Effect of levels of nitrogen and seed rate on yield and yield attributes of durum wheat under restricted irrigation in rainfed condition of Bhal Region of Gujarat

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research station, Anand Agricultural University, Dhandhuka, Bhal region of Gujarat under conserved soil moisture condition in the rabi season of 2018-19- to 2020-21 to determine the effect of levels of nitrogen and seed rate on production of durum wheat with the objective of to find out suitable nitrogen level and seed rate of durum wheat (GADW- 3) for Bhal region of Gujarat under conserved soil moisture condition. Moisture received during the rainy season and conserved as such. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (Factorial) with three replication with twelve (3 levels of seed rate & 4 levels of nitrogen) treatments combination comprising of three treatments of seed rate viz; S1: 90 kg ha, S2: 100 kg ha and S3: 110 kg and four levels of nitrogen viz; N1: 40 kg N/ha (20 kg N basal + 20 kg N at CRI), N2: 40 kg N/ha (8 kg N basal + 16 kg N at CRI + 16 kg N at 45 DAS), N3: 60 kg N/ha (30kg N at basal + 30 kg n at CRI) and N4: 60 kg N/ha (12 kg N at basal + 24 kg N at CRI + 24 kg N at 45 DAS) and apply two restricted irrigation at 21 and 45 days after sowing. Result of three year pooled analysis of experiment recorded significantly higher growth and yield parameters with 90 kg seed rate per hector viz; plant height (cm) at harvest (114.98), tiller conversion index (%) (92.63), ear length (cm) at harvest (10.13), no. of grain per ear (54.84) and test weight (56.33). The same treatment produced significantly higher grain kg per hector (3419) whereas, straw yield was found non-significant but statically higher straw yield kg per hector was reported with S3 treatment (4682). In case of nitrogen levels, 60 kg nitrogen per hector were recorded significantly higher data of plant height (cm) at harvest (116.53), ear length (cm) at harvest (10.51), grain per ear at harvest (56.23), test weight (57.01), tiller conversion index (%) (94.42), grain yield () (3514 kg/ha) & straw yield (4857 kg/ha). As far as economics was concerned, higher net return and BCR were realized with 90 kg seed rate per hector and 60 kg nitrogen per hector under conserved moisture condition with two restricted irrigation.