Sustainable production of bread wheat using laser land levelling and sowing methods as potent regulators of carbon sequestration, fuel consumption and water use in the arid environment of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Abstract

Excessive use of water in wheat is associated with high fuel consumption and the emission of carbon dioxide into the environment. This study was conducted with the objectives to decrease water use and the associated fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions and to improve the productivity of wheat on a sustainable basis using LASER levelling and sowing methods as potent modulators of these adversities. The experiment was conducted in the research area of the Agronomic Research Station Bahawalpur over 3 years using a split‐plot experimental design and four replications. Treatments contained LASER levelling in the main plot (L0 = no LASER levelling, L1 = LASER levelling) and sowing methods in split plots (S1 = broadcast, S2 = ridge sowing and S3 = drill sowing). Less water use, fuel consumption and emission of carbon dioxide were quantified under ‘LASER levelling’ and under ‘ridge sowing’ compared to other treatments. Regarding wheat crop productivity, the same treatment combination (LASER levelling and ridge sowing) resulted in more fertile tillers, grains per spike, 1000‐grain weight and grain yield. Therefore, we concluded that ‘LASER levelling’ and ‘ridge sowing’ have the potential to reduce the cost involved and environmental pollution (by reducing fuel consumption) and improve water use efficiency, grain yield and yield components of wheat compared to other treatments. Moreover, strong negative associations of water use, fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions with the grain yield of wheat were recorded.