Grain yield and meteorological indices of wheat as influenced by application of various organic nutrient sources under Akola condition

Abstract

A field investigation was conducted at agronomy farm, Dr. P.D.K.V, Akola during rabi season of 2016. The soil of experimental plot was clayey in texture, medium in organic carbon, moderate in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and high in potassium. The wheat crop was sown on 22nd November 2016 and harvested in 13th Mar, 2017. Overall the weather during growing season was faverable. Experiment was laid out in Randomised Block Design (RBD) with ten (10) treatments replicated thrice. The gross and net plot sizes were 5.4 m x 7.0 m and 4.68 m x 6.16 m, respectively. Treatments include control (T1), Compost @ 8.5 t ha-1 (T2), Soil application of Azotobacter and PSB @ 10.0 kg ha-1 (T3), Liquid Organic NPK three foliar sprays (T4), Liquid Organic K foliar spray (T5), Compost + Soil application of Azotobacter and PSB + Three foliar sprays of liquid organic NPK (T6), compost + Three foliar sprays of liquid organic NPK + One foliar spray of liquid organic potash (T7), Soil application of Azotobacter and PSB + Three foliar sprays of liquid organic NPK + One foliar spray of liquid organic potash (T8), Compost + Soil application of Azotobacter and PSB + Three foliar sprays of liquid organic NPK + One foliar spray of liquid organic potash (T9), Compost + Soil application of Azotobacter and PSB (T10). Result indicated that grain and straw yield was significantly influenced by treatments applied with compost + soil application of Azotobacter and PSB + 3 foliar sprays of liquid orgaic NPK + one foliar spray of liquid organic potash. The harvest index of wheat (42.87) was recorded higher with application compost + soil application of Azotobacter and PSB + Three foliar sprays of liquid organic NPK and one foliar spray of liquid organic potash. Growing degree days (GDD) calculated from the data revealed that significantly higher GDD were recorded by treatment with application of compost + soil application of Azotobacter and PSB + Three foliar sprays of liquid organic NPK + one foliar spray of liquid organic potash. Similarly heliothermal unit found non-significant during the study. But heat unit use efficiency of grain yield and total biomass was significantly higher with application of compost + soil application of Azotobacter and PSB + Three foliar sprays of liquid organic NPK + One foliar spray of liquid organic potash.