Abstract

The crop productivity of far western region of Nepal is lower than that of the other regions of Nepal. The existing cultivation practices of this research area are conventional tillage (CT). Zero tillage (ZT) has been found as an effective crop management practice to rejuvenate soil fertility and increase crop yield. This research was conducted at Masuriya, Kailali district, the outreach site of Regional Agriculture Research Station (RARS), Doti, Nepal during October 2017 to March 2018 with the objective of identifying suitable tillage practice for high wheat crop profitability. ZT and CT were used as two treatments in 11 farmers’ fields. Seed-cum-fertilizer drill machine was used in ZT, whereas CT as farmers’ practice and field data as well as farmers’ perceptions were collected for analysis. The results revealed that farmers saved 10% human labour, 41.67% machinery labour and 25% seed amount in ZT compared to CT method. The net return of wheat was NRs. 54, 255.5/ha in ZT and NRs. 39298/ha in CT method of wheat production. The benefit: cost ratio was found 2.38 in ZT compared to 1.83 in CT which is 23.64% more over CT method. Similarly, grain yield was found to be increased by 6.28% in ZT method. Farmers who had adopted ZT method of wheat cultivation were found interested for the continuation of this technology in future too. The ZT technology is an important alternative to save the scare resources and reduce the cost of production and enhance the net farm income with higher benefit: cost ratio.