Effect of Different Varieties and Phosphorus Levels on Growth and Yield of Wheat under Late Sown Condition

Effect of Different Varieties and Phosphorus Levels on Growth and Yield of Wheat under Late Sown Condition

Arpit Singh¹ , Arvind Singh² , A. P. Singh³

¹Department of Agronomy, A N.D.U.A.T, Fiazabad, UP, India

²K.V.K. Sant Kabir Nagar, A.N.D.U.A.T, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, UP, India

³Department of Vegetable Science, A N.D.U.A.T Fiazabad, UP, India

Corresponding Author Email: arpit0619@gmail.com

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.53709/CHE.2021.v02i03.10

Abstract

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INTRODUCTION

Late sown wheat occupies now a sizeable area in Uttar Pradesh either due to late harvesting of proceeding crops or due to excessive moisture in the field as a result of prolonged monsoon rains [1]. In delayed sowing, the crop is forced to mature in short period resulting low yields, therefore, selection of proper varieties and their fertility management can play an important roles in maintaining the productivity. Phosphorus plays a key role in energy transfer and protein metabolism. It is an important structural component of many bio-chemical including nucleic acids. DNA and RNA associated with control of hereditary processes [2]. Phosphorus is basic input to obtain high yield of wheat. It promotes healthy root growth, early maturity of crop and seed development and translocation of photosynthesis from source to sink. Therefore, phosphorus is very important element to enhance the production of wheat. Deficiency of phosphorus may cause premature leaf fall and dead necrotic areas may be developed on leaves or fruits and leaves may turn dark to blue green colour. Phosphorus being an energizer element is considered beneficial for late sown wheat [3]. Late sown wheat occupies now a sizeable area in Uttar Pradesh either due to late harvesting of proceeding crops or due to excessive moisture in field as a result of prolonged monsoon rains. In delayed sowing, the crop is forced to mature in short period resulting low yields, therefore, selection of proper varieties and their fertility management can play an important roles in maintaining the productivity. Phosphorus being an energizer element is considered beneficial for late sown wheat [4]. The present study was to find out the response of wheat varieties to phosphorus application in late sown conditions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An investigation was carried out during the winter (rabi) season of 2019-20 and at Kumarganj, Faizabad. The soil was silt loam with 8.15 pH 0.43 organic carbon, 0.32 EC, available N (146 kg/ha), P (16.5 kg/ha), S (6.40 kg/ha), Zn (0.51 ppm) and medium in K (253.0 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four varieties (HUW-234, NW-2036, HD-2643 and DBW-14) in main plots and four phosphorus levels (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1) in sub plots. The treatments were replicated three times. The crop was sown on 20 December 2020 using a seed rate of 125 kg/ha at a row spacing of 20.0 cm. A common dose of 120 kg N/ha was applied in 3 splits (half basal, one-fourth first and one- fourth at second irrigation). Sulphur was applied through elemental sulphur, phosphorus as di ammonium phosphate and zinc applied through zinc oxide basal placed as per treatments.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Effect of varieties

Growth attributes

In general the growth parameters like plant height, number of shoots, leaf area index and dry matter accumulation (Table 4.1) differed among the varieties. It might be due to their own genetic capability. The results were in close conformity with those of [2]. Variation in plant height among varieties might also be probably due to their genetic characters and similar finding in respect to varieties reported by [6]. The maximum and minimum leaf area index (1.09 and 0.99) at 30, 60 and 90 days after sowing was credited to DBW-14 and HUW-234, respectively. It might be probably due to their genetic characters of varieties. Leaf area index was decreased after 90 days after sowing due to decreasing growth rate and senescence stage which showed drying and shattering of the leaves. Significant dry matter accumulation by plants was because of more number of shoots (m^-2). Healthy shoots due to higher nutrients absorption capacity, more number of spikes bearing shoots due to less mortality resulted higher dry matter production. Minimum dry matter accumulation 100.97 (g m^-2) recorded with variety HUW-234 at 30 days after sowing to harvest stage. However, which reflected due to less number of spikes bearing shoots m^-2 row length result less dry matter production. Similar findings were reported by [5-6].

Yield contributing characters and yield

Yield was the resultant of co-ordinated interplay of yield attributes. Vigorously growing plants are able to absorb larger quantity of mineral nutrients through well developed root system. The variety DBW-14 gave higher number of spikes per meter^-2, grain spike^-1 and test weight except length of spike than other varieties (Table 4.2). It might be due to the genetic character of the variety like more reproductive shoots producing capacity, more spike length etc. Minimum yield contributing characters were credited to HUW-234. It was due to less reproductive shoots, less spike length as well as less number of grain spike^-1. The results were in conformity with those of [7-8]. The highest grain and straw yield was credited to variety DBW-14 followed by variety NW-2036 (Table 4.2). The reason behind this may be because of good plant stand, more number of spike bearing shoots, long spike head and more number of grains spike^-1 with more test weight. Minimum grain yield recorded with variety HUW-234, might be due to less number of spike bearing shoots, small spike head and less number of grains spike^-1 and poor grain development. The results obtained in the present investigation in accordance with those obtained by [9-10].

Effect of phosphorus

Growth attributes

Different doses of phosphorus levels had significant effect on plant height at all the stages of crop growth (Table 4.1). Phosphorus doses profoundly affected the plant height with age of group. Plant height was initially slow due to slow crop growth and thereafter increased rapidly till 90 DAS due to more nutrient absorption from the soil. Significantly tallest plants were measured under 90 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 and at par with 60 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 at all the growth stages. Tallest plants under the treatment was mainly due to rapid growth caused by maintenance of adequate and continuous nutrient supply to the crops which maintained good establishment of the roots and various metabolic process which performed higher nutrient mobilization and uptake which contributed to rapid cell division, cell elongation and thus resulted in higher plant height. The numbers of shoots (m-2) were affected significantly due to various phosphorus levels at all stages of crop growth (Table 4.1). The application of phosphorus consistently increased the number of shoots (m^-2). The maximum number of shoots (m^-2) was recorded under 90 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 being at par with 60 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 and significantly superior over 60 and 30 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1. The increased number of shoots (m^-2) under phosphorus doses might be due to professed and effective root system, better nutrient absorption from soil. On the other hand lowest numbers of shoots (m-2) were obtained with 0 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1, possibly because of poor root system and poor root nutrient absorption from soil. The favourable effect of higher dose of phosphorus on the number of shoots per unit area also observed by [11]. The various doses of phosphorus consistently affected the dry matter accumulation (Table 4.1). The maximum dry matter accumulation was obtained under 90 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 and at par with 60 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 while, it was found significantly superior over 0 and 30 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1. This might be due to increased plant height, number of shoots and increased in nutrient absorption through effective roots system cause efficient utilization of applied phosphorus. All these in turn, resulted for increase in photosynthetic activity of the crop which possibly resulted in higher dry matter accumulation. The lowest dry matter was accumulated under 0 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 at all the growth stages might be due to poor nutrient supply which resulted in reduced absorption from the soil and led to decline in photosynthetic activity which ultimately reflected lowest dry matter accumulation. Beneficial effect of higher doses of phosphorus was also supported by [12-13].

Table 4.1: Effect of different varieties and phosphorus levels on growth attributes of wheat

Yield contributing characters and yield

Growth in vegetative phase and development in reproductive phase determines the yield attributes and yield. All the attributes of yield viz., number of spikes (m^-2), length of spike (cm), number of grains spike^-1 varied significantly due to different phosphorus levels except test weight. Application of 90 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 was maintained highest number of spikes (m^-2); length of spike (cm), number of grains spike^-1, and test weight because of phosphorus levels encouraged the thickness of stand. Concentration of nutrient in soil tends to encourage concentration of root. Proliferation of root in heavy fertilized soil is related to build up of high concentration of nutrients in all that hasten division and elongation. This favours the root branching accompanied by high shoots development, plant height and dry matter production which contributed to higher yield attributes through increased photo synthetic activity of leaves. Besides, translocation of assimilates from source to sink also increased under higher phosphorus which led to better yield attributes. The significantly lower yield attributes, were registered with the application of 0 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 because plants were unable to find more nutrients under this fertilizers dose which resulted in poor growth and yield attributes. These resulted are in close conformity with [14-15]. Varying doses of phosphorus had significant effect on the yield (Table 4.2). The higher grain and straw yield were obtained with the application of 90 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 followed by 60 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1. The magnitude of difference was computed to the tune of 10%. Higher yield was weighed with the higher phosphorus levels might be due to adequate nutrient availability which contributed to increased dry matter accumulation, higher yield attributes and thus led to the higher yield under the treatment. Productivity of a crop is collectively determined by vigour of the vegetative growth and yield attributes. Better, vegetative growth coupled with higher yield attributes resulted in grain and straw yield. Reduced phosphorus dose of 0 kg ha^-1 produced lowest yield due to poor growth, metabolic process and yield attributes. Similar findings were reported by [16-18].

Table 4.2: Effect of different varieties and phosphorus levels on yield attributes and yields of wheat

Conflict of Interest:

The authors declared no conflict of interest.

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