Evaluating wheat genotypes x residue management interaction and its implications on yield

An intricate relationship exists between wheat genotypes in response to residue management strategies which may affect yield and yield components. The study seeks to understand this along with it aims to analyse the dynamics of the environment during distinct cultivation seasons, look into variations in soil and canopy temperatures at different growth stages and ascertain how residue management impacts phenology. In order to achieve this goal, 19 advanced breeding lines (ABLs) along with 4 standard check varieties were tested in a no-till rice residue retained environment using Happy Seeder from 2019 to 2021. The results were compared with conventional till residue removal treatment by maintaining environments in main plots and genotypes in sub-plots. Effective tillers, grains per spike, spike length, 1000-grain weight and overall grain yield were significantly benefitted from Happy Seeder sowing, particularly when combined with high-yielding genotypes like BWL 7566 and BWL 6986. Tiller mortality analysis highlights Happy Seeder efficacy in minimizing tiller losses, contributing to a robust crop foundation, with genotypic variations influencing responses to different cultivation methods.