Wheat yield maximization through nutrient management and use of growth retardants

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2016-17 at research farm of Wheat and Barley Section, Chaudhary Charan Singh, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. The soil of experimental field was sandy loam in texture, slightly alkaline in reaction (8.2), low in available nitrogen (180 kg/ha), medium in available P (14kg/ha) and high in available K (375 kg/ha). The experiment consisted of four nutrient levels (control, RDF, 125% RDN and RDF+ 15 t ha-1 FYM) in main plot and four sprays (water, Cycocel @ 0.2 %, Folicur @ 0.1 %, and Cycocel @ 0.2 %+ Folicur @ 0.1 %) in sub plot in split plot design with three replications. Application of RDF+ 15 t ha-1 FYM significantly improved yields and harvest index as compared to control and RDF. However, it was at par with 125% RDN in all the parameters. Foliar application of growth retardants at first node and flag leaf stages responded favourably to wheat crop. Among the sprays, Cycocel + Folicur resulted in significantly higher grain yield and harvest index. Whereas, Folicur was found superior in respect of dry matter accumulation and resulted in higher straw yield and biological yield.