Effect of heat stress on growth, seed yield and its management through chemical sprays in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2017-18. On silty clay loam soil at MPKV, Rahuri (MS), to study the effect of heat stress on seed quality and its management through different chemical sprays in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with combinations of two sowing dates i.e. S1- 21st Dec. and S2-16th Jan, two varieties of wheat viz., V1-Trimbak (NIAW-301) and V2-Phulesamadhan (NIAW-1994) and seven chemical spray treatments viz., T1- Control, T2-Water spray, T3-Spraying of salicylic acid @50 ppm, T4-Spraying of salicylic acid @ 100 ppm, T5-spraying of potassium chloride @ 3 %, T6-Spraying of ascorbic acid @50 ppm and T7- Spraying of humic acid @ 3 %. From the data it was revealed that the seed yield (43.41 q/ha) of 21st December was significantly higher than the 16th January sowing. Among the varieties, the variety Phule Samadhan recorded significantly higher seed yield (42.65 q/ha) than other variety Trimbak (39.59 q/ha). The seed yield in wheat showed significant effect due to the heat stress mitigating chemical sprays. The highest seed yield (45.35 q/ha) was recorded in spraying with humic acid @ 3 % treatment whereas the lowest was found (35.01 q/ha) in control treatment. The highest seed yield (49.04 q/ha) was recorded in interaction combination of variety Phule Samadhan which was sown on 21st December and spraying with humic acid @ 3 % treatment and the lowest seed yield (21.78 q/ ha) was recorded in variety Trimbak which was sown on 16th January in control treatment. On the basis of experiment, it could be concluded that the wheat crop sown on 21st December along with the variety Phule Samadhan and spraying of humic acid @ 3% is recommended for enhancement of growth, seed yield and quality parameters in wheat.