Tillage and Mulching for Improved Water Use Efficiency and Maize Yield in Punjab, Pakistan

Maize productivity in semi-arid regions is hindered by soil compaction, reduced fertility, and inefficient resource management. These factors result in limited water infiltration and root growth, reduced organic matter and enhanced erosion, and excessive fertilizer use and inadequate irrigation scheduling. To address these challenges, field experiments were conducted at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan. The study evaluated the effects of four tillage methods (zero tillage; cultivator twice + planking; moldboard plough + cultivator twice + planking; chisel plough + cultivator twice + planking) and three mulching treatments (no mulching; plastic mulch; sorghum straw mulch at 5 t/ha), on maize performance. The results showed that chisel ploughing increased plant height by 14.1%, cob length by 12.5%, grains per cob by 21.5%, and grain yield by 24.5% compared to zero tillage. Sorghum straw mulch also improved plant height by 10.3%, cob length by 9.1%, and grains per cob by 15.6% compared to no mulching. Water use efficiency (WUE) significantly improved by 27% and 33% in 2017 and 2018, respectively with chisel ploughing and sorghum straw mulch. The combination of chisel ploughing and sorghum straw mulch achieved the highest economic returns, with a net income of Rs. 89853/ha and a benefit-cost ratio of 1.82, which was 64% higher than the lowest BCR recorded with zero tillage and plastic mulching. In conclusion, chisel plough + cultivator twice + planking and sorghum straw mulching are effective practices for enhancing maize yield, WUE, and economic viability in semi-arid regions. These findings have important implications for sustainable maize production and resource management in water-scarce areas.