Improvement in productivity and profitability of farmers through soil chiseling practices in wheat in Majha region of Indian Punjab

The present study has explored the integrative influence of soil chiseling practices on wheat yield and farmers’ profitability. The study was carried out in the farmers’ field during 2017-18 and 2018-19 of district Tarn Taran, a Majha region of Indian Punjab. The study involved ploughing of field with chiesler plough by recommended method prior to sowing of wheat crop. The results showed 10.8 and 8.8% increase in wheat yield over farmers’ practice during 2017-18 and 2018-19, respectively. The various growth indices registered a favourable improvement over farmers practice though they were statistically similar. Similarly, the net returns and B:C ratio increased significantly to the tune of 16.7 & 14.4 in 2017-18 and 8.8 & 7.8% in 2018-19, respectively. The magnitude of increase in production and monetary efficiencies over farmers’ practice were to the extent of 10.7 & 16.3 in 2017-18 and 8.9 & 14.2% in 2018-19, respectively. Above presentation revealed that soil chiseling improved the overall crop growth and productivity in comparison to general farmers’ practices not involving the same owing to favourable influence on soil permeability and allow the water to infiltrate in soil, improved aeration, root penetration and nutrient acquisition from deeper layers.