Comparing System of Wheat Intensification (SWI) with standard recommended practices in the northwestern plain zone of India

The practices of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) methodology have been extended to wheat and various other crops with reported good results. To assess such reports with respect to wheat, an experiment was conducted at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during 2011-2012 and 2012-2013. This experiment compared the performance of wheat under System of Wheat Intensification (SWI) and standard recommended practices (SRPs). In 2011-2012, the SWI yield of 7.93 tha(-1) was 30% higher than for SRP in 2012-2013, climatically a less favorable year, hence SWI performed relatively better with a 46% yield advantage under climate stress. SWI produced 12.5% less in the stressful year, while the reduction for the SRPs ranged from 18% to 31%. Differences in yield attributes and root traits were also observed in favor of SWI. Available N, P, and K in the soil after harvesting was increased with SWI, whereas depletion in nutrients with the SRPs indicated the scope for SWI sustaining soil fertility. Higher yield compensated for higher SWI costs of cultivation. A net return of US$ 1383ha(-1) was obtained with SWI, 35% more than the US$ 1020ha(-1) from SRPs. Overall, SWI outperformed the SRPs in terms of yields, climate resilience, and economics.