RICE RESIDUE MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE RICE-FALLOW SUNFLOWERPRODUCTION: VALIDATION OF OPTIONS THROUGH FRONT-LINEDEMONSTRATIONS

Abstract

Open-field burning of rice residues is a common practice in rice-growing regions of Telangana, resulting in nutrient losses,
deterioration of soil health and environmental pollution. Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) were conducted during rabi 2024–25 in
farmers’ fields of Siddipet district, Telangana, to validate suitable rice residue management options for improving productivity and
profitability of rice-fallow sunflower. The demonstrations were laid out in a randomized block design with seven replications
(farmers’ fields) and comprised three treatments: T1: residue burning followed by recommended fertilizer dose (farmers’ practice),
T2 : zero tillage with residue retention, and Tƒ : residue incorporation with C:N:P adjustment (30:1:0.3) along with the recommended
fertilizer dose. Conservation-based residue management significantly improved sunflower productivity over residue burning.
Residue incorporation recorded the highest seed yield (1,656 kg ha-¹), followed by zero tillage with residue retention (1,611 kg
ha-¹), compared with residue burning (1,498 kg ha-¹), representing yield increases of 10.55% and 7.54%, respectively. Zero tillage
with residue retention proved to be the most profitable treatment, recording the highest net returns (Rs 77,904 ha-¹) and benefitcost
ratio (2.06),while residue incorporation recorded net returns of Rs 75,916 ha-¹ with a benefit-cost ratio of 1.70. The extension
gap was 114 kg ha-¹ under zero tillage and 158 kg ha-¹ under residue incorporation, indicates considerable scope for enhancing
sunflower productivity through wider adoption of improved residue management practices. The study demonstrates that conservationbased
residue management, particularly zero tillage with residue retention, is a technically feasible, economically viable, and
environmentally sustainable alternative to residue burning for rice-fallow sunflower cultivation in Telangana.