Effect of Conservation Tillage and Irrigation on Soil Water Content, Shoot-Root Growth Parameters and Yield in Maize (Zea mays)-Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Cropping Sequence

Tillage and irrigation are crucial for enhancing crop yields. The study aims to assess the impact of different tillage and irrigation practices on soil water content, shoot-root growth parameters, and yield in a maize-wheat cropping sequence.

The experiment, conducted at Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur (2018–2020), used a randomized block design with four replications to assess the following treatments: T1: Conventional tillage (CT), T2: Minimum tillage + mulch (MT + M), T3: CT + intercropping (IC), T4: MT + M + IC, Control (T5): No irrigation for maize, 6 cm irrigation for wheat, conventional tillage, no manure. The study evaluated soil moisture content, soil water stock, root and shoot growth, 1000 seed weight, yield, and water use efficiency across these treatments.

Treatments involving minimum tillage and mulch (T2 and T4) showed better performance in terms of soil moisture content, root and shoot growth, yield, and water use efficiency compared to conventional tillage treatments. Decreasing irrigation water led to lower soil moisture content. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicated that various properties were influenced differently by the treatments, accounting for 91.22% of data variability in maize and 99.32% in wheat.

In comparison to traditional tillage methods, the study found that minimum tillage plus mulching greatly improves soil moisture, plant growth, yield, and water usage efficiency in a maize-wheat cropping sequence. Reduced irrigation has a detrimental effect on the moisture content of the soil, highlighting the significance of effective water management techniques in agriculture.