~ 2681 ~ International Journal of Chemical Studies 2020; 8(3): 2681-2687 P-ISSN: 2349–8528 E-ISSN: 2321–4902 www.chemijournal.com IJCS 2020; 8(3): 2681-2687 © 2020 IJCS Received: 05-03-2020 Accepted: 07-04-2020 Anil Kumar Farm Science Centre, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Tarn Taran Sahib, Punjab, India Balwinder Kumar Farm Science Centre, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Tarn Taran Sahib, Punjab, India Navjot S Brar Farm Science Centre, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Tarn Taran Sahib, Punjab, India HK Verma Directorate of Extension Education, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India Corresponding Author: Anil Kumar Farm Science Centre, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Tarn Taran Sahib, Punjab, India Improvement in productivity and profitability of farmers through soil chiseling practices in wheat in Majha region of Indian Punjab Anil Kumar, Balwinder Kumar, Navjot S Brar and HK Verma DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/chemi.2020.v8.i3am.9617 Abstract The present study has explored the integrative influence of soil chiseling practices on wheat yield and farmers’ profitability. The study was carried out in the farmers’ field during 2017-18 and 2018-19 of district Tarn Taran, a Majha region of Indian Punjab. The study involved ploughing of field with chiesler plough by recommended method prior to sowing of wheat crop. The results showed 10.8 and 8.8% increase in wheat yield over farmers’ practice during 2017-18 and 2018-19, respectively. The various growth indices registered a favourable improvement over farmers practice though they were statistically similar. Similarly, the net returns and B:C ratio increased significantly to the tune of 16.7 & 14.4 in 2017- 18 and 8.8 & 7.8% in 2018-19, respectively. The magnitude of increase in production and monetary efficiencies over farmers’ practice were to the extent of 10.7 & 16.3 in 2017-18 and 8.9 & 14.2% in 2018-19, respectively. Above presentation revealed that soil chiseling improved the overall crop growth and productivity in comparison to general farmers’ practices not involving the same owing to favourable influence on soil permeability and allow the water to infiltrate in soil, improved aeration, root penetration and nutrient acquisition from deeper layers. Keywords: Net returns, profitability, production efficiency, soil chiseling and wheat Introduction The soils especially, clayey one forms hardpan just below the topsoil layer (30-45 cm depth) that does not allow the water to pass through it. The crop roots not be able to penetrate and spread down through this hard layer. These hardpans are usually formed due to crystallization of salts, formation of compact and hard molecules that do not provide sufficient space for water or air to pass through. There are several factors that cause the formation of hardpans in sub soil such as vast fluctuations in pH, application of chemicals, improper preparation of soil, non-uniform soil and fertilizers, soil erosion, excessive irrigation, etc. Poor quality water containing high sodium content also cause flocculation/dispersion of soil particles and suspends silt in the soil water solution causing blockage of soil pores, which prevents movement of water into and through the soil, causes run off and fertile topsoil loss via erosion and reduces seed germination. It create obstacle to roots for expanding, severely reduces aeration and infiltration, makes soil non-fertile and acts as a barrier to nutrient acquisition by crop plants. Wheat is one of the most important crops of the Punjab region, but the increasing problem of water stagnation due to hardpans formation in many pockets is decreasing its yield potential. The many farmers of the Majha region including Tarn Taran district are facing the problem of water stagnation after irrigation or heavy rainfall for several days in their fields especially in wheat crop leading to yellowing, stunted crop stand and in turn low yield and income. Further, heavy use of fertilizer in stunted crop without knowing the facts is further reducing the wheat yield and also deteriorating the soil structure and health. In above scenario, loosening of soil by breaking hard layer in sub soil is very much essential to improve water and root penetration as well as aeration for better plant growth and vigour. Mechanical chiseling using chiseler plough to disrupt the compacted layer of soils has been proven as a win-win technology to overcome said problem. Soil chiseling is the practice of loosening the soil, without inverting and with a minimum of mixing of the surface soil, to