Effect of Tillage and Nitrogen Management on Water Use and Productivity of Late-Sown Wheat under Mid Hill Conditions of Himachal Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted for three successive years from 2006 to 2009 to assess the effect of tillage (conventional, conservation and zero tillage) and nitrogen management (recommended, 125 % of recommended and 150 % of recommended nitrogen) on late sown wheat due to introduction of short season radish crop in between two crops of maizewheat cropping system. Conservation tillage used 10.2 % less water than conventional and zero tillage and increased WUE by 35.8 per cent. It also resulted in significantly higher grain yield compared to conventional and zero tillage (about 13 and 22 %). The application of 125 % of recommended nitrogen increased water use efficiency by 17 % than recommended nitrogen. Further increase to 150 % of recommended nitrogen increased WUE by 6 %.The application of 150 % of recommended nitrogen resulted in significantly higher grain yield (17 %) than recommended nitrogen.