Impact of zero tillage and nutrient management practices on productivity of wheat in indo gangetic plains: An overview

Abstract

Wheat cultivation is a basis of agricultural systems of India predominantly in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) or the Great Plains of North India, which is crucial for food security in South Asia. The primary constraints to wheat grain production include inefficient tillage operations, bed preparation, production of late-maturing paddy cultivars, scarcity of water, insufficiency of labor, high fertilizer costs, and suboptimal crop management operations. Tillage is a pivotal agricultural tool for soil manipulation and crop yield enhancement. Various tillage methods are employed in paddy-wheat cropping systems, viz., intensive, traditional, deep and conservation tillage practices such as zero and minimum tillage, etc. Zero tillage provides an efficient and manageable planting method that enables well-timed wheat cultivation, eliminates the requirement for tillage operations, and enhances crop or biomass residue management. This approach reduces production costs and maintains environmental cleanliness. Specifically, zero tillage reduces operational costs for wheat planting by 50 to 60% compared to conventional sowing methods. The main factor driving the adoption of zero tillage technology is expense minimization. Moreover, ensuring an effective nutrient management strategy through the combined use of chemical fertilizers, organic amendments, and biological resources is critical. However, advancing knowledge about the importance of essential nutrients in crop physiology and their impact on qualitative and quantitative components of cereal crops, particularly in wheat, is necessary. Balanced fertilizer application is critical for improving wheat yield, quality, and agronomic traits. Thus, integrating zero tillage with appropriate fertilizer management is crucial for optimizing wheat production. This study reviews zero tillage and nutrient management practices in wheat and examines their impacts on growth, quality and yield-related associated indices.