Effect of Sowing Methods and Irrigation Levels on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

The field experiment was carried out at agricultural research farm of IFTM University Moradabad (U.P.), India during rabi season 2018-19 to study the effect of sowing methods and irrigation levels on wheat. Sowing method and irrigation being a major constraint to reduces the potential of wheat yield. The treatments were arranged in split plot design in three replications, sowing methods in main plots and irrigation levels in sub-plots. The experiment treatments included two sowing methods, i.e. [S1 – conventional sowing method and S2 - furrow irrigated raised bed (FIRB) system] in main plots and six irrigation levels [I0 – (control), I1 – (one irrigation at CRI stage), I2 – (two irrigation at CRI and tillering stage), I3 – (three irrigations at CRI, tillering and late jointing stage), I4 – (four irrigations at CRI, tillering, late jointing and milking stage) and I5 – (five irrigations at CRI, tillering, late jointing, milking and dough stage). Wheat crop was sown by traditional method and furrow irrigated raised beds (FIRB) method. Raised beds were accommodating 3 rows of wheat at 20 cm wide. Furrows that are in between the beds are used for irrigation. This system permits adequate saving of irrigation water. Results indicated that sowing of wheat on FIRB system surpassed the conventional method of sowing for plant height, number of tillers plant-1, dry weight (g plant-1), number of effective tillers plant-1, spike length, number of grain spike-1, 1000 grain weight, grain yield, straw yield and biological yield followed by conventional sowing method. On the other hand irrigation levels I5 - (five irrigations at CRI, tillering, late jointing, milking and doughing stage) recorded the highest values for most of growth, yield components and yield of wheat. In FIRB system beds gave the opportunity for mechanical weeding and fertilizer placement and also improved the fertilizer and water use efficiencies. The role of sowing methods and level of irrigation in plant health and growth has been investigated in crop and it seemed significantly affecting with treatment.