The study investigates effective herbicide and irrigation management strategies to optimize wheat yields and water utilization in North India's conventionally-tilled fields.
Declining water tables due to agricultural pressures have posed significant challenges for wheat production across South Asia. This issue is exacerbated by shrinking labor availability for manual weeding and increasing herbicide resistance. To tackle these challenges, researchers from Banaras Hindu University conducted a study examining the impacts of various irrigation regimes and herbicide applications on wheat crops, aiming to discover management practices capable of enhancing yields and water efficiencies.
According to the USDA, wheat was cultivated globally on 220 million hectares, producing approximately 764.4 million tons of grain. With the overall food demand expected to double by 2050, the focus on effective crop management practices is more pertinent than ever.
During their study, the researchers evaluated irrigation at different cumulative pan evaporation levels, including 40 mm (IR1) and 100 mm (IR4), applying combinations of herbicides to manage weed density effectively and maximize wheat yield. The herbicide sequences tested were Pendimethalin used pre-emergence alongside combinations containing clodinafop-propargyl, metribuzin, and sulfosulfuron.
Results showed significant differences between the treatments. Notably, irrigation at 40 mm IR1, combined with herbicides proved to be highly effective, providing the best outcomes for both crop yields and economic returns. These findings align with broader agricultural understandings of how water management critically influences productivity.
The findings underscored the importance of managing both weeds and water resources together, as weedy conditions drastically reduced yields. The traditional weedy check plots presented the highest weed density and dry weight, emphasizing the imperative for effective weed control strategies.
Weed management tactics were observed to play as significant of a role as irrigation practices. The research revealed the Pendimethalin herbicide sequence yielded the highest weed control efficiency, showcasing its potential to alleviate competitive pressure on wheat plants.
Further analysis showed irrigation at 40 mm resulted not only in the highest wheat grain yield but also the best economic performance among the irrigation schemes tested. The study indicated the combination of high-yielding practices with strategic irrigation could create more resilient agricultural practices capable of ensuring food security.
For sustainable agriculture practices to thrive, the researchers recommend exploring additional methods for weed control alongside innovative irrigation management strategies, propelling wheat cultivation to meet the growing demands of the population.
This promising research offers pathways for future practices aiming at increasing wheat output, ensuring effective water use, and enhancing profitability for farmers, all of which are imperative to address the contemporary challenges of food production amid environmental changes.