Performance of Front Line Demonstration on Zero Tillage Wheat Sowing in Ambala District of Haryana, India

Krishi Vigyan Kendra conducted frontline demonstrations (30 Nos.) on sowing of wheat by zero tillage method at farmers’ field (12 hectare) during years 2015-17 in Ambala. The data on productivity, economics and water saving in demonstrated plots were calculated and compared with the corresponding farmer’s practice. It was observed that yield of demonstrated plots was 11.60 per cent higher than farmer’s practices. The extension gap, technology gap and technology index were 5.42 q/ha, 2.92 q/ha and 5.30 per cent respectively. Due to reduced cost of cultivation and higher crop yield, the gross and net return was also higher in zero tillage as compared to the farmer’s practice. The BCR was 3.31, 3.35 and 3.74 in zero tillage, which was higher than in farmer’s practice 2.59, 2.59 and 2.83 respectively. The depth of irrigation was also less, i.e. 33.03 ha-cm and 41.04 ha-cm respectively in zero tillage and farmer practice. Higher yield and returns due to reduced cost of cultivation and water saving in the FLDs over the farmer’s practice created greater awareness and motivated the other farmers to adopt this latest wheat sowing technology.