Effect of irrigation scheduling and mulches on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Central Punjab

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during Rabi season of 2017 at Experimental Farm of Department of Agriculture, Mata Gujri College, Shri Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab to study the effect of irrigation scheduling and mulching on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Central Punjab. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with eight treatments viz. T2 - mulch paddy (5 t/ha) + irrigation (at CRI stage), T3 - mulch wheat (5 t/ha) + irrigation (at CRI stage), T4 - stubble sugarcane (2 t/ha) + irrigation (at CRI stage), T5 - mulch wheat (5 t/ha) + irrigation (at CRI, MT & F stage), T6 - mulch wheat (5 t/ha) + irrigation (at CRI & MT stage), T7 - mulch paddy (5 t/ha) + irrigation (at CRI & MT stage), T8 - irrigation (at CRI, MT, J & M stage) were compared with T1- control treatment. The treatments were replicated thrice. On the basis of result summarized the maximum growth parameters viz. Plant height (cm), number of tillers in running meter, leaf area index and dry matter accumulation (g/m) were maximum with the application of T5 - mulch wheat (5 t/ha) + irrigation (at CRI, MT & F stage) followed by T8 - irrigation (at CRI, MT, J & M stage) and T7 - mulch paddy (5 t/ha) + irrigation (at CRI & MT stage) at 60, 90 DAS and at harvest stage. Best results in terms of yield attributes and yield with the application of T5 - mulch wheat (5 t/ha) + irrigation (at CRI, MT & F stage) which was at par with T8 - irrigation (at CRI, MT, J & M stage). Application of T5 - mulch wheat (5 t/ha) + irrigation (at CRI, MT & F stage) gave the maximum net return of Rs. 86320.23 ha and maximum benefit: cost ratio is 1.75.