Impact of RCTs under Rice-Wheat cropping system in Indo- Gangetic Plains of India: A review

Abstract

The rice and wheat production practices are changing with the influence of several factors like
water availability, labour and climate conditions. Conversion from conventional agriculture to
conservation agriculture may be efficient solution for maximizing grain production and supply
food to growing population.Resource conservation practices (RCTs) such as direct seeding of rice,
zero tillage of wheat, rice residue either as mulch or incorporated into the soil significantly improved
physical, chemical as well as biological properties of soils. As a result, yield and yield attributing
parameters also improved due to better soil conditions created by using RCT's. For improving the
farmers profitability in Indo-Gangetic Plains- a prototype shift is necessary. Based on experiments
on different regions certain practice such as resources conserving practices are proposed to increase
system productivity. Long term assessment of these practices under different climatic conditions
will reflect on efficiency of these practices.In this review, an attempt was made to highlight different
issues in rice-wheat system, which must be considered to develop policy for improving the
productivity and sustainability of this system.