Designing resource efficient integrated crop management modules for direct seeded rice-zero till wheat rotation of north western India: Impacts on system productivity, energy-nutrient-carbon dynamics

Eight integrated crop management (ICM) practices were evaluated for six years consecutively, which are ICM1&2: ‘business-as-usual’ (conventional transplanted rice fb flatbed wheat), ICM3&4: conventional direct seeded (DSR) furrow irrigated raised-bed wheat without residues, ICM5&6: conservation agriculture (CA)-based zero-tilled (ZT) DSR ZT with the and residues ICM7&8: CA-based ZTDSR wheat, mungbean residues. ICM7-8 produced 9.6–16.4% 9.4–9.9% greater system equivalent yield (REY) than ICM1-4 ICM5-6, respectively. Residue-retained ICM5-8 had 23.2% 58.5% N P balance, respectively, residue removed (ICM1-4); subsequently, negative K balance (–53 to –115.5 kg ha−1) was recorded in ICM1-4. consumed ~60-78% of total energy highest output (Eo) (11.5–12.6%)/wheat (7.3–13%) In contrast, a use efficiency (EUE) compared due lesser input (EI) through indirect renewable sources. At soil depth 0.0–0.45 m, contributed 7.9% 20.2% active passive OC pools over Thus, ICM rice-wheat rotation (RWR) could be possible substitute positive nutrient yields carbon dynamics.