Precision nitrogen and water management in double zero -till wheat: effects on photosynthetic parameters, productivity, nutrient-use efficiency and N2O emission
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Context Conventional tillage (CT), excessive irrigation, and indiscriminate nitrogen (N) use in wheat farming degrade soil and water resources in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP), threatening the sustainability of the rice-wheat cropping system. Objectives A two-year study (2019–21) in north-west IGP was conducted to assess the integration of zero-tillage (ZT) with precision water and N management for sustainability, nutrient efficiency, and environmental performance. Methods The study tested two crop establishment methods (ZT-wheat and double ZT-wheat) and three irrigation regimes–25%, 50%, and 75% depletion of available soil moisture (DASM), with silicon applied at 75% DASM–alongside three N strategies: 100% recommended N dose (RDN), NutrientExpert ® (NE ® ) + Leaf Color Chart (LCC), and NE ® + SPAD-based N management, using a split-plot design. Results and Conclusion Double ZT-wheat performed better over conventional ZT, showed superior growth (higher dry matter accumulation, leaf area index, and photosynthetic rate), 3.5% greater interception of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and 6.7–9.9% increases in grain/straw yields, and resource-use efficiency. Irrigation at 25% DASM increased photosynthetic activity, intercepted 18.3% more PAR, and yielded 9.23% higher grain over 50% DASM, though delaying irrigation to 50% DASM conserved water without significant yield loss. NE ® + SPAD-based N management saved 40 kg N ha –1 while enhancing productivity and efficiency, and combining ZT with 75% DASM + silicon and NE ® + LCC significantly reduced N 2 O emissions, thus suggested for implementation in the wheat growing regions. Significance The current study findings promote precision N-water strategies, and double ZT to enhance productivity, resource conservation, and environmental sustainability in the IGP’s wheat systems addressing important sustainable development goals concerning agriculture.
Source: Frontiers in Plant Science
Institutions: Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Raja Balwant Singh College, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Central Potato Research Institute, Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Banaras Hindu University, Central Rice Research Institute, Central Agricultural University, ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W4415988319