Yield Parameters Of Wheat Research Articles

Exploring the Role of Foliar Application of Aspirin on Growth and Productivity of Wheat under Control and Rainfed Conditions

Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic acid) is an important signal molecule modulating plant responses to stress. Drought significantly decreased the growth rate and impaired the yield of wheat. Acetylsalicylic acid can improve the performance of wheat under both well-watered and drought conditions. Applying salicylic acid at a relatively low concentration positively impacted the physiological, yield, and growth parameters. In order to determine the effect of foliar application of Aspirin levels on growth, yield, and its components of wheat, two experiments, i.e., control and rainfed, were conducted to evaluate the effect of salicylic acid were carried out at glasshouse of Research Area, Department of Agronomy and university research farm Koont of PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi during cropping season 2019-20. Four treatments of Aspirin (Control, 120 mg/L, 180 mg/L, and 240 mg/L) for glasshouse (Control, 20 g/L, 30 g/L, 40 g/L) for rainfed were applied, which are to be known as As0, As1, As2, and As3 for both experiments. Foliar application of Aspirin solution sprayed at growth stage 37 on the Zadoks scale. Results of experiments revealed that for the 180mg/L of Aspirin (As2), improved growth parameters such as plant height, spike length, number of spikelets, and increased the wheat crop yield. In contrast, for the rainfed experiment, the plant height, spike length, number of spikelets, and increased yield were observed by applying 30 g/L (As2) of Aspirin, and the lowest results of these parameters were recorded in control treatment for both control and rainfed experiments. The overall results of this study showed that among the levels of Aspirin, the application of treatment As2 both for control and rainfed experiment, i.e., 180 mg/L for control and 30 g/L for rainfed Aspirin, have positively impacted the growth and yield parameters of wheat and bought improvement in wheat production under plant stress environment.

Effects of simulated hail damage and foliar-applied recovery treatments on growth and grain yield of wheat, field pea, and dry bean crops

Hailstorms can be responsible for significant economic loss to the agricultural sector in Alberta, Canada. Foliar applications of certain fungicides and nutrient blends have been advocated to promote recovery and yield of hail-damaged crops. Proper understanding of different crop and hail-related factors is required for an accurate assessment of hail damage to crops and for evaluations of hail-recovery product claims. This study was undertaken at three locations in Alberta during three growing seasons (2016–2018) to determine the effects of two levels of simulated hail severity at three different crop developmental stages, including the early growth (BBCH 30 for wheat; BBCH 14–16 for pulses), mid-growth (BBCH 39 for wheat; BBCH 60 for pulses), and late growth (BBCH 60 for wheat; BBCH 71 for pulses) stages. Plant growth and yield parameters of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), field pea (Pisum sativum L.), and dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) crops were measured. Simulated hail damage led to reductions in height, biomass, NDVI, grain yield, and kernel weight of all three crops. Average yield decreased by 24% and 35% for wheat, 17% and 35% for dry beans, and 37% and 45% for field peas for light and heavy hail severity, respectively. Hail timing was a critical factor influencing the extent of crop damage, with hail damage during the early growth stage leading to a lesser yield reduction compared with hail damage at the mid-growth and late growth stages. Fungicides and nutrient blends applications did not significantly improve crop recovery, grain yield, or kernel weight for any of the crops in this study.

Response of Sulphur Fertilizer Application to Bread Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i>) Growth and Yield in Kulumsa, Arsi, Ethiopia

A field study was conducted during 2013/14 cropping season with the objectives of to study the response of bread wheat to different rates of sulfur fertilizer, to study the effect of sulphur fertilization on growth and yield of bread wheat and to suggest some recommendations about the optimal rates of sulfur fertilizer application for bread wheat as well as for further sulfur research works. The treatments applied as one factor of six levels of sulphur (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg S ha-1. The treatments were replicated three times in a Randomized Complete Block Design. The experiment was carried out at the Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center on clay textured soil. Data were collected and statistical analysis was done on various characters of the crop. Soil Samples were also taken before and after the implementation of the experiment and chemically analyzed. The analysis of variance for the results of the study revealed among the agronomic and yield parameters of wheat; Number of Seedling, Number of Tillers per Plant, 50% of flowering date, Plant Height, spike length, Number of Spikes, Number of Seeds per spike, Total Above Ground Biomass Yield and Harvest Index were non-significant (p> 0.05) influenced by rate of S whereas Thousand Grains Weight, and grain yield were significantly (p≤0.05) affected by rates of S. Application of 60 kg S/ha increased the grain yield of wheat by 12.64%, 11.39%, 6.44% and 2.52% respectively when compared with the no S application. 60 kg/ha is recommended for vertisol at kulmsa.

