Effect of tillage, residue and nitrogen management on radiation interception, radiation use efficiency and evapotranspiration partitioning

In this study, we have evaluated the effect of different tillage (conventional tillage (CT) and no tillage (NT)), residue (with crop residue mulch (R+) and without residue (R0)) and nitrogen (60, 120 and 180 kgN ha(-1)) interaction for radiation interception, radiation use efficiency (RUE), evapotranspiration (ET) partitioning and yield of wheat in a split-split plot design for 2017-18 and 2018-19. Results showed that Leaf Area Index (LAI), Leaf area duration (LAD), Total intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (TIPAR), Grain and Biomass yields were higher in R+ during both the years of study. With increasing N-doses LAI, LAD, TIPAR, RUE, grain and biomass yields increased and extinction coefficient decreased significantly in both the years. Fraction intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (fIPAR) followed a similar trend with LAI. Seasonal ET was partitioned into soil evaporation (Ep) and crop transpiration (Tp) to take into account the productive transpiration effects on crop growth and yield. It was found that NT and residue could reduce Ep (6% and 5.6%) and increased Tp (2.6% and 2.4%) over CT and no mulch treatments, respectively. With higher N-dose, Ep decreased while Tp increased significantly. Thus besides higher nitrogen doses, NT and crop residue mulching could be a better strategy to harness higher radiation interception vis-a-vis higher crop productivity.