EFFECT OF SOWING DATES AND NITROGEN LEVELS ON GROWTH, YIELD ATTRIBUTES AND YIELDS OF WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.) VARIETIES UNDER SEMI-ARID CONDITIONS

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at S.K.N. college of Agriculture, Jobner during rabi seasons of 2015-16 and
2016-17 to evaluate the effect of 2 sowing dates (20 November and 10 December), 3 wheat varieties (Raj-4083,
Raj-3777 and Raj-4037) and 4 levels of nitrogen (control, 40, 80 and 120 kg/ha). The results revealed that growth
parameters, yield attributes and yield were significantly higher under 20 November sowing as compared to 10
December sowing. The decrease in grain yield due to 10 December sowing over 20 November was to the tune
of 18.1 and 14.8% during 2015-16 and 2016-17, respectively. Among the varieties, Raj-4037 was found to
record significantly highest growth, yield attribute, grain (4406 and 4510 kg/ha), straw (5608 and 5742 kg/ha)
and biological yield (10014 and 10253 kg/ha) over Raj-4083 and Raj-3777. With increase in nitrogen level up to
120 kg/ha, there was significantly increases in plant height, total number of tillers/m row, dry matter accumulation/
m row, LAI, LAD, effective tillers/m row, grains/spike, grain (4516 and 4645 kg/ha), straw (5893 and 6054 kg/ha)
and biological yield (10409 and 10699 kg/ha) of wheat over control and 40 kg N/ha which was statistically at par
with 80 kg N/ha during 2015-16 and 2016-17. Thus it was concluded that 20 November sowing with variety Raj-
4037 and application of 80 kg N/ha was recorded significantly higher crop growth, yield attributes and yields of
wheat.