Effect of foliar application of fungicides, Neem extract and Butter Milk on yellow rust, plant growth and yield parameters of wheat

Ever dynamic Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici, evolving into new virulences has led to frequent breakdown of resistance in wheat varieties in Punjab. Therefore, timely and need based application of fungicides to manage yellow rust of wheat is very important. Azoxystrobin + difenoconazole 325 SC, azoxystrobin + cyproconazole 280 SC, azoxystrobin + tebuconazole 320 SC, pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole 175 SE, tebuconazole 25 EC each @ 0.1%, captan + hexaconazole 75 WP@ 0.3% and trifloxistrobin + tebuconazole 75 WG @ 0.6% proved highly effective and gave almost complete control of yellow rust and inhibited sporulation in trials conducted during 2016–17 and 2017–18 crop season. An increase of up to 30.2 per cent in thousand grain weight and 40.2 per cent in grain yield was observed with these fungicidal treatments. Improved plant growth attributes like tillering and plant height was also observed along with disease control. The efficacy of neem leaf extract, fermented butter milk and neem leaf extract + fermented butter milk was low as compared to fungicides. However, being indigenous home production, it resulted in highest cost-benefit ratio i.e. 1: 11.86. Maximum thousand grain weight of 45.6g and yield of 57.03q/ha was observed in azoxystrobin+difenoconazole 325 SC, which was 30.2 and 40.3 per cent more than control, respectively.

Effect of Azospirillum zeae and Seed Priming with Zinc, Manganese and Auxin on Growth and Yield Parameters of Wheat, under Dryland Farming

In this study, field experiments with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were conducted consecutively for 2 years. The main objective was to determine (1) effect of seed priming with auxin (IAA), zinc (Zn) or manganese (Mn) on growth and yield parameters of wheat under dry land farming; (2) influence of on-farm priming with Azospirillum under field conditions. In this study, the response of dryland wheat yield to soaking seeds in water, 2 ppm IAA, 0.2% Mn solution and 0.2% aqueous solution of Zn with or without Azospirillum zeae inoculation was investigated under field condition. Total grain yield was significantly enhanced for water primed seeds i.e., 1273 kg ha−1 (6.8%) or seeds primed with IAA, as compared to 1191 kg ha−1 in plants from non-primed seeds. Difference in grain yield between priming with water and 2 ppm IAA was not significant when compared with 1372 kg ha−1 (15%) for seeds primed with 0.2% Mn solution and 1440 kg ha−1 (20%) for seeds primed with 0.2% Zn solution. Grain yield was significantly increased for plants inoculated with Azospirillum, 1411 kg ha−1 (8%) as compared to 1191 t ha−1 for non-Azospirillum-inoculated seeds. Yield parameters, i.e., tiller no. per m−2, grain number per spike, and 1000-grain weight, were all significantly affected by priming treatments and Azospirillum inoculation. Grains with the high nitrogen and phosphorous content were recorded for the treatment where seeds were primed with Zn and inoculated with Azospirillum. In the present study, inoculation of wheat seeds followed by priming is a significant approach to enhance grain yield and grain nutrients (N and P) content.

Sustainable Management with Mycorrhizae and Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria for Enhanced Phosphorus Uptake in Calcareous Soils

Low availability of phosphorus (P) in calcareous soils is a major problem for sustainable improvement in cereals crops yield. A higher amount of calcium in soils precipitates the P, thus making it immobile in soil. Inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) could be helpful in the sustainable management of immobile P in soil. However, their combined use in releasing P from rock phosphate (RP) in alkaline calcareous soils have been little investigated. In this regard, two successive field experiments were conducted to assess the interactive inoculation potential of AMF and PSB strain Bacillus sp. PIS7 with RP on the yield and P uptake of maize (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crops in alkaline calcareous soil. The first field experiment was conducted in a complete randomized block design with 10 treatments and three replications by inoculating maize seeds with AMF and Bacillus sp. PIS7 inoculum alone and in combination with RP. Their performance was compared with single super phosphate (SSP) inorganic fertilizer. Afterward, the residual effects of inoculated AMF and Bacillus sp. PIS7 were investigated on wheat as a subsequent crop. Maize and wheat yield parameters, P uptake, AMF root colonization, and PSB population was measured. The results of both trials indicated the beneficial effects of AMF and Bacillus sp. PIS7 with RP in increasing the plants grain yield and P uptake until the second season after inoculation, as compared to controls. Likewise, maize and wheat roots colonization, PSB population density, and post-harvest soil properties were also improved by the combined inoculation of AMF and Bacillus sp. PIS7 with RP. It is concluded that PSB solubilizes the unavailable forms of P in combination with RP fertilizers in soil, and AMF ultimately transfers it to plants for growth promotion. Moreover, the combined inoculation of AMF and PSB with ground RP had more potential to improve maize-wheat yields and P uptake comparable to those obtained by using expensive phosphatic fertilizers in P deficient calcareous pH soils.

