Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

EFFECT OF SOWING METHODS AND NITROGEN MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ON YIELD AND NUTRIENTS UPTAKE OF WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.)

Mahesh Kumar, Ashok Yadav, Parvender Sheoran and Sher Singh

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season at Agronomy Research Farm of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. The experiment comprised three methods of sowing (conventional, FIRBS-2 rows and FIRBS-3 rows) and two methods of N application (broadcast and placement) and three times of N application (½ before sowing + ½ after 1st irrigation, 1/3 before sowing + 1/3 after 1st irrigation + 1/3 at spike emergence and 1/3 after 1st irrigation + 1/3 at boot stage + 1/3 at anthesis). The sowing of wheat on beds with three rows per bed (FIRBS, 3 rows) produced significantly higher grain and straw yields, NPK content and their uptake and better grain quality than conventional sowing. Placement method of N application resulted in significantly higher grain and straw yields as well as nutrients uptake in comparison to broadcast N application. Significantly higher grain and straw yields were obtained with N applied as 1/3 before sowing + 1/3 after 1st irrigation + 1/3 at spike emergence. Increasing the number of splits significantly improved the N content in grain, however, N content in straw and P and K content in both grain and straw though non-significant but statistically improved with extending the timings of N application. Highest N (138.41 kg/ha), P (20.70 kg/ha) and K (167.40 kg/ha) uptake was obtained when the entire dose of nitrogen was applied in 3 splits (1/3rd before sowing + 1/3 rd after first irrigation + 1/3 rd at spike initiation).