Effect of tillage and land levelling practices on productivity of transplanted rice: A case study in canal command area of north western plateau agro-climatic zone

Abstract

An on-farm study on the response of transplanted rice to land preparation methods was undertaken on a sandy clay loam soil in Pitamahal irrigation command of Sundargarh district (Odisha) for two consecutive dry seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21. The treatments included normal ploughing with desi plough followed by levelling of 0.5 – 1 % slope (T1), deep ploughing (20 - 25 cm) with bullock drawn M.B. plough followed by levelling of 0 - 0.25 % slope (T2), and farmers' practice of ploughing with desi plough and levelling varying 1-3 % slope (T3) for puddling operation. Deep ploughing (T2) resulted in higher root length (23.88 cm) and root 3 volume (81.75 cm ), owing to the initial rapid growth of roots promoted by deep ploughing that cracked the hardpan. This also increased the movement of water both laterally and vertically (7.44 mm per day) compared to T1 and T3's 5.11 and 5.71 m per day, respectively. The treatment also resulted in a significantly greater grain yield -1 (45.90 q ha ) due to a much larger effective tiller m-2 (423.40) and number of grains per panicle (71.80), as well as a higher net return per rupee spent (7.54) and benefitcost ratio (2.01).