Effect of crop establishment methods on performance of rice (Oryza sativa) cultivars and their effect on succeeding wheat (Triticum aestivum)

A field experiment was conducted during 1999–2000 and 2000–2001 to evaluate the performance of rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars under different crop establishment methods and their effect on succeeding wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) at the Project Directorate for Cropping Systems Research, Modipuram, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Rice grown under unpuddled conditions gave higher systems productivity than rice transplanted after puddling. However, productivity of rice and wheat and system as a whole under unpuddled and transplanted conditions did not differ significantly. Similar trend was observed in basmati rice-equivalent yield (BREY). Net returns were also not influenced significantly by crop establishment methods. Among rice varieties, ‘IET 15339’ gave superior performance followed by wheat variety ‘PBW 226’ in respect of yield and net returns.