Effect of Tillage Implements and Weed Management Techniques On Nutritive Values of Wheat Grains

Field experiments were conducted on wheat during 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 under rainfed conditions. The statistical significance between treatment means was determined at 5% significance level. Data were recorded on weed density, protein, fat and ash contents of wheat grains. Weed density in shallow tillage was highest (20.67 m−2) while it was lowest (14.23 m−2) in deep tillage. In weed control factor, weed density was highest in weedy check (33.10 m−2), followed by parthenium aqueous extract (21.50 m−2), and lowest (6.79 m−2) in plots treated with Affinity (isoproturon + carfentrazone). Results showed that the highest crude protein content (10.88%) was recorded in deep tillage, while lowest (10.45%) in shallow tillage, indicating that tillage depths have an impact on wheat grains protein content. For weed control factor, the crude protein content was highest (11.98%) in Affinity treated plots, followed by herbicides, Buctril super (bromoxynil + MCPA) (11.44%) and Puma super (fenoxaprop-p-ethyl) (11.12%). Hence, the control measures also affected crude protein content of wheat grains, which is also obvious from the weedy check where wheat grains crude protein content was lowest (9.73%). The two years combined data analysis also showed the highest crude fat content (1.75%) in deep tillage treatments followed by normal tillage (1.67%) and lowest fat content (1.53%) in shallow tillage. For ash content, the highest content (3.03%) was with Affinity herbicide treatments, followed by Buctril super (2.74%) and Puma super (2.48%) herbicides. In conclusion, both the tillage and herbicides indicated positive effects on the nutritive status of wheat grains.