INFLUENCE OF METHODS OF SOWING AND N MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ON YIELD ATTRIBUTES AND YIELD OF WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.)

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1 Agric. Sci. Digest., 33 (4) : , 2013 DOI /j AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE / indianjournals.com INFLUENCE OF METHODS OF SOWING AND N MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ON YIELD ATTRIBUTES AND YIELD OF WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) Mahesh Kumar* Ashok Yadav and Anil Kumar Mehta CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar , India Received: Accepted: ABSTRACT A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of and Among the methods of sowing, Furrow Irrigated Raised Bed System (FIRBS) 3 rows as well as 2 rows recorded significantly higher spikes per meter row length, spikelet spike -1, spike length, grains spike -1 and 1000-grain weight than conventional sowing. Grain yield was recorded significantly lower under conventional sowing as compared FIRBS (2 rows) and FIRBS (3 rows), which were at par among themselves. Compared to broadcast of N, placement of N resulted in significantly higher values of yield and yields attributes (except 1000-grain weight). Among the different times of N applications, grain and straw yield was significantly higher with N application as 1/3 before sowing + 1/3 after I st irrigation + 1/3 at spike emergence as compared to other N application treatments. Key words: Method timing of N application, Sowing methods, Wheat, Yield, Yield attributes. INTRODUCTION Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most extensively grown crops of the world and is the second most important staple food in India after rice. Sowing of wheat on FIRBS (Furrow Irrigated Raised Bed Planting System) is a relatively new technology in India, wherein sowing is accomplished in 2 rows or 3 rows on top of 40 cm wide raised beds. The furrows, 30 cm wide and cm deep or corrugations between the beds are meant for irrigation. There are indications that yields of wheat on bed can be further increased through nitrogen applications and irrigation because of the reduced loss of lodging on beds. The beds allow farmers to tailor nitrogen applications to suit their production goals and satisfy the crops nutrient need (Alam et al., 2007). Fertilizer application assumes greater significance in determining crop productivity and warrants judicious use to maximize its use efficiency. Recovery of added fertilizer nitrogen is only 50 percent or less, although it can be enhanced through modification in timing and placement of added fertilizer. N fertilizer application and frequent N top dressing during wheat-growing season are effective ways of improving wheat yield (Zhu et al., 2005). * Corresponding author s maheshkumarvats@yahoo.co.in Address: Cotton Research Station (CCS HAU), Sirsa , India According to Zhao et al. (2004b), increasing nitrogen fertilizer application rate and number of top dressing during the late stages of wheat growth significantly enhance the yield and quality of wheat. The present investi gati on was carri ed out to study the effectiveness of methods and time of nitrogen application in relation different sowing methods to increase the yield attributes and yield of wheat. MATERIALS AND METHODS A field experiment was conducted during rabi season and at the Agronomy Research Farm of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture, slightly alkaline in reaction, tested low in available N, medium in available P and high in available K. A total of eighteen treatments were tested in split plot design with three replications by allocating method of sowing and N application to the main plots and timings of N application to the sub plots. The treatments comprised of three methods of sowing vi z. conventional system (CS) with flat sowing in lines 20 cm apart, FIRBS with 2 rows per bed and FIRBS with 3 rows per bed; two methods of N application