Water and cow urine quenched biochar rate effect on yield and yield parameters of wheat

Biochar application to soil is important for crop production and productivity in Ethiopia mainly where high rainfall is available. This study was conducted in Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine campus during 2019 cropping season to determine the effect of cow urine and water quenched biochar with the biochar application rate on wheat yield and yield components. A wheat pot experiment was sown with two biochar rates (6 t ha-1 and 4 t ha-1 quenched with (cow urine and water). The number of effective tillers, spike length, seeds per spike, above dry biomass and thousand seed weight revealed non-significant differences. However, plant height, yield per pot and harvest index indicated significant variation due to the treatment combination of cow urine quenched, water quenched biochar and biochar rate over the control treatment. Six (6) tones biochar quenched with cow urine showed the maximum result and followed by 4 tones biochar quenched with cow urine. Biochar application has a significant advantage over control treatment.
 Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 10(1): 35-39, June 2020

Weed Dynamics and Yield of Wheat in Long Term Soil Fertility Experiment under Rice-Rice-Wheat Cropping System

Weed dynamics and yield and yield parameters of wheat was studied in long-term soil fertility experiment under rice-rice-wheat system during winter season of 2018-19. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with nine treatments replicated three times. Treatments were applied as: T1- no nutrients added, T2- N added; T3- N and P added; T4- N and K added; T5- N2:P2O5:K2O added at recommended rate for all crops. Similarly, T6- only N added in rice and N2:P2O5:K2O in wheat at recommended rate; T7- half N; T8- half NP of recommended rate for both crops; and T9- farmyard manure @10 t ha-1 for all crops in rotation. The results revealed that the use of Farm Yard Manure @ 10 t ha-1 gave significantly higher yield of 2393 kg ha-1 followed by recommended chemical fertilizer dose of 100:40:30 N:P2O5:K20 kg ha-1 of 2383 kg ha-1. Considerably, lower grain yield was obtained from treatments that did not receive phosphorus. Similarly, application of FYM @10 t ha-1 followed by recommended fertilizer dose recorded higher weed density and dry weed weight with compared to any of N,P2O5 and K2O or all nutrient omitted treatments.

Farklı sulama miktarlarında yetiştirilen buğday bitkisinin su kullanma randımanı ile verimlilik parametreleri arasındaki ilişkiler

Bu çalışmada bitkiye yarayışlı su kapasitesinin %25, %50 ve %100’ündeki sulama koşullarında yetiştirilen buğday bitkisinin su kullanma randımanı (SKR), incelenen büyüme ve verim parametreleri arasındaki ilişkiler araştırılmıştır. Bitkiye uygulanan toplam sulama suyu miktarı 378 mm’den (%100 BYS) 286 mm (%50 BYS) ve 249 mm’ye (%25) düştükçe bitki boyu %14,5 ve %23.0, toplam biyokütle %37,3 ve %56,1, dane verimi %31,5 ve %53,3 oranlarında azalmıştır. Toplam biyokütle ve dane verimi için hesaplanan en yüksek SKR değerleri sırasıyla 1,49 g/L ve 0,67 g/L olarak %100 BYS da bulunurken, aynı parametreler için en düşük SKR değerleri sırasıyla 0,99 g/L ve 0,47 g/L olarak %25 BYS uygulamasında bulunmuştur. Sulama suyu miktarı, SKR ve bitki gelişim parametreleri ile önemli pozitif, transprasyon oranı ve hasat indeksiyle önemli negatif ilişki vermiştir. SKR değerleri bitki boyu, başak boyu, toplam biyokütle, dane verimi ve 1000 dane ağırlığıyla çok önemli pozitif, transprasyon oranı ve hasat indeksi değerleriyle negatif ilişkiler göstermiştir. Sonuç olarak toprak nem düzeyinin bitki gelişimi için önemli bir faktör olduğu ve aynı zamanda toprak nem miktarının azalmasıyla fotosentez oranın düşmesine bağlı olarak SKR, bitki gelişimi ve verim değerlerinin azaldığı belirlenmiştir.

