Effect of nitrogen and weed management on productivity and quality of durum wheat (Triticum durum)

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2007–08 and 2008–09 at Udaipur, Rajasthan, to study the effect of different herbicides and nitrogen levels on productivity and quality of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). Tank-mix application of metsulfuron + sulfosulfuron (4+25 g/ha) reduced weed population and biomass significantly and thereby caused increase in plant height, crop dry matter and grain yield (5.22 tonnes/ha). The highest net returns ( 52,400) and benefit: cost ratio (3.78) were also recorded with tank-mix application of metsulfuron + sulfosulfuron. Application of metsulfuron + sulfosulfuron significantly increased the protein content, β-carotene and sedimentation value. This was at par with metsulfuron + isoproturon and 2,4-D + sulfosulfuron. Weed biomass increased significantly with the increase in N level up to 120 kg/ha. Increasing nitrogen level up to 120 kg/ha showed marked improvement in plant height, dry matter, ear-bearing tillers, grains/ear, 1,000-grains weight, thereby resulted in significantly highest grain yield of 4.81 tonnes/ha with net returns of 47,700/ha and benefit: cost ratio 3.44.