Response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to nitrogen levels and seed rate under different tillage conditions

Abstract

A field experiment entitled “Response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to nitrogen levels and seed rate under different tillage conditions” was conducted on loamy sand soil at Agronomy Farm, College of Agriculture, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner during rabi seasons of 2015-16 and 2016-17. The results of experiment showed that conventional tillage significantly increased the growth attributes viz., yield attributes (effective tillers per meter row length, spike length and grains per spike), grain, straw and biological yields, over zero and minimum tillage. The highest net returns (₹40118 ha-1) with B:C ratio of 2.51 were also obtained in conventional tillage over zero and minimum tillage. Seed rate of 125 kg ha-1 significantly increased the grain, straw and biological yields of wheat, as compared to seed rate of 100 kg ha-1. The highest net returns (₹39902 ha-1) with B:C ratio of 1.60 were also obtained in seed rate of 125 kg ha-1 over seed rate of 100 kg ha-1. Application of 120 kg N ha-1 significantly increased the growth attributes viz., yield attributes (effective tillers per meter row length, spike length and grains per spike), grain, straw and biological yields over 80 and 100 kg N ha-1. The highest net returns (₹41835 ha-1) with B:C ratio of 1.70 were also obtained in 120 kg N ha-1. The combined application of 120 kg N ha-1 in combination with conventional tillage proved as good as 140 kg N ha-1 with conventional tillage in respect of effective tillers per metre row length, number of grains per spike, grain, straw and biological yield.