Effect of Mulching and Tillage Practices on Yield & Yield Attributs of Sorghum
K. Arun Kumar
Regional Agricultural Research Station, Nandyal, ANGRAU, India.
Y. S. Satish Kumar *
Regional Agricultural Research Station, Nandyal, ANGRAU, India.
K. Prabhakar
Regional Agricultural Research Station, Nandyal, ANGRAU, India.
M. Jayalakshmi
Regional Agricultural Research Station, Nandyal, ANGRAU, India.
K. Satish Babu
Regional Agricultural Research Station, Nandyal, ANGRAU, India.
K. Mohan Vishnuvardhan
Regional Agricultural Research Station, Nandyal, ANGRAU, India.
ESV Narayana Rao
Agricultural College, Mahanandi, ANGRAU, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of mulching and tillage practices on yield & yield attributs of sorghum at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Andhra Pradesh during 2020-21 & 2021-22 Kharif seasons. Mulching, Tillage practices and their interaction showed no significant influence on growth parameters viz., plant height and dry matter production at harvest, days to 50 % population. Whereas, panicle weight, panicle length, grain yield, straw yield and harvest index were significantly higher with zero tillage and with residue mulch. The interaction between tillage and mulch practices was non significant. Maximum gross and net returns were observed with zero tillage with residue mulch practice in grain sorghum. The economic evaluation of mulching and tillage practices in sorghum crop revealed that maximum gross returns (Rs 1,18,659), net returns (Rs 78,579) and B:C ratio (2.96) were obtained with zero tillage practice with mulching practice. The study indicated that tillage and mulching had significant effect on soil fertility and grain yield of sorghum crop.
Keywords: Sorghum, tillage systems, mulching, soil fertility, economics