Influence of tillage and nutrient management practises on yield and economics of linseed

Abstract

Experiment was conducted at AICRP on Linseed farm, College of Agriculture, Nagpur during the rabi season of 2024 to study the influence of tillage and nutrient management practices on growth and yield of linseed. The experiment was conducted in a split-plot design comprising three tillage practices and four nutrient management treatments with twelve treatment combinations, replicated thrice. Main plot treatments comprised of three tillage practices Conventional tillage (T1), Reduced tillage (T2), Zero tillage (T₃) and sub-plot treatments consisted of four nutrient management practices viz., 100% RDF (N₁), 100% RDF with seed treatment using a microbial consortium- Biomix (N₂), 100% RDF with foliar application of micronutrients PDKV Grade-II at flower initiation (45-50 DAS) @ 5 ml lit-1 of water and at capsule development (70-80 DAS) @ 10 ml lit-1 of water (N₃) and 100% RDF with both seed treatment using Biomix and foliar application of micronutrients PDKV Grade-II at flower initiation (45-50 DAS) and capsule development (70-80 DAS) (N₄). Results revealed that, among the tillage treatments, conventional tillage (T1) recorded significantly higher values of seed (1010 kg ha-1) and straw yield (2141 kg ha-1) compared to other tillage treatments. The gross monetary returns, net monetary returns and benefit: cost ratio of linseed was significantly higher under conventional tillage practices (T1) than rest of other tillage practices. Among nutrient treatment practises, 100% RDF with both seed treatment using Biomix and foliar application of micronutrients (PDKV Grade-II) at flower initiation (45-50 DAS) and capsule development (70-80 DAS) (N₄) recorded highest seed (1033 kg ha-1) and straw yield (2061 kg ha-1). Also, significantly higher GMR, NMR and B: C ratio was recorded with the treatment N4 amongst all other nutrient management practices. However, the interaction effect between tillage and nutrient management practices was found non-significant.