Production potential and water-use efficiency of wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars under different dates of seeding and irrigation levels

A field experiment was conducted during the winter season of 1995–96 and 1996–97 on sandy-loam soil of Ranchi, to study the production potential and water-use efficiency of wheat (Triticum aestivum L emend. Fiori & Paol.) cultivars under different dates of seeding and irrigation level. Yield, yield attributes and water-use efficiency of ‘HUW 234’ and ‘K 9006’ were significantly higher when crop was sown timely on 21 November. The crop which received 4 irrigations showed maximum grain yield and water-use efficiency. Both the above cultivars did not show any significant difference in for yield and yield-attributing characters, but cultivar ‘HUW 234’ showed higher water-use efficiency (7.54 kg grain/ha-mm) than cultivar ‘K 9006’ (7.14 kg grain/ha-mm).