Effect of spacing and varieties on the growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment entitled “Effect of Spacing and Varieties on the Growth and Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)” was carried out during the rabi season of 2024 at the Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj (U.P.). The experimental soil was sandy loam, moderately alkaline (pH 8.0), containing 0.62% organic carbon, with available 225 kg N, 38.2 kg P, and 240.7 kg K per hectare. The study was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) comprising ten treatments replicated three times. Treatments consisted of different combinations of row spacings (20 × 10 cm, 25 × 10 cm, 30 × 10 cm) with three wheat varieties (HD-2967, PBW-343, and PBW-502) along with a recommended fertilizer control (NPK @ 120:80:60 kg/ha). The results indicated that closer spacing of 20 × 10 cm with variety HD-2967 (T1) performed superiorly over other treatments. This combination recorded the maximum plant height (104.37 cm), dry matter accumulation (25.65 g/plant), number of tillers (101.93/m²), spikes/m² (84.94), seeds/plant (285.81), and test weight (41.23 g). It also achieved the highest seed yield (5.89 t/ha), stover yield (9.80 t/ha), and harvest index (38.97%). In terms of economics, T1 resulted in the highest gross return (₹1,62,716.75/ha), net return (₹1,19,568.80/ha), and a favorable B:C ratio of 2.77, demonstrating its profitability. Thus, it may be concluded that the 20 × 10 cm spacing with variety HD-2967 proved most effective for achieving higher yield and economic returns under the agro-climatic conditions of Prayagraj.