Response of tillage method and residue management on productivity and soil biological properties of wheat

The field study was undertaken at the Main Agriculture Research station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during the rabi season of 2020–21 and 2021–22 to find out the effects of tillage and residue mulch on yield and economic parameter of wheat and its soil enzymatic properties. Conventional tillage recorded higher number of productive tillers/m2 (418.8), number of grains/spike (35.9), grain weight/spike (1.74 g) and thousand grain weight (34.88 g). The statistically highest grain (3.30 t/ha) and straw yield (5.44 t/ha) of wheat was obtained under conventional tillage compared to minimum tillage. The gross returns were highest with conventional tillage and B:C ratio was higher with minimum tillage. Glyricidia mulch recorded higher yield attributes, grain (3.50 t/ha), straw (5.64 t/ha) yield and harvest index (36.88%) compared to maize, soybean, groundnut and no residue. No residue recorded lower yield parameter. Soil enzymatic activity was higher with glyricidia mulch compared to no residue, maize, groundnut and soybean mulch. Minimum tillage with glyricidia residue mulch improved soil biological enzymes of dehydrogenase (45.4 and 27.4 μg), phosphatase (187.9 and 109.8 μg), urease (12.6 and 7.6 μg) activity. Weed free check registered markedly superior yield and economic parameter and lower enzyme activity.