Zero Tillage Method of Maize Cultivation in Visakhapatnam District of North Coastal Zone of Andhra Pradesh
Abstract
Maize is a major predominant crop during the Rabi season in the Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. Traditionally, farmers grow maize by ploughing fields after paddy harvest and sowing seeds behind the plough or by dibbling, which leads to loss of residual soil moisture and delayed sowing. To conserve this crucial moisture and enable timely sowing, the zero-tillage practice was introduced by the DAATTC, Visakhapatnam, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture. This method involves sowing maize directly into unploughed fields using a manually operated ‘Peg Marker,’ eliminating the need for tillage. On-Farm Demonstrations (OFDs) were organized across 16 locations in the district during Rabi 2021-22 and Rabi 2022-23. Zero-tillage maize recorded a significant yield advantage, with an average increase of 9.4% (6701 kg/ha vs. 6125 kg/ha in conventional tillage). Economically, the practice was highly beneficial, reducing the cost of cultivation by approximately 11.1% (Rs. 3,500/ha) due to savings on tillage and irrigation. Combined with a 7-10 day earlier harvest that fetched a premium market price (Rs. 14/kg vs. Rs. 12/kg), zero-tillage resulted in a 40.0% higher net income (Rs. 64,401/ha vs. Rs. 42,000/ha) and a superior cost-benefit ratio (3.30 vs. 1.33). The study concludes that zero-tillage maize is a feasible, profitable, and moisture-conserving technology for rice fallows in the region.
Keywords
Download Options
Introduction
Maize (Zea mays L.)is one of the most versatile cereals, with high genetic yield potential and adaptability to diverse agro-climatic conditions. In India, maize occupies an area of 9.4 million hectares with a production of 23.0 million tonnes (Anonymous, 2015). In Andhra Pradesh, it is a crucial Rabi season crop. In the North Coastal Zone, the Rice-Maize cropping sequence is rapidly replacing Rice-Pulses due to the latter'ssusceptibility to weeds, diseases, and low profitability. In Visakhapatnam district, maize is traditionally cultivated after Kharif paddy. Farmers plough the field after rice harvest, leading to rapid evaporation of valuable residual soil moisture. Sowing is subsequently delayed, extending the crop cycle into late April. This exposes the crop to terminal heat stress and hot winds, resulting in reduced grain filling, lower yields (4.5-5 t/ha), and depressed market prices due to late arrival. To address this technological gap, the DAATTC, Visakhapatnam, promoted zero-tillage maize cultivation as a strategy to conserve moisture, ensure timely sowing, and enhance farm profitability.
Objectives: 1. To demonstrate the feasibility and agronomic performance of zero-tillage maize cultivation in Visakhapatnam district through On-Farm Demonstrations (OFDs). 2. To compare the grain yield and yield attributes of zero-tillage maize with the conventional tillage method. 3. To analyze the economics of zero-tillage maize cultivation.
Conclusion
The on-farm demonstrations conclusively prove that zero-tillage maize cultivation using the Peg Marker is a highly viable and profitable technology for the rice fallows of Visakhapatnam district. It successfully conserves residual soil moisture, enabling timely sowing. This leads to better crop establishment, improved yield attributes, and a significant yield advantage of 9.4%. Economically, it is transformative, reducing production costs by 11.1% and boosting net income by 40.0% through a combination of higher yield and premium market prices from early harvest. This practice is a boon for farmers, enhancing both productivity and resource-use efficiency. Extensive promotion of this low-cost, high-impact technology is recommended for sustainable intensification of the Rice-Maize system in the region. CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare no conflict of interest.
