Furrow irrigated raised bed planting and irrigation schedules: Productivity, nutrient uptake and economics of irrigated wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Indo-Gangetic Plains

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2014-15 and 2015-16 at Meerut, Uttar Pradesh., to assess the effects of furrow irrigated raised bed system and irrigation schedules on productivity, nutrient uptake and economics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on sandy loam soil. In this experiment, 3 irrigation schedules in 6 land configuration including 5 bed configurations in furrow irrigated bed planting systems and 1 flat planting with row-to-row distance of 22.5 cm. In furrow irrigated bed planting systems, the crop was planted on the top of beds of 75 cm bed, 2 rows (B75–2); 75 cm bed, 3 rows (B75–3); 90 cm bed, 2 rows (B90–2); 90 cm bed, 3 rows (B90–3) and 90 cm bed, 4 rows (B90–4). The bed configuration 90 cm bed, 4 rows (B90–4) and irrigation schedules 4 cm irrigation at 0.8 IW/CPE registered significantly highest grain yield, straw yield, harvest index, net return, benefit: cost ratio, N, and K uptake. In case P uptake registered significantly highest under 90 cm bed, 3 rows (B90–3) and 4 cm irrigation at 0.8 IW/CPE.