Abstract The field experiment was conducted in Potwar plateau for two years (2004-05 and 2005-06) to monitor the effect of different fallowing practices on soil moisture dynamics, fallow efficiency and wheat yields. At summer start, conventional cultivation (CC), sub-soiling (SS), mouldboard plowing (MP) and minimum tillage (MT) was done in main plots and no mulch and straw mulch @ 4 Mg ha-1 in subplots. During winter the whole plot was under wheat. It was observed that the soil moisture increased significantly after the summer and winter rainfalls and dropped significantly in the periods in between, the highest average VWC being after summer rainfall, during 2004-05 as well as 2005-06. The tillage systems showed non-significant differences for VSW through the six sampling stages, except that MT showed lower VWC at wheat sowing during first year. The mulching though numerically improved the profile moisture, however the differences were non-significant. Fallow storages and fallow efficiencies were equal in CC, SS and MB while MT showed lower during 2004-05 and became equivalent during 2005-06. Wheat dry matter, grain yield and WUE showed little or not differences among tillage treatments. However, mulching improved dry matter and grain yields. The results indicate the possibility of practicing resource conserving reduced tillage systems without jeopardizing the soil and environment than deleterious effects of long-term reckless tillage without sacrificing the grain yields.

Key words: Summer Fallow, Tillage, Mulch, Soil moisture, Wheat, Potwar