Effect of different level of potassium and zinc on growth, yield attributes and yield of late sown wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under irrigated system

Abstract

The study pertaining to evaluation of different levels of potassium and zinc fertilizers on the growth and yield of wheat was conducted at the research farm of A. S. (P.G.) College, Lakhaoti (Bulandshahr), Uttar Pradesh during the rabi season of 2011-2012. Randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement used to lay out this experiment. The treatments comprised of ningth combinations of three levels each of zinc and potassium. Before sowing the seeds, the following nutrients were homogeneously incorporated into the soil; K1= 0 kg ha-1, K2= 30 kg ha-1 and K3= 60 kg ha-1 and Zn1= 0 kg ha-1, Zn2= 25 kg ha-1 and Zn3= 50 kg ha-1. Data regarding various agronomic traits (plant height, number of fertile tillers per unit area, spike length, number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, biological yield, grain yield and harvest index) of crop were recorded by using standard procedures. Application of potassium fertilizer and zinc significantly improved the growth and yield parameters of wheat. The results revealed that the application of increasing levels of potassium and Zinc upto @ 30 and 60 kg/ha and 25 and 50 kg/ha, respectively significantly increased the growth parameters viz., number of leaves plant-1, dry weight (g) at different growth stages and yield attributing characters like length of ear head, number of grains ear-1, test weight (g), grain and straw yields but harvest index non-significan with as compared to control. Thus, the present studies indicated that the application of 25 kg Zn ha-1 with 30 kg K2O in enhanced the productivity late sown wheat crop.