2 280 AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE DIGEST viz., broadcast and placement of N in between rows and three timings of N application viz., 1/2 before sowing + 1/2 after first irrigation (N1), 1/3 before sowing + 1/3 after first irrigation + 1/3 at spike emergence (N2) and 1/3 after first irrigation + 1/3 at boot stage + 1/3 at anthesis (N3). The field was well prepared with 3-4 ploughings (harrowing and cultivation), followed by planking both under FIRBS as well as conventional sowing. However, under FIRBS, beds were prepared after field preparation, followed by wheat sowing in second pass. Wheat variety PBW 343 was sown on 21 November and 18 November at 5-6 cm seeding depth, using 100 kg seed/ha with the help of bed planter under FIRBS and with zero-till seed-cum-fertilizer drills under conventional tillage during and respectively. The experiment could not be repeated during due to some unavoidable circumstances. Recommended dose of N (150 kg/ ha) as urea was applied as per treatments, whereas P and K were drilled uniformly as basal dose across all the treatment plots as per state recommendation. The crop was harvested on 22 April and 15 April during and , respectively. The data on yield attributes and yield were recorded at harvest. The crop was threshed plot-wise and grain yield thus obtained from net plot was converted into kg/ha. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Method of sowing: FIRBS (3 rows) and FIRBS (2 rows) per bed produced significantly higher number of spikes per meter row length, spikelet per spike and 1000-grain weight as compared to conventional sowing. However, FIRBS (2 rows) and FIRBS (3 rows) were statistically at par (Table-1). This may be attributed to higher dry matter production, translocation and the conversion of photosynthates for productive parts. Similar beneficial effect of bed planting on yield attributes of wheat has been reported by Yadav et al. (2002). Increase in length of spikes with adoption of FIRBS (3 rows) per bed over conventional sowing was reported by the Directorate of Wheat Research (ICAR), Karnal, during 1999 (DWR, 1999b). Spike length was significantly lower under conventional sowing as compared to FIRBS (3 rows) and FIRBS (2 rows); however, FIRBS (3 rows) had significantly higher spike length as compared to FIRBS (2 rows). Grains per spike was significantly higher under FIRBS (3 rows) (10.9% in and 10.0% in ) as compared to conventional sowing, but it was at par with FIRBS (2 rows). However, FIRBS (2 rows) and conventional sowing were statiscally at par in this respect. The grain yield was maximum under FIRBS (3 rows) during both years (5048 kg ha -1 in and 5176 kg ha -1 in ) which was significantly superior over conventional sowing (4446 kg ha -1 and 4646 kg ha -1 during two years, respectively). The increase in grain yield of wheat with FIRBS (3 rows) over conventional sowing was 13.5 and 11.4 per-cent during respective years. Grain yield under FIRBS (3 rows) and FIRBS (2 rows) was statistically at par during both years. The increase in grain yield could be attributed to higher number of spikes, increased number of grains spike - 1, spikelets spike -1, spike length and test weight (Table 1) in FIRBS (3 rows) and FIRBS (2 rows). Higher grain yield with FIRBS (3 rows) and FIRBS (2 rows) of wheat over conventional methods has also been reported by Yadav et al. (2002) and Chauhan (2010). Similar to grain yield of wheat, straw yields were significantly higher under FIRBS as compared to conventional sowing. However, FIRBS (3 rows) was at par with FIRBS (2 rows). This was mainly because of increased plant height, dry matter accumulation and higher number of spike/tillers per meter row length under FIRBS (3 rows) and FIRBS (2 rows) than conventional sowing. These findings corroborated with the results obtained earlier (Yadav et al., 2002 and Jakhar et al., 2006). Method of N application: Placement of N resulted in significant improvement of various yield attributes (Table-1) over broadcast application of N. Compared to N broadcast, the placement of N increased 9.2 and 9.5% spikes/m.r.l., 9.1 and 9.9% spikelet spike -1, 3.4 and 4.1% spike length and 8.5 and 5.9% grains spike -1 during and , respectively. Improvement in yield attributes due to placement of N appears to be on account of vigorous growth as reflected by higher accumulation of dry matter at successive growth stages of wheat. This might be ascribed to the view that there was adequate supply of nutrients and metabolities under placement of N for growth and development of each reproductive structure of the plant. Inadequate