Impact of various irrigation practices on nitrate movement in soil profile and wheat productivity

Nitrate is important for plant nutrition and is considered as an index of soil fertility. Its leaching to underground water not only poses severe threat to environment but also to human health. Amount of water supplemented to crops have significant role in yield and nitrate distribution in soil. An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of different irrigation rates on nitrate movement, soil properties and wheat yield. Experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replicates. Three irrigation levels applied were I1 (0.5 ET0 deficit irrigation), I2 (1.0 ET0; according to farmer’s practice) and I3 (1.5 ET0; over irrigation). Wheat (Sehar-2006) was used as test crop. Irrigation levels had significant effects on most of growth and yield parameters of wheat. Maximum number of leaves per plant, 1000-grain weight and grain yield were observed in second irrigation level. Irrigation rates had significant effect on infiltration rate and soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, and a decrease in value of these parameters was observed in I3 that was mainly due to higher moisture contents. Bulk density and porosity of the soil remained unchanged under various treatment applied.

Use of Plant Water Extracts for Weed Control in Durum Wheat (Triticum turgidum L. Subsp. durum Desf.)

The use of plant water extracts to control weeds is gaining attention in environmentally-friendly agriculture, but the study of the effect that such extracts may exert on the yield of durum wheat is still unexplored. In 2014 and 2016, the herbicidal potential of several plant water extracts was field tested on durum wheat (cv Valbelice). In 2014, extracts obtained from Artemisia arborescens, Rhus coriaria, Lantana camara, Thymus vulgaris, and Euphorbia characias were used, whereas in 2016 only A. arborescens and R. coriaria were tested as “donor” plants. In both years, weed incidence was evaluated, together with the major yield parameters of wheat. None of the treatments (including chemicals) could eradicate weeds from the field. In 2014, dicots were in general prevailing in plots treated with extracts of E. characias, while monocots prevailed after treatments with L. camara and R. coriaria. In 2016, lower weed biomass and diversity level were found, and only Avena and Phalaris were detected at harvest time. Treatment with plant water extracts affected grain yields, but it seems likely that those effects are not due to the diverse incidence of weeds in treated and untreated plots, rather to some direct action exerted by allelopathic substances.

Effect of foliar nutrition of nano-fertilizers and amino acids on growth and yield of wheat.

A field experiment was carried out at the Extension farm in Province 41 of Husseiniya, Babylon Governorate to study the effect of foliar nutrition with some of nano-fertilizers and nano-amino acids on growth and yield of wheat cultivar Adana 99. The experiment included 8 treatments of Nano chelated super fertilizer (NCSF), nano-amino acids (AA), nano potassium K (NK),di (NCSF +NAA),(NCSF +NK), (NAA+NK), tri (NCSF +NAA+NK) and spray with water only as control for comparison with three replicates in a simple one-way experience using RCBD design. A number of growth criteria in plant and yield (quality and quantity) parameters were recorded. Results indicated that significant response is obvious due to spraying of NCSF followed by the spraying combined of di (NCSF +NAA),(NCSF +NK) and (NAA+NK) tri (NCSF +NAA+NK), treatments respectively in all growth and yield parameters of wheat with an increment of the spray foliar (NCSF) of 81.66 cm, 11.88 cm, 51.99 spad, 118.57,32.66,26.33 and 69.43 µg g−1 for plant height, length of spike, total chlorophyll, concentration of Fe, Cu,Zn and Mn in grain respectively compared to control treatment. The same treatment had grain yield and protein of 5.836 Mg ha−1 and 809.93 kg h−1 compared to control, harvest index were in the range (from 35.37 to 44.57 %) for control and tricombination spraying respectively. The highest grain yield and agronomic productivity was achieved when foliar nutrition of tri nano mixture of (NCSF +NAA+NK) (7.036 Mg h−1 and 2570kg kg−1).

