Impact of Foliar Application of Boron on Productivity of Different Varieties of Triticum aestivum L

Abstract

Wheat is a common staple crop in Pakistan and it is also a major component of most people's daily diets. Pakistan is ranked eighth in the world for wheat production. The fifth major factor affecting crop yields is a lack of micronutrient availability. A field experiment was carried to determine the impact of foliar application of boron on the productivity of different varieties of wheat at Agronomic Research Farm, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during Rabi season in 2020-21. The crop was sown by hand drill in plots with a net size of 6.5 m × 1.8 m. The experiment was comprised of 12 treatments in randomized complete block factorial design with two factors i.e. V1: Ghazi 2019, V2: Akbar 2019, V3: Anaj 2017, and four boron levels i.e. B0: 0g ha-1, B1: 50g ha-1, B2: 60g ha-1 and B3: 70g ha-1. The source of boron was boric acid which contains 5% B. Significantly the plant height (7.46%), productive tillers (6.01%), spike length (24.18%), number of spikelets per spike (35.53%), number of grains per spike (42.32%), 1000-grain weight (19.44%), grain yield (22.15%), biological yield (24.33%), harvest index (3.63%) increased as compared to control in wheat variety Akbar 2019 where 70 g ha-1 boron was applied at booting, flowering and milking stages. Recommended from observations that 70g ha-1 boron at the booting, flowering and milking stages is helpful for achieving a higher economic yield of wheat.