3 Vol. 33, No. 4, TABLE 1: Influenced methods of sowing and N management strategies on yield attributes and yield of wheat

4 282 AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE DIGEST supply of nitrogen under broadcast of N might have resulted into poor initiation of tillers due to depressed growth of lateral bud at early stage of crop and on account of competition between vegetative and generative parts for nutrients and metabolities at later stage. Similar advantages of placement of N have been reported by Hossain and Maniruzzaman (1992) for spikes/m.r.l., Singh and Prasad (1998) for spike length and grains spike -1. Placement of N did not influence 1000-grain weight significantly. Similar results were reported by Kumar (2002). Placement of N significantly improved the grain and straw yield (Table 1) of wheat over broadcast application of N. The increase with placement of N was 8.1% for grain and 7.4% for straw yield over broadcast in Corresponding increase during was 11.1% and 7.2%, respectively. The higher grain yield obtained with placement of N could be ascribed due to its favorable effect on yield attributing characters i.e. spikes/m.r.l., spikelet spike -1, spike length and number of grains per spike (Table-1). Increase in straw yield wheat with placement of N probably resulted through favorable influence of increased availability of nitrogen on vegetative growth in terms of plant height, number of spikes and dry matter accumulation. Corroborative findings have been reported by Tanveer et al. (2001). Time of N application: Spikes per m.r.l. were significantly higher when N applied as 1/3 before sowing + 1/3 after 1 st irrigation + 1/3 at spike emergence (N2) than 1/2 before sowing + 1/2 after 1 st irrigation (N1), and 1/3 after 1 st irrigation + 1/3 at boot stage + 1/3 at anthesis (N3), which were significantly different among themselves. This might be due to poor tilling and in latter case may be due to poor availability of N at the time of sowing and early growth and more losses of N through leaching and volatilization. Similar results have been reported by Deshmukh et al. (1994). Spikelet spike -1 and grains spike -1 were significantly higher with N applied as 1/3 after 1 st irrigation + 1/3 at boot stage + 1/3 at anthesis (N3) as compared to 1/2 before sowing + 1/2 after 1 st irrigation (N1) and it was at par with 1/3 before sowing + 1/3 after 1 st irrigation + 1/3 at spike emergence (N2). Application of N in more than two splits might have enhanced its availability for longer period in the soil and thus enabling the plants to synthesize more photosynthates at later stage which in turn were translocated to produce more number of grains. Similar increase in grains with split application of N was also reported by Singh (1996a). Spike length was significantly higher with N applied as 1/3 before sowing + 1/3 after 1 st irrigation + 1/3 at spike emergence (N2) as compared to 1/2 before sowing + 1/2 after 1 st irrigation (N1). However, it was observed that spike length tended to increase with three splits rather than two equal splits at sowing and after 1 st irrigation. Similar beneficial effect of split application of N was reported by Singh (1996a). Time of N application did not influence 1000-grain weight significantly. These findings are in accordance with Singh et al. (1999), Uppal et al. (2002) who also observed nonsignificant difference in grain weight due to variation in N application. The grain and straw yield of wheat (Table- 1) varied significantly due to time of N application. Grain and straw yield were significantly higher with N applied as 1/3 before sowing + 1/3 after 1 st irrigation + 1/3 at spike emergence (N 2 ) as compared to 1/2 before sowing + 1/2 after 1 st irrigation (N 1 ), and also 1/3 after 1 st irrigation + 1/ 3 at boot stage + 1/3 at anthesis (N 3 ). Application of N as 1/2 before sowing + 1/2 after 1 st irrigation (N 1 ), and also 1/3 after 1 st irrigation + 1/3 at boot stage + 1/3 at anthesis (N 3 ) were statistically at par in this respect. Application of N with 1/3 before sowing + 1/3 after 1 st irrigation + 1/3 at spike emergence (N 2 ) recorded 7.5 