Effect of tillage and fertilizer on productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum) under dry-seeded and transplanted rice conditions

An experiment was conducted during winter seasons of 1993-94 and 1994-95 to study the effect of tillage and NPK level on productivity of wheat (Tritic um aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) under dry-seeded and transplanted rice conditions. Combined analysis showed that wheat yield under dry-seeded ric e plot (45.0 q/ha) was significantly higher (8.2%) than transplanted rice ( 41.3 q/ha). Zero tillage (46.2 q/ha) recorded significantly higher yield (1 3.2%) and its attributing parameters as compared with yield and its compone nt characters recorded under conventional tillage (40.1 q/ha). Application of 150:75:50 kg/ha (N:P:K) resulted in significantly higher grain yield (44 .7 q/ha), 1,000-grain weight and spikes/m(2) than recommended dose of N:P:K (120:60:40 kg/ha) application (38.3 q/ha). Interactions among rice seeding/transplanting methods, tillage practices an d NPK level on wheat yield were significant. Under zero tillage, 25 and 50% higher dose of NPK application exhibited 7.5 and 6.3 q/ha more grain yield , respectively, than yield recorded with same level of NPK application unde r conventional tillage condition. Zero tillage resulted in 3 and 9 q more g rain yield/ha, which was significantly higher compared to yield recorded wi th conventional tillage under dry seeded and transplanted rice respectively . In transplanted rice condition, under zero tillage, application of 25 and 50% higher dose of NPK recorded significantly higher grain yield (10-12 q/ ha more) than conventional tillage. Under dry-seeded rice, conventional til lage with 25 to 50% higher dose of NPK application exhibited significantly higher yield than yields obtained under transplanted rice.