Indian Journal of Agronomy

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2015–16 and 2016–17 at Hisar, Haryana, to evaluate tall wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for dual purpose under cutting and nitrogen management practices. Treatments comprising 18 different combinations of cutting and nitrogen management included uncut with 2 N doses, viz. 60 and 75 kg/ha (T₁ and T₂)-both applied half at sowing + half at 1st irrigation, cut at 5 cm stubble height with 2 N doses (60 and 75 kg/ha) each scheduled with four different combinations of scheduling, viz. sowing _1/2