and 9.0% higher grain yield over 1/2 before sowing + 1/2 after 1 st irrigation (N 1 ), and 1/3 after 1 st irrigation + 1/3 at boot stage + 1/3 at anthesis (N 3 ) in Corresponding increase were 6.8 and 10.8%, respectively in Application of N as 1/3 before sowing + 1/3 after 1 st irrigation + 1/3 at spike emergence (N 2 ) recorded 9.5 and 11.7% higher straw yield over 1/2 before sowing + 1/2 after 1 st irrigation (N 1 ), and 1/ 3 after 1 st irrigation + 1/3 at boot stage + 1/3 at anthesis (N 3 ) in Corresponding increase were 9.6 and 12.2%, respectively in The increase in grain yield could be attributed to higher number of spikes per m.r.l with N applied as 1/3

5 before sowing + 1/3 after 1 st irrigation + 1/3 at spike emergence (N 2 ). Significant increase in straw yield was mainly because of higher number spikes per m.r.l. and more dry matter accumulation with 1/ 3 N before sowing + 1/3 N after 1 st irrigation + 1/3 Vol. 33, No. 4, N at spike emergence (N 2 ) than 1/2 N before sowing + 1/2 N after 1 st irrigation (N 1 ) or 1/3 N after 1 st irrigation + 1/3 N at boot stage + 1/3 N at anthesis (N 3 ). These findings corroborate the results obtained by Mariona et al. (1992). REFERENCES Alam, M.S., Nesa, M.N., Khan, S.K., Hossian, M.B. and Hoque, A. (2007). Varietial difference on yield and yield contributing characters of wheat under different level of nitrogen and planting methods. Journal of Applied SciencesResearch 3 (11): Chauhan, S.K. (2010). Effect of yield and yield attributes of wheat under saline water, amount of irrigation and methods of sowing. Bhartiya Krishi Anusandhan Patrika 25 (1): Deshmukh, S.C., Rathore, A.S. and Sinha, N.K. (1994). Efficiency of split application of nitrogen and phosphorus in irrigated wheat. Crop Research, Hisar. 8 (3): DWR, (1999b). Progress Report, Resource management. AICWIP, Directorate of Wheat Research, Karnal. Hossain, Altab, M. and Maniruzzaman, A.F.M. (1992). Response of rainfed wheat (Triticum aestivum) to method of sowing and fertilizer placement. Indian J. Agron. 37 (4): Jakhar, P., Singh, J. and Nanwal, R. K. (2006). Growth analysis of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as influenced by planting methods, biofertilizers and nitrogen levels. Haryana J. Agron. 22 (1): Kumar, S. (2002). Studies on nitrogen management in bed planted timely sown wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). M.Sc. Thesis submitted to PAU, Ludhiana. Mariona, M., Rizzo, V. and Bari, V.DI. (1992). Effect of straw in corporation depth and time of nitrogen application on yield of durum wheat in continuous cropping. In Proceeding of Second Congress of European Soc. For Agron. Warwick Univ Aug (Original not seen. Abstr. In field crop abstract, 46 Entry No. 07, 1993). Singh, K. (1996). Nitrogen management effects on yield and quality in durum wheat. M.Sc. Thesis. Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Singh, K., Singh, R.P. and Dhillon, S.S. (1999). Effect of rate and time of nitrogen application on the end use quality of durum wheat. Crop Improv. 26 (2): Singh, V.P. and Prasad, A. (1998). Response of early sown rainfed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to levels and method of nitrogen application in U.P. Hills. Ann. Agric. Res. 19 (3): Tanveer, A., Ahmed, R., Ali, A. and Ayub, M. (2001). Chenopodium album competition with wheat (Triticum aestivum) in respect to nitrogen and grain yield. Indian J. Agric. Res. 35: Uppal, R.S., Singh, R.P. and Singh, J. (2002). Effect of nitrogen levels and time of application on quality of durum wheat. Crop Improv. 29 (1) : Yadav, A., Malik, R. K., Chauhan, B. S., Kumar, V., Banga, R. S., Singh, S., Yadav, J. S., Punia, S. S., Rathee, S. S. and Sayre, K. (2002). Feasibility of raising wheat on furrow irrigated raised beds in South-Western Haryana. International Workshop Proc. Herbicide resistance management and zero tillage in rice-wheat cropping system. pp Zhao, G.C., Z.H.He, Q.Z. Tian, K.M.Li, L.H.Liu, Z.H. Li and W.B. Zhang. (2004b). Effect of application of rate of nitrogen on its utilization in wheat by using 15N tracer technique. Acta Agron. Sin. 30: Zhu, X.K., W.S.Guo and Z.Q. Zhou. (2005). Effects of nitrogen on uptake, grain yield and quality of medium-gluten wheat yang-mai10. Agric. Sci. China 4: