@article{Erenstein:56092,
      recid = {56092},
      author = {Erenstein, Olaf and Malik, R.K. and Singh, Sher},
      title = {Adoption and Impacts of Zero-Tillage in the Rice-Wheat  Zone of Irrigated Haryana, India},
      address = {2007-12},
      number = {558-2016-38838},
      pages = {81},
      year = {2007},
      abstract = {This study documents the adoption and impacts of  zero-tillage (ZT) wheat in the rice-wheat
systems of  India’s Haryana State primarily drawing on a detailed  empirical survey of 400 rice-wheat farmers.
Our random  stratified sample revealed 34.5% to be ZT wheat adopters  and a quarter of the wheat area in
the surveyed communities  to be under ZT. The study suggests the potential for  further diffusion but also
flags the issue of disadoption  (10%). ZT adopters, non-adopters, and disadopters differ  significantly in terms
of their resource bases, with  adopters typically showing the most favorable values. ZT  drastically reduces
tractor operations in farmers’ ZT wheat  fields from an average of 8 passes to a single pass,  implying a saving
of 6 tractor hours and 36 liters of  diesel per hectare. At 4.4 tons per hectare, ZT achieved  the highest wheat
yields in the survey year, a significant  4.0% yield increase over conventional tillage. The higher  yield and
lower water use resulted in significantly higher  water productivity indicators for ZT wheat. ZT did not  have
any significant spillover effect on the subsequent  rice crop. The combination of a significant “yield  effect”
and “cost-saving effect” makes ZT adoption  worthwhile and is the driving force behind its rapid spread  and
widespread acceptance, providing a much needed boost to  economic returns to wheat cultivation. Based on
these  findings, the study provides a number of recommendations  for research and development in Haryana’s
rice-wheat  systems.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/56092},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.56092},
}