Effect of different irrigation water regimes on water productivity of wheat crop

Abstract

Water is an important and limited resourcefulness in Pakistani agriculture, which is heavily reliant on rainfall, irrigation output, and dam water in the Indus basin. Water scarcity in the nation necessitates the development of innovative irrigation technologies and procedures that will aid in the efficient use of this valuable resource. In addition, to achieve high water usage efficiency, irrigations water management procedure should be follow. The experiment carried out in RCBD with three treatments. T₁=35% soil moisture depletion level, T₂=50% soil moisture depletion level and T₃=65% soil moisture depletion level under basin irrigation method. Experiment Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed a noteworthy distinction (P<0.05) for all growth and yield characteristics due to treatments. Maximum height of plant was (85.23 cm) observed under T₁ as associated to T₂ and T₃. Maximum spike length (12.33cm) observed under T1 as associated to T2 and T3. Maximum grains spike^-1 (65.66) recorded under T₁ as linked to T₂ and T₃. Maximum seed index (50.33) recorded under T₁ as linked to T₂ and T₃. Highest grain yield (1288.3 kg ha^-1) noted under T₁ as linked to T₂ and T₃. Maximum harvest index (44.36%) found under T₁ as compared to T₂ and T₃. Crop water productivity was recorded higher (1.26 kg m^-3) in under T₁ as compared to T₂ and T₃. Water saving was recorded higher (59.00%) under T₃ as compared to T₂ and T₁. Based on the present findings, it was concluded that T₁ (35% soil moisture depletion level) resulted best performance in terms of plant growth such as taller plant height, longer spike length, higher grains spike^-1, higher seed index and grain yield compared to T₂ (50% soil moisture depletion level) and T₁ (35% soil moisture depletion level). Maximum crop water productivity was recorded in basin irrigation method T₁ (35% soil moisture depletion level) as compared to T₂ (50% soil moisture depletion level) and T₃ (65% soil moisture depletion level). Maximum water saving was recorded in basin irrigation method T₃ (65% soil moisture depletion level) as compared to T₂ (50% soil moisture depletion level) and T₁ (35% soil moisture depletion level).

Keywords: Irrigation frequency; Net profit; Wheat; Water productivity; Yield

http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2023.120149