Herbicides with natural and synthetic biostimulants in spring wheat

ABSTRACT: Although the knowledge on agricultural using of biostimulants increases, there is still little information on their interactions with other chemicals i.e. herbicides. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of popular herbicides (MCPA + dicamba, dicamba + triasulfuron, florasulam+2,4-D) used with and without biostimulants based on seaweed extract (Kelpak) and nitrophenols (Asahi) on weed control efficiency, yield and quality of the crop. Field trial was carried out in the years 2014 and 2015 in the Institute of Plant Protection - National Research Institute in Poznan (Poland). The experiment was established on spring wheat cv.‘Torridon’, in 4 replications, using randomized block design. In the experiment two variants of application were tested. In the first variant preparations (herbicide and biostimulant) were applied as tank mixtures at the crop growth stage BBCH 30 and in the second variant in some combinations herbicide application was followed by biostimulant used alone. Weather conditions had a profound impact on tested preparations activity. Addition of biostimulants to herbicide had not affected weed control efficacy but application of herbicide and biostimulant mixture revealed its influence on yield parameters of wheat. Biostimulants influenced yield quality parameters e.g. by enhancing gluten amount in grains.

Effect of reclaimed water irrigation on yield attributes and chemical composition of wheat (Triticum aestivum), cowpea (Vigna sinensis), and maize (Zea mays) in rotation

Irrigating crops with reclaimed water from sewage treatment plants can contribute to the conservation and augmentation of the water resources in arid regions. Many countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa are suffering from serious water shortages. Three field studies were conducted during the period 2010–2011 to assess yield components and chemical constituents of wheat, cowpea and maize crops grown in rotation with reclaimed water for irrigation in comparison with desalinated and groundwater. The reclaimed water irrigation increased wheat plant height (cm), chlorophyll, leaf area (cm2), leaf length (cm), grain yield (t ha−1) and the water productivity (kg grain m−3). It improved all cowpea growth parameters under study except the dry forage yield. Nitrogen was also higher under reclaimed water irrigation in wheat tissue, cowpea pods and maize cobs. Reclaimed water had no effect on the element concentrations in wheat, cowpea and maize except for nickel concentration in wheat plants, and Sodium and Manganese concentrations in maize plants. Using reclaimed water for irrigation increased the yield parameters of wheat, cowpea and maize. However, all the studied element concentrations in wheat, cowpea and maize were within the normal limits after irrigation by reclaimed water. It can be concluded that reclaimed water usage will have significant positive impacts on yield and water productivity.

Effect of seed bio-priming and N doses under varied soil type on nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) under greenhouse conditions

Abstract This study was aimed to investigate an impact of bio-priming by Trichoderma harzianum BHU51, varied N doses (100%, 75%, 50% and 25% RDN) along with varied soils types (alluvial, red and black) on wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) under greenhouse conditions. Results revealed that significantly enhanced plant height, chlorophyll content, root length, effective tillers growth and yield parameters of wheat with different soil type under greenhouse conditions by the application of various treatments. Significantly higher effective tillers, chlorophyll content and root length were recorded with recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) of NPK @ 120-60-60 kg ha −1 followed by seed bio-priming with T. harzianum +3/4th N and RDF of PK. The seed bio-priming also enhanced the plant growth and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Agronomic use efficiency (AUE) and physiological use efficiency (PUE) were significantly higher with alluvial soil as compared to black and red soils. The principal component analysis revealed that root length and N uptake were the most important property to improve the NUE. The results indicated suitability of Trichoderma harzianum BHU51 as a bio-priming agent in improving NUE and wheat crop productivity.

Grain legume effects on soil nitrogen mineralization potential and wheat productivity in a Mediterranean environment

The objective of this work was to provide evidence on the effects of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) on the dynamics of soil N availability and yield parameters of wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) in a legume–wheat rotation in comparison with the effects of the more extensively studied common vetch (Vicia sativa L.). Soil samples were taken from field plots just before wheat sowing and incubated in the laboratory to assess N mineralization potential, soil respiration and N immobilization after incorporation of legume residues. Soil after vetch cultivation showed the highest residual N and mineralization potential (120 mg N kg−1 soil), the greatest CO2 release and the smallest N immobilization. Smaller mineral N release (80 mg N kg−1 soil) was shown by soil after faba bean cultivation, which, however, would be capable to support an average wheat production without fertilization. Soil after chickpea and wheat cultivation manifested no differences in residual N and mineralization or immobilization potential. Laboratory results were well correlated with grain yield and N uptake during the second season of rotation in the field. All legumes resulted in significant yield surpluses and provided N credit to the following unfertilized wheat.

