Evaluation of Tillage Methods under Rainfed Cultivation of Cotton-Pulses Crop Rotation

Aims: To evaluate the effect of tillage methods on soil moisture storage, grain yield, economics and rain water use efficiency in semi-arid region

Study Design: Four tillage methods viz. conventional tillage, Rotovator ploughing + chisel ploughing, chisel ploughing + tiller ploughing, conservation tillage (Minimum tillage with retention of crop residue) at different time of ploughing.

Place and Duration of Study: Kovilpatti, a representative location of semi-arid regions of Southern Tamil Nadu. This study was conducted from 2015 to 2021 with the alternate years of crop rotation of cotton and greengram.

Methodology: The field experiments were in cotton and greengram in black soil under rain fed situations. Soil samples were collected at different depths to assess the soil moisture storage. Yield was recorded and cost of cultivation was worked out. Rainwater used for obtaining higher yield was calculated. .

Results: Soil moisture storage in subsurface soil layers was higher in conservation methods of tillage followed by rotatvator and chisel ploughing method. For both crops, Rotovator plough followed by chisel plough recorded the higher rain water use efficiency, yield and net return.

Conclusion: This study clearly indicated that Rotovator ploughing once followed by chisel ploughing once could be adopted as a promising strategy to retain soil water availability and boost crop productivity in semiarid regions of Tamil Nadu.