Sustainable Food Systems: Researchers Find Viable Option in Maize-Wheat System

Strategic Insights -

A new study published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems has revealed that transitioning to a maize-wheat system (MWS) in conjunction with conservation agriculture can address the challenges of yield stagnation, environmental threats, and resource depletion in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). However, efficient weed management and crop establishment strategies are crucial to sustaining crop and resource productivity of MWS. The study emphasizes the importance of developing weed management options under diverse tillage systems and suggests that a dual-stage herbicidal application of Pyro-MetCarf coupled with elevated-bed + residue (EBRC) enhances wheat productivity by reducing weed infestation substantially.

Key Takeaways:

  • The maize-wheat system (MWS) in conjunction with conservation agriculture has emerged as a viable option to address yield stagnation, environmental threats, and resource depletion in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP).
  • Efficient weed management and crop establishment strategies are critical to sustaining crop and resource productivity of MWS.
  • The study suggests that dual-stage herbicidal application of Pyro-MetCarf coupled with EBRC can enhance wheat productivity by reducing weed infestation substantially.
  • The findings indicate that integrating dual-stage herbicidal application with EBRC offers a scalable and resource-efficient strategy for policymakers and practitioners for the wheat belt of IGP.
  • The study highlights the importance of developing weed management options under diverse tillage systems and found that a combination of herbicides and conservation agriculture practices can improve crop productivity and reduce weed infestation.

Statistics:

  • The study compared three crop establishment methods: elevated-bed + residue (EBRC), double zero-tillage + residue (DZRC), and conventional intensive tillage + residue (ITRI).
  • The results showed that reduced weed population and dry matter accumulation were noted with EBRC, relative to DZRC and ITRI.
  • The growth and productivity of wheat remained higher in EBRC compared to DZRC, but it was at par to ITRI.
  • Among diverse weed management options, dual-stage spray of Pyro-MetCarf substantially reduced the densities of sedges (36.7%), narrow-leaved (64.1%), and broad-leaved (58.9%) weeds.
  • The study found that the dual-stage herbicidal application of Pyro-MetCarf coupled with EBRC enhanced wheat yield (24.6%) over unweeded check (UWC) and other herbicide applications.

Sources:

  • Dual-stage herbicide regimen for tackling weed menace in wheat under multiple crop establishment systems. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 2025, 9. (Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems - https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems#)
  • NewsRx. New Sustainable Food Systems Research Reported from Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) (Dual-stage herbicide regimen for tackling weed menace in wheat under multiple crop establishment ...). Ecology, Environment & Conservation. August 15, 2025; p 652.