Abstract
The Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) in north-west (NW) India are facing a severe decline in ground water due to prevalent rice-based cropping systems. To combat this issue, conservation agriculture (CA) with an alternative crop/s, such as maize, is being promoted. Recently, surface drip fertigation has also been evaluated as a viable option to address low-nutrient use efficiency and water scarcity problems for cereals. While the individual benefits of CA and sub-surface drip (SSD) irrigation on water economy are well-established, information regarding their combined effect in cereal-based systems is lacking. Therefore, we conducted a two-year field experiment in maize, under an ongoing CA-based maize-wheat system, to evaluate the complementarity of CA with SSD irrigation through two technological interventions–– CA+ (residue retained CA + SSD), PCA+ (partial CA without residue + SSD) – at different N rates (0, 120 and 150 kg N ha-1) in comparison to traditional furrow irrigated (FI) CA and conventional tillage (CT) at 120 kg N ha-1. Our results showed that CA+ had the highest grain yield (8.2 t ha-1), followed by PCA+ (8.1 t ha-1). The grain yield under CA+ at 150 kg N ha-1 was 27% and 30% higher than CA and CT, respectively. Even at the same N level (120 kg N ha-1), CA+ outperformed CA and CT by 16% and 18%, respectively. The physiological performance of maize also revealed that CA+ based plots with 120 kg N ha-1 had 12% and 3% higher photosynthesis rate at knee-high and silking, respectively compared to FI-CA and CT. Overall, compared to the FI-CA and CT, SSD-based CA+ and PCA+ saved 54% irrigation water and increased water productivity (WP) by more than twice. Similarly, a greater number of split N application through fertigation in PCA+ and CA+ increased agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and recover efficiency by 8–19% and 14–25%, respectively. Net returns from PCA+ and CA+ at 150 kg N ha-1 were significantly higher by US$ 491 and 456, respectively than the FI-CA and CT treatments. Therefore, CA coupled with SSD provided tangible benefits in terms of yield, irrigation water saving, WP, NUE and profitability. Efforts should be directed towards increasing farmers’ awareness of the benefits of such promising technology for the cultivating food grains and commercial crops such as maize. Concurrently, government support and strict policies are required to enhance the system adaptability.
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Claims 14
Claim · model-written summary
CA+ produced the highest grain yield, 8.2 t ha-1.
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“CA+ had the highest grain yield (8.2 t ha-1), followed by PCA+ (8.1 t ha-1).”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
PCA+ yielded 8.1 t ha-1 of grain.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“CA+ had the highest grain yield (8.2 t ha-1), followed by PCA+ (8.1 t ha-1).”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
At 150 kg N ha-1, CA+ grain yield was 27% higher than CA.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The grain yield under CA+ at 150 kg N ha-1 was 27% and 30% higher than CA and CT, respectively.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
At 150 kg N ha-1, CA+ grain yield was 30% higher than CT.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The grain yield under CA+ at 150 kg N ha-1 was 27% and 30% higher than CA and CT, respectively.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
At 120 kg N ha-1, CA+ outperformed CA in grain yield by 16%.
- Treatment
- CA+e0
- Outcome
- outperformede0
- Direction
- outperformede0
- Value
- 16%e0
- Qualifier
- 120 kg N ha-1e0
- Comparator
- CAe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Even at the same N level (120 kg N ha-1), CA+ outperformed CA and CT by 16% and 18%, respectively.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
At 120 kg N ha-1, CA+ outperformed CT in grain yield by 18%.
- Treatment
- CA+e0
- Outcome
- outperformede0
- Direction
- outperformede0
- Value
- 18%e0
- Qualifier
- 120 kg N ha-1e0
- Comparator
- CTe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Even at the same N level (120 kg N ha-1), CA+ outperformed CA and CT by 16% and 18%, respectively.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
CA+ with 120 kg N ha-1 raised knee-high photosynthesis rate 12% relative to FI-CA.
- Organ / stage
- knee-highe0
- Treatment
- CA+ based plots with 120 kg N ha-1e0
- Outcome
- photosynthesis ratee0
- Direction
- highere0
- Value
- 12%e0
- Comparator
- FI-CAe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“CA+ based plots with 120 kg N ha-1 had 12% and 3% higher photosynthesis rate at knee-high and silking, respectively compared to FI-CA and CT.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
CA+ with 120 kg N ha-1 raised silking photosynthesis rate 3% relative to CT.
- Organ / stage
- silkinge0
- Treatment
- CA+ based plots with 120 kg N ha-1e0
- Outcome
- photosynthesis ratee0
- Direction
- highere0
- Value
- 3%e0
- Comparator
- CTe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“CA+ based plots with 120 kg N ha-1 had 12% and 3% higher photosynthesis rate at knee-high and silking, respectively compared to FI-CA and CT.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
SSD-based CA+ and PCA+ saved 54% irrigation water relative to FI-CA and CT.
- Treatment
- SSD-based CA+ and PCA+e0
- Outcome
- irrigation watere0
- Direction
- savede0
- Value
- 54%e0
- Comparator
- FI-CA and CTe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“compared to the FI-CA and CT, SSD-based CA+ and PCA+ saved 54% irrigation water and increased water productivity (WP) by more than twice.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
SSD-based CA+ and PCA+ more than doubled water productivity.
- Treatment
- SSD-based CA+ and PCA+e0
- Outcome
- water productivity (WP)e0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- more than twicee0
- Comparator
- FI-CA and CTe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“compared to the FI-CA and CT, SSD-based CA+ and PCA+ saved 54% irrigation water and increased water productivity (WP) by more than twice.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
More split N fertigation increased agronomic nitrogen use efficiency by 8–19%.
- Treatment
- a greater number of split N application through fertigatione0
- Outcome
- agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)e0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 8–19%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“a greater number of split N application through fertigation in PCA+ and CA+ increased agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and recover efficiency by 8–19% and 14–25%, respectively.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
More split N fertigation increased recovery efficiency by 14–25%.
- Treatment
- a greater number of split N application through fertigatione0
- Outcome
- recover efficiencye0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 14–25%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“a greater number of split N application through fertigation in PCA+ and CA+ increased agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and recover efficiency by 8–19% and 14–25%, respectively.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
PCA+ at 150 kg N ha-1 significantly raised net returns by US$ 491.
- Treatment
- PCA+e0
- Outcome
- Net returnse0
- Direction
- highere0
- Value
- US$ 491e0
- Qualifier
- 150 kg N ha-1e0
- Comparator
- FI-CA and CT treatmentse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Net returns from PCA+ and CA+ at 150 kg N ha-1 were significantly higher by US$ 491 and 456, respectively than the FI-CA and CT treatments.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
CA+ at 150 kg N ha-1 significantly raised net returns by US$ 456.
- Treatment
- CA+e0
- Outcome
- Net returnse0
- Direction
- highere0
- Value
- 456e0
- Qualifier
- 150 kg N ha-1e0
- Comparator
- FI-CA and CT treatmentse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Net returns from PCA+ and CA+ at 150 kg N ha-1 were significantly higher by US$ 491 and 456, respectively than the FI-CA and CT treatments.”
t0“maize”
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