Optimising irrigation and conservation tillage for enhanced wheat yield and profitability in Eastern India

Wheat a vital cereal crop globally, but conventional practices like chemical fertiliser reduction and intensive tillage can damage the environment. Conservation tillage offers a sustainable alternative to enhance wheat production. This study evaluated the effects of different tillage methods and irrigation schedules on wheat growth, yield and economic returns over 2 years. The M3 tillage recorded superior yield traits, while M2 produced the highest grain yield (4056.12 kg ha-1) and M1 the highest straw yield (5982.33 kg ha-1). Irrigation at 25 % depletion of available soil moisture (DASM) (I1) consistently improved yield characteristics and economic returns. The highest grain yield (4184.47 kg ha-1) was observed under the combined M1I1 treatment in 2023–24. Over 2 years, M1I1 and M2I1 treatments yielded the highest gross and net returns, with M2I2 showing the best benefit-cost ratio (2.57). These results concluded that integrating conservation tillage with optimised irrigation schedules can significantly improve wheat productivity and profitability while supporting sustainable agriculture.