Artificial Intelligence–Driven Assessment of Conservation Agriculture Practices on Crop Water Productivity, Grain Quality and Soil Health of Wheat in Typic Ustochrept Soils of Western U. P.

Abstract:

A decade-long field investigation (2015–2025) was conducted across 80 farmers’ fields in Meerut, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Bulandshahr, and Muzaffarnagar districts of western Uttar Pradesh to evaluate the impact of conservation agriculture (CA) practices on crop productivity, water use efficiency, soil health, grain quality, and environmental sustainability in wheat grown on ustochrept soils. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with five treatments: conventional tillage (T₁), zero tillage without residue (T₂), zero tillage with residue retention (T₃), and furrow irrigated raised beds without residue (T₄), and furrow irrigated raised beds with residue retention (T₅).

Results revealed a consistent improvement in crop productivity and resource-use efficiency under conservation practices. Grain yield increased from 4.45–4.85 t ha⁻¹ in 2015 to 4.58–5.72 t ha⁻¹ in 2025, with the highest yield recorded under T₅. Water productivity improved significantly from 1.20 to 2.15 kg m⁻³, while irrigation water use decreased from 520 mm in conventional practice to 395 mm under T₅, indicating enhanced water-use efficiency.

Soil health parameters showed substantial improvement over time, with soil organic carbon increasing from 0.38–0.48% in 2015 to 0.41–0.68% in 2025. Labile and particulate organic carbon fractions also increased significantly under residue-retained treatments. Microbial biomass carbon rose from 180 to 330 mg kg⁻¹, accompanied by higher enzymatic activities, reflecting improved biological functioning of soil. Bulk density decreased from 1.58 to 1.38 Mg m⁻³, while infiltration rate increased from 1.5 to 3.6 cm hr⁻¹, indicating better soil structure and porosity.

Grain quality parameters such as protein content improved from 11.2% to 13.8%, and nutrient uptake increased significantly, with nitrogen uptake reaching up to 140 kg ha⁻¹ under conservation treatments. Economic returns were also higher, with net returns increasing up to Rs. 99,000 ha⁻¹ and benefit-cost ratio reaching 2.94 under T₅.

Energy use efficiency increased from 5.0 to 8.03, while carbon footprint decreased from 750 to 480 kg CO₂-eq t⁻¹ grain, demonstrating environmental sustainability. Artificial intelligence models showed improved prediction accuracy with R² up to 0.95. However, conservation agriculture practices, particularly residue retention with raised bed planting, significantly enhanced productivity, profitability, soil health, and climate resilience of wheat systems.