Enhancement of yield and economic returns of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L) through Frontline demonstrations in Kota district of Rajasthan

Wheat is a major rabi crop in Kota district of Rajasthan covering more than 50 per cent sown acreage. To demonstrate the existing production potential of improved variety Raj-4079 and technologies, frontline demonstrations were conducted on wheat crop by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kota during rabi 2016-17 to 2019-20 on 150 farmer fields. Major interventions under demonstration consisted of improved variety Raj-4079, seed treatment with carbendazim50 WP @2.0 g/kg-1seed & inoculation of Azotobacter & PSB culture, optimum seed rate 100-120 kg ha-1, recommended doses of NP (120-40 kg ha-1) with proper scheduling, soil application of zinc sulphate @ 25 kg ha-1 and need based weed management. Study of four years data reveled that demonstrated technologies recorded mean grain yield of 50.55q ha-1 which represents 12.20 per cent yield enhancement over local check (45.06 q ha-1). Economic analysis confirmed the feasibility of the demonstrated techniques. Mean additional cost of improved technologies recorded to be Rs.1098 ha-1 which in turn, provided average addition returns of Rs. 8315 ha-1. Improved techniques on pooled basis, fetched net returns of Rs.61170 ha-1 with B:C ratio of 3.09, higher in comparison to local practice (Rs.52856 ha-1, B:C ratio 2.87). Analysis of yield gap shows average extension gap of 5.50 q ha-1 which clearly emphasizes the need for bridging existing extension gap through transferring the improved technologies. Values of technology gap ranged from 11.07 to 15.40 q ha-1, with a four years mean of 13.20q ha-1while technology index in the present study varied between 17.66 to 24.72 per cent.