Impact of Zero Tillage on Productivity of Traditional Mung Bean-Wheat Cropping System of Punjab, Pakistan
Imtiaz Hussain1, Azhar Mahmood Aulakh2, Muhammad Sohail1*, Khalid Hussain2, Ansaar Ahmed3, Abdul Hamid3 and Muhammad Imtiaz3
ABSTRACT
Conventional mung bean-wheat production system in Punjab, Pakistan involves intensive tillage practices that increases cost of production and declines soil fertility. Zero tillage planting method provides an opportunity to improve crop yield, reduce production cost and GHG emission. Farmer participatory field trials were carried out at six locations in Punjab province, a major Mung bean-Wheat cropping zone to evaluate zero tillage based crop production system in comparison to the traditional tillage. The findings revealed that zero tillage produced 13% and 9 % higher wheat and mung bean yield, correspondingly in comparison to conventional tillage practice. This improvement in grain yield with zero tillage can be linked to better germination. Adoption of zero tillage planting technique reduced total cost of production by Rs. 6236 ha-1 and helped farmer to earn additional Rs. 25601 ha-1 in terms of annual net returns than prevailing conventional tillage system. The benefit-cost ratio under zero tillage was calculated as 2.19 whereas 1.84 under traditional tillage practice. The results confirmed that new initiative (zero tillage) proved to be economical and resource conserving compare to conventional tillage.
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December 2020
Vol. 33, Iss. 4, Pages 692-956
