Zero-till wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): A Nepalese perspective

Abstract

Agriculture is the main occupation in Nepal and around 60.4% Nepalese are actively engaged in the agricultural sector. Wheat is the third most important cereal crop after rice and maize in terms of area and production, in Nepal. Currently, less than 2% area of the total wheat cultivation, is under zero-till wheat. Zero tillage (ZT) is a vital component of resource conserving technologies (RCTs) that are implementing to produce crops with lower inputs resulting in higher profit. ZT of wheat after rice generates significant benefits at the farm level, both in terms of significant yield gains (6–10%, particularly due to more timely planting of wheat) and cost savings (5–10%, particularly tillage savings) as compared to conventional tillage (CT). The paper reviews the prospects of ZT wheat technology in Nepal, based on the published information. ZT is the most widely used technology of wheat in Nepal, among other resource conserving technologies. ZT wheat yielded 3.44 t ha⁻¹ whereas CT wheat yielded 3.22 t ha⁻¹. The total cost incurred under ZT wheat is NRs. 39,431 whereas NRs. 48,300 is of CT. The benefit: cost ratio was found 2.38 in ZT compared to 1.81 in CT which was 31.5 % more over the CT method of wheat cultivation. Hence, ZT technology in Nepal is cost-effective technology facilitating 15 days earlier sowing of wheat with higher yield and needs to be promoted on a large scale.