Abstract
Studies were initiated on Zero tillage and integration of herbicides for wheat production in a rice-based cropping system of Dera
Ismail Khan, Pakistan. Zero Tillage vs. conventional tillage regimes were assigned to main-plots, while post em. herbicides (BuctrilM, Affinity and weedy check) were kept into sub-plots. For weed density, there were significant differences (P<0.05) for herbicides,
while tillage regimes and their interaction with herbicides were non-significant statistically. The tillage plots showed numerically
lesser weed infestation than no till plots. As far as the interaction is concerned, both the chemical treatments showed lower weed
density as compared to weedy check under either tillage regime. Fleabane exceptionally grew in zero tilled plots. The herbicide
Buctril-M outyielded (P<0.05) Affinity and weedy check, but Affinity was statistically at par with the weedy check. The highest net
benefit (Rs.5965 ha-1
) was achieved under the Zero tilled wheat covered with Buctril-M. The lowest marginal net benefit was attained
in the Affinity + zero tillage. It is thus, recommended that zero tillage may be adopted for lucrative income and sustainability of the
production system with the use of Buctril-M, in the light of our data set. Adoption of such a resource conservation technology has
been a timely intervention to reduce production costs, improve efficiency of natural resource management practices, benefit the
environment, and exploit potential of the rice-based system.
