Optimizing dry and wet tillage for rice on a Gangetic alluvial soil: Effect on soil characteristics, water use efficiency and productivity of the rice-wheat system

► A 3-year field experiment established the significance of optimizing pre-puddling tillage and puddling in rice-wheat system in the IGP. ► 2 pre-puddling + 2 puddling in sandy loam soil proved optimum with respect to yield, specific energy requirements and economic returns. ► Excessive puddling reduced wheat root mass and yield. ► Optimum tillage helped retention of greater nitrate-N in top soil, and decreased its leaching beyond root zone.