Performance of wheat varieties under different irrigation condition

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during winter seasons of 2011-12 and 2012-13 to assess the performance of different wheat varieties under limited irrigation condition. The experimental work was conducted in split-plot design with three replications. Three different levels of irrigation based on crop growth stages viz., four irrigations at CRI, maximum tillering, heading and milking stage (I1), three irrigations at CRI, heading and milking stage (I2), two irrigation at CRI and heading stage (I3), were randomly allotted to main-plots, while ten wheat varieties viz NW2036, HD2733, HD2888, K9107, HUW468, HUW234, K0307, NW1066, BG2 and BG3 were allocated randomly to sub-plots. Four irrigations being similar to three irrigations recorded 12.29 and 15.98 percent higher total and effective tillers compared to minimum recorded under two irrigations i.e.309 and 294/m2 respectively. However, three irrigations being similar to four irrigations recorded higher net return and B:C ratio to the extent of 15.48 and 12.37 percent compared to minimum recorded under two irrigations i.e. 44959 and 1.86 respectively. Among varieties, K9107 being similar to K0307 recorded significantly higher grain and straw yield as well as B:C ratio to the tune of 34.37, 29.40 and 52.90 percent respectively, compared to minimum recorded by NW2036 i.e. 3878, 5817 kg/ha and 1.72.