Effect of split application of nitrogen and herbicide levels on zero till wheat in rice-wheat cropping system

Field experiment was conducted for two years to study the response of zero till wheat succeeding rice to number of splits of recommended level of nitrogen (125 kg/ha) and dose of herbicide (tank mix of 400 g ha⁻¹ clodinafop and 25 g ha⁻¹ metsulfuron). Nitrogen application in two splits N-1 (1/2 basal +1/2 at CRI), in three splits; N-2 (1/3 basal+1/3 at CRI+ 1/3 at jointing stage, N-3 (1/5 N as basal+2/5 at CRI +2/5 at jointing stage), N-4 (1/4 N as basal +1/2 at CRI + ¼ at jointing) and three herbicide levels W-1(full dose of the recommended herbicide), W-2 (2/3^rd W-1), W-3 (un-weeded control) constituted the treatments in factorial randomised block design. Results revealed that application of nitrogen in three split proved better than two splits. Application of third split of nitrogen coincided with the herbicide application (between 55 and 60 days after sowing) which enhanced the herbicide use efficiency. Weed dry matter at harvest was significantly higher with two splits of nitrogen than its application in three splits.