66. Yield response of wheat cultivars to zinc application rates and methods
Abstract
To examine the effects of zinc and its application methods on yield and yield components of wheat varieties, a field experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement at the University of Agriculture, Peshawar during Rabi season 2013-14. There were 3 wheat varieties (Atta Habib, Siran-2010 and Janbaz) which were assigned to main plots. Four zinc levels (0, 3.5, 7.00 and 10.50 kg ha-1) and 3 application methods (Broad cast, side dressing and application with seed) which were allotted to sub plots making a total of 36 treatments per replication. The results revealed significantly higher number of days to anthesis (130), grain filling duration (31 days) and number of days to maturity (160) from variety Atta Habib while, maximum grains spike-1 (49), thousand grain weight (43.36 g), grain yield (3911kg ha-1), biological yield (9173 kg ha-1) and harvest index (42.14 %) were recorded for Siran-2010. Application of zinc (10.50 kg ha-1) produced maximum plant height (101 cm), grains spike-1 (58), thousand grain weight (51.26 g) grain yield (4256 kg ha-1), biological yield (10521 kg ha-1) and harvest index (46.45 %). Similarly, significantly Higher plant height (100 cm), grains spike-1 (48), thousand grain weight (41.11 g), grain yield (3859 kg ha-1), biological yield (9457 kg ha-1) and harvest index (41.72 %) were obtained from side dressing method of zinc application. It may be concluded that Siran-2010 with application of Zn at the rate of (10.50 kg ha-1) as side dressing produced relatively highest yield and yield components in wheat crop under existing agro-climatic conditions.
Keywords: Wheat; Varieties; Zinc; Application methods