Mitigation of salinity-induced negative impact on the growth and yield of wheat by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria in naturally saline conditions

Salinity is one of the major environmental threats for successful crop production, hampering plant growth due to the osmotic effect and nutritional and hormonal imbalances. The application of naturally occurring plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is an emerging technology aimed at ameliorating the negative impact of salinity. However, the results obtained in the laboratory can sometimes not be reproduced in the field. The aim of the study reported here was to evaluate the effect of PGPR inoculation on seed germination in a saline environment under axenic conditions and on enhancement of the growth and yield of wheat under natural salt-affected field conditions. Wheat seeds were inoculated with pre-isolated strains of Pseudomonas putida, Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia ficaria, and Pseudomonas fluorescens and sown at different salinity levels (1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 dS m-1). Inoculation with these strains was found to enhance the germination percentage, germination rate, and index of wheat seeds up to 43, 51, and 123 %, respectively, over the uninoculated control at the highest salinity level. The potential of these PGPR for improving the growth and yield of wheat was also evaluated at two natural salt-affected sites. Inoculation with PGPR resulted a significant increase in the growth and yield parameters of wheat at both sites. The inoculated plants also improved the nutrient status of the wheat plants. The inoculated plants had low sodium and high nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents. Our results show that such rhizobacterial strains may be used as an effective tool for enhancing plant growth under salinity stress and for maximizing the utilization of salt-affected soils.

Nutritional and Physiological Response of Wheat to Soil Applied Matrix-I Formulated Calcium Carbide with and Without Nitrogen Fertilizer

Calcium carbide is well known as a nitrification inhibitor and its role as a source of ethylene (C2H4), a potent plant growth regulator, is not thoroughly investigated. A pot trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of formulated calcium carbide with different doses of nitrogen fertilizer on nitrogen use efficiency, growth and yield of wheat. At the 1st step calcium carbide was formulated with polyethylene and plaster of paris and named as Matrix-I (21% calcium carbide, 58% polyethylene and 21% plaster of paris). Wheat cv. Inqulab-91 seeds were sown in pots and 5 plants were maintained. Calcium carbide was applied @ 0, 7.5, 15 and 22.5 mg/kg pot soil with 0, 30 and 60 mg N/kg soil. It was noted that nitrogen fertilizer application significantly enhanced almost all growth and yield parameters of wheat. It was also observed that matrix-I not only improved growth and yield parameters of wheat except plant height, which was reduced by CaC2 application, but also enhanced N uptake by different plant parts of wheat, when applied @ 15 mg CaC2 kg soil at 8 cm soil depth. It was further noted that matrix-I better improved N use efficiency when applied -1 with half recommended dose of N fertilizer than that of with full recommended N fertilizer rate.

Effect of rate and application depth matrix-I calcium carbide based formulation on growth, yield and nitrogen uptake of wheat

Calcium carbide (CaC2) is a source of acetylene gas which is a well known nitrification inhibitor and converts into ethylene in the soil environment. Ethylene is a potent plant growth regulator and influences a number of biological processes from root growth to leaf senescence. A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of a calcium carbide based formulation, Matrix-I (21% calcium carbide, 58% polyethylene and 21% plaster of paris), applied at 0, 7.5, 15 and 22.5 mg CaC2 kg-1 soil at 0, 4, 8 and 12 cm soil depth, on growth, yield and nitrogen uptake of wheat. Increasing the rate and application depth of Matrix-I, decreased wheat plant height and increased the number of tillers, biological yield, grain yield, 1,000-grains weight and nitrogen uptake by wheat grain and straw. However, when calcium carbide at 22.5 mg kg-1 soil was applied at greater soil depths, it inversely affected the economical yield of wheat. Comparatively maximum increase in yield parameters of wheat was observed when formulated calcium carbide was buried at 15 mg kg-1 soil at 8 cm soil depth. Key words: Wheat, calcium carbide, growth, nitrogen uptake.

The effect of fungicide treatment on mycotoxin content and yield parameters of wheat

Effects of treatment with triazole fungicide were evaluated on 14 wheat genotypes with respect to mycotoxin (aflatoxins, ochratoxin A and deoxynivalenol), yield, 1000 kernel weight and hectoliter weight. Mycopopulation of seed samples was also determined. According to the results, fungicide treatment can reduce the level of mycotoxins in seed samples in order to improve the quality parameters and reduce the level of fungal contamination.