Growth analysis of wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars under different seeding dates and irrigation levels in Jharkhand

A field experiment was conducted during the winter season of 1995–96 and 1996–97 on sandy-loam soil of Ranchi, to study the growth behaviour of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) cultivars under different dates of sowing and irrigation levels. Timely seeded wheat (21 November) recorded more tillers/m², higher dry-matter accumulation, plant height, leaf-area index (LAI), net assimilation rate (NAR) and crop-growth rate (CGR) as well as gave more grain yield (3, 301 kg/ha) than delayed seeded crops. Wheat crop, which received 4 irrigations, maintained taller plants, more tillers per unit area, dry-matter accumulation, LAI, NAR, CGR and RGR and resulted in 13.7 and 29% more grain yield over 3 irrigations (2, 349.kg/ha) and 2 irrigations (2, 071 kg/ha) respectively. There was no significant difference between both the cultivars (‘HUW 234’ and ‘K 9006’) for growth pattern and grain yield but cultivar ‘HUW 234’ (7.54 kg grain/ha-mm) had higher water-use efficiency over cultivar ‘K 9006’ (7.14 kg grain/ha-mm).