Abstract
Climate and weather conditions greatly affect the performance of new wheat cultivars for yield and resource use efficiency. In order to know the effect of irrigation schedules based on growth stage (the most vital criterion in the region) on growth, yield and radiation use efficiency of wheat cultivars in Faisalabad conditions, a study was planned at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during 2009-2010. Split plot design with irrigation levels in main plots and cultivars in sub-plots was implied. Irrigation levels were: IT = irrigation at tillering stage, ITS = irrigation at tillering and stem elongation stage, ISB = irrigation at stem elongation and booting stage and ITSBG = irrigation at tillering, stem elongation, booting and grain filling stage. Cultivars selected were: Faisalabad-2008, Lasani-2008, Miraj-2008, Shafaq-2006 and Chakwal-97. Irrigation treatment ITSBG gave higher grain yield (4.23 t·ha-1) followed by ISB (3.60 t·ha-1), however ITSBG was statistically similar to ISB in radiation use efficiency (RUE) for grain yield (RUEGY). Similarly the two treatments were statistically at par in maximum leaf area index, total dry matter (TDM) accumulation, cumulative photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and RUETDM. Hence where less numbers of irrigations are available, irrigation at stem elongation and booting stage is suitable for achieving economic yield. Lasani-2008 produced maximum grain yield (4.37 t·ha-1) compared to other cultivars but it was statistically at par with Shafaq-2006 in plant height, TDM production and RUETDM. Depending on the availability, the two cultivars may be chosen under irrigated conditions of Faisalabad.
Highlights
In spite of higher yield potential, average grain yield of wheat in Pakistan is much less than most countries of the world
In order to know the effect of irrigation schedules based on growth stage on growth, yield and radiation use efficiency of wheat cultivars in Faisalabad conditions, a study was planned at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during 2009-2010
Irrigation treatment ITSBG gave higher grain yield (4.23 t·ha−1) followed by ISB (3.60 t·ha−1), ITSBG was statistically similar to ISB in radiation use efficiency (RUE) for grain yield (RUEGY)
Summary
In spite of higher yield potential, average grain yield of wheat in Pakistan is much less than most countries of the world. Conditions greatly affect the performance of new wheat cultivars both for yield and resource use efficiency [2]. The span of dry period cannot be forecast under arid and semi-arid conditions which mostly prevail in Pakistan and satisfactory grain yields are dependent upon the crop cultivar for its ability to tolerate water stress [3]. Measurements of after-anthesis radiation use efficiency (RUE) showed that it was reduced in all cultivars, and confirmed that during grain filling period the sink size may exert a great effect on post-anthesis RUE through reducing the leaf photosynthetic rates [18]. This paper examines the effect of different irrigation schedules based on growth stage (the most vital criterion in the region) on the growth, yield and radiation use efficiency of different wheat varieties under semiarid conditions of Faisalabad
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