Performance, Phenology and Water relations in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Concerning Moisture and INM Modules

Abstract

A field experiment on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was carried out during two consecutive rabi seasons 2021-22 and 2022-23 at Crop Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.  The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture, low in organic carbon and available nitrogen, but medium in available phosphorus and available potassium having slightly alkaline pH (8.7) with an electrical conductivity of 0.327. The field experiment allocated three moisture regimes in main plots, I1: irrigation at IW/CPE ratio of 0.7, I2: irrigation at IW/CPE ratio of 0.9 and I3: five irrigations at critical stages (CRI, LT, LJ, F and M) and six integrated nutrient management (INM) modules in sub-plots, N1: control, N2: 100 % RDF (150:75:60 kg NPK/ha), N3: 125 % RDF, N4: 50% RDF+PM @ 2.5 t/ha, N5: 50% RDF+PM @ 2.5 t/ha+Azotobacter+PSB+KMB, N6: 50% RDF+PM @ 2.5 t/ha+NPK consortia were tested in split plot design with three replications. On pooled basis of two years experimentation the results showed that, the irrigation applied at critical stages (CRI, LT, LJ, F and M) resulted in significantly (P<0.05) tallest plants, more number of physiologically active leaves/plant at 50% flowering stage, days taken to 50% flowering, days taken to maturity, spike length, grains weight/spike, grain yield (48.7 q/ha), protein content (11.1 %) in grains and crop water use (541.9 mm) over IW/CPE ratio of 0.7. While, the reverse trend was noticed for soil pH and electrical conductivity, being maximum under the IW/CPE ratio of 0.7. Moreover, the highest water productivity was obtained with 0.9 ratio followed by 0.7. In respect of INM modules, the tallest plants, more of days taken to 50% flowering, days taken to maturity and soil pH were noticed with N3 treatment, which was significantly (P<0.05) higher over the rest of the treatments, except plant height, being on par with N2 and N6 and soil pH which did not show any significant variation during both the years. While, the maximum number of physiologically active leaves/plant, grains weight/spike, protein content (11.2%) in grains and electrical conductivity were recorded under N5. However, the physiologically active leaves/plant and grains weight/spike was significantly (P<0.05) superior over control and protein content in grains under N1 and N2. Moreover, the longest spike, grain yield (51.0 q/ha), crop water use (481.0 mm) and water productivity (6.38 kg/ha-mm) were registered with N6, being significantly (P<0.05) superior over the control. Further, this treatment out yielded control and RDF by 23.7 and 6.3 %, respectively.