07. Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization of improved varieties for enhancing yield and yield components of wheat
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted at New Developmental Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar during rabi 2012-2013 to study the effect of N and P fertilization of improved varieties for enhancing yield and yield components of wheat varieties. Randomized Complete Block (RCB) Design with split plot arrangement having three replications was used. A sub plot size of 12 m2 having ten rows of 4 m length was used. N levels (100, 125 and 150 kg ha-1) and P levels (60, 90 and 120 kg ha-1) were applied to the main plots and wheat varieties (Siran-2010 and Atta-Habib) were assigned to the sub plots and one control having no N and P was maintained in main plot treatment. All of the phosphorus and half of the nitrogen were applied at sowing time. The remaining N was applied at tillering stage. The results of the experiment showed that maximum tillers m-2 (377), spikes m-2 (362), grains spikes-1 (50.67), thousands grains weight (41.16 g), biological yield (10060 kg ha-1), grain yield (3855 kg ha-1) and harvest index (38.7 %) were produced by Siran-2010 while maximum nonproductive tillers m-2 (18) was maintained by Atta-Habib. The plots that received nitrogen at the rate of 62.5 kg ha-1 produced maximum tillers m-2 (383). Maximum spikes m-2 (368), grains spikes-1 (51.44), thousand grains weight (42.16 g), grain yield (4061 kg ha-1) and harvest index (40.9 %) were produced by 125 kg N ha-1 while nitrogen application at the rate of 150 kg ha-1 produced maximum biological yield (10386 kg ha-1). Phosphorus application at the rate of 90 kg ha-1 produced highest number of tillers m-2 (379), spikes m-2 (364), grains spikes-1 (52.44), thousand grains weight (41.21 g), biological yield (10298 kg ha-1), grain yield (3944 kg ha-1) and harvest index (38.8 %). It is concluded that wheat variety Siran-2010 produced higher grain yield when treated with 125 kg N ha-1 and 90 kg P ha-1.
Keywords: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.); Varieties; Nitrogen; Phosphorus; Yield and yield components
