Journal of Environmental Biology

Alternate crop establishment techniques in rice–wheat rotation influence wheat productivity, soil properties and profitability in eastern India

Bhavya^5,1, A.R. Chowdhury¹*, M. Ghosh^2,1, S. Kumar¹, B. Kumar¹, S. Kumar³, V. Kumar⁴ and S.S. Acharya¹        

¹Department of Agronomy, Bihar Agricultural University, Bhagalpur-813 210, India

²ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Umiam-793 103, India

³Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Bihar Agricultural University, Bhagalpur-813 210, India

⁴Sustainable Impact through Rice-based Systems, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Laguna-4031, Philippines

⁵Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Baramulla-193 201, India

Received: 11 December 2025                   Revised: 17 April 2026                   Accepted: 14 May 2026

*Corresponding Author Email : arnabuas@gmail.com                    *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7341-5229

Abstract

Aim: To assess the impact of alternate tillage- based crop establishment against conventional technique in rice-wheat system on productivity, soil properties and profitability of wheat.

Methodology: Wheat was rotated with rice during Rabi 2023-24 (4^th cycle) under an on-going field experiment, initiated during Kharif 2019, having six combinations of alternate tillage-based crop establishment techniques followed both in rice plus wheat and compared against the conventionally tilled rice-wheat cropping system. The treatments were allocated in randomized block design (RBD) having three replications. Yield parameters and grain yield of wheat were recorded along with soil properties and economics of wheat were estimated for each treatment.

Results: Wheat grain yield under zero tilled direct seeded rice- zero tilled wheat (ZTDSR-ZTW) was maximum and 13.0-20.7% higher (p≤0.05) over transplanted puddled rice-conventional tilled wheat (TPR-CTW). ZTW grown after vattar/dry direct seeded rice recorded higher positive balance (1.2-1.7%) in soil organic carbon and lower bulk density (~2.5%). ZTDSR-ZTW fetched the maximum increment in net return and B:C ratio for wheat (55.34 and 79.91%, respectively) over TPR-CTW.

Interpretation: The study indicates that in long run, ZTDSR-ZTW system, may serve as an alternate crop establishment technique for improving the productivity and profitability of wheat along with sustaining soil health in rice-wheat rotation.

Key words: Bulk density, Crop establishment techniques, Rice-wheat rotation, Zero-tilled wheat

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