Optimization of energy use by tillage and weed management practices in wheat

Abstract

The field experiments was conducted during kharif season of 2012-13 and 2013-14 at N.E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar (Uttarakhand) India to find out the effect of different tillage practices and weed management practices on energy analysis (input-output) of wheat. The result revealed that energy consumption in terms of energy input was recorded maximum under conventional tillage with weed free situation (21704 MJ.ha-1) and the lowest energy input was recorded under zero tillage with weedy (19021 MJ.ha-1) which was followed by zero tillage with sulfosulfuron 25g/ha. Energy output, net energy return and energy use efficiency was maximum in case of zero tillage plots which was closely followed by application of pinoxaden 50g/ha fb MSM 4g/ha, readymix application of clodinofop 60g + MSM 4g/ha and clodinofop 60g fb MSM 4g/ha. Energy intensity was the lowest under zero tillage condition (3.4 MJ/kg)