB (Residue managed)

RiceWheat

Wheat Mungbean

Rotavator : An emerging issuesIncreased seed rate (160 kg/ha)

Promote sowing by broadcasting the seed

Enhanced weed problem of Phalaris minor/ other weeds

Use of Rotavator - soil compaction - symptomatic problems -crop lodging and water logging /chlorosis

Farmers have to apply additional N / P to overcome

yellowing

Low productivity (less tillering, small earhead & grain size and low grain weight )

Rotavators donot operate in presence of residues 4-5 T/

ha

Rotavator use promote burning of crop residues.

Rotavator use need to be Banned

CA Planters for Small-Scale Farmers

Helps early sowing Saves water, labor and dieselIncreases fertilizer use efficiencyReduced soil erosion Improves soil organic C

No-tillage is a win-win

technology

No-tillage is a win-win

technology0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

Init

ial 2

002

Wheat

2002-0

3

Ric

e 2

003

Wheat

2003-0

4

Wheat

2004-0

5

Ric

e 2

005

Wheat

2005-0

6

Ric

e 2

007

Org

anic

C (

%)

Tilled

No till

No-till wheat is more tolerant to abrupt temperature rise: Climate change

adaptation

Conventional

RCTs can help Agriculture in

Beating the Heat

Zero-tillage

Zero-tillage with controlled traffic

Zero tillage paired row ( 5% more yield gain)

Bed planting – saves seed , water and labor, improves grain quality and Yield.

Improved Technological options for Improved Technological options for wheatwheat

Particular Farmers practice

(US $ ha-1)ZT Wheat(US $ ha-1)

Cost (input)1. Seed 27 24

2. Tillage 61 29

3. Fertilizer 67 64

4. Irrigation 19 145. Labour 40 366. Herbicide/pesticide 24. 307. Harvesting & threshing 49 48

Total variable cost 287 244Benefit (output)

Return from produce 459 567

Net benefit 172 322

Net return over FP - 150

Benefit-cost ratio 0.60 1.32

Partial Budgeting of CA baed RCTs in Partial Budgeting of CA baed RCTs in wheatwheat

Treatment Farmer No.

Grain yield (Mg ha-1)

Tillage cost (US$ ha-1)

Net income(US$ ha-1)

Farmer Practice

152 3.0 b 44 a 375 b

Fresh Bed Planted

17 4.4 a 38 a 628 a

ZT-Planted 222 3.5 ab 0 b 512 a

Wheat grain yield, tillage costs and net Wheat grain yield, tillage costs and net income under different tillage and crop income under different tillage and crop

establishment methods (average of three establishment methods (average of three years)years)

Means within a column followed by the same letter are not significantly different at the 0.05 level

Wheat Productivity (t/ha) as influenced by CA based permanent bed planting and CT in Rice-Wheat system

Suggested work plan for cluster demonstrations

wheat during Rabi season 2011-12 in Eastern U.P

Sites CA based RCTs Demonstration/promotion on Wheat

1. Chandauli Village clusters

2. Ghazipur Village clusters

1. Seed priming and treatment 2. Cultivar choices3. Zero tillage – Wheat 4. Paired row planting and Controlled traffic5. Dry seeding and post sowing irrigation6. Residue managed zero tillage wheat7. Surface seeded- wheat Low lying areas8. Introduction of improved Zero-till drills9. Promote custom service of Zero till

machines 10. Residue management and Basal N

Management 11.Multi-boom sprayers -Flat fan nozzles 12.Adapting to terminal heat in wheat 13.Relay planting of Mungbean14.Travelling Seminar / Training on 'better bet'

conservation agriculture based practices