Effect of tillage, nitrogen and zinc management on yield and yield components of wheat (Triticum aestivum) in North Eastern Plains Zone of India

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2014–15 and 2015–16 at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, to evaluate the effect of tillage practices, nitrogen and zinc management on productivity and quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the North Eastern Plains Zone (NEPZ) of India. Treatments consisted of combinations of 2 tillage practices mainplots, viz. Conventional tillage (T₁) and minimum tillage (T₂) with different sources of organic manure and nitrogen management, viz. N₀ (control); N₁, [50% recommended dose of N (RDN) through (urea + diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer] + 50% RDN through FYM; N₂, (25% RDN through (urea + DAP fertilizer] + 75% RDN through FYM; N₃, 50% RDN through (urea + DAP fertilizer) + 50% RDN through vermicompost; N₄, 25% RDN through (urea + DAP fertilizer) + 75% RDN through vermicompost; and N₅, 100% RDN through (urea + DAP fertilizer), in subplots and 0.5% zinc foliar spray (Z₁) along with the control (no foliar spray, Z₀) were taken in sub-subplots in a split-split plot design with 3 replications. Pooled data indicated that, crop cultivated by conventional tillage resulted in significantly the highest grain yield (3.89 t/ha) and gross returns (93, 507/ha). However, significantly the highest benefit: cost ratio (1.407) was evident in conservation tillagebased minimum tillage. In balanced nitrogen-fertilization treatment N₃ significant and maximum grain yield (4.14 t/ha), straw yield (8.39 t/ha) and gross returns (10, 025/ha) were obtained. Significant and maximum soil-fertility status was recorded for available N, P, K and B contents in treatment N₄. Significantly the highest net returns (62, 285/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.944) were noted in the treatment N₅. In zinc foliar spray, significantly higher grain (3.86 t/ha) and straw yields (7.86 t/ha), gross returns (93, 312/ha), net returns (53, 251/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.372) with soil fertility N (245.54 ppm) were recorded in treatment Z₁. Interaction of T₁N₃Z₁ treatment resulted significantly higher grain yield. However, significantly higher net returns were recorded in T₁N₅Z₁. The benefit: cost ratio was maximum in interaction of T₂N₅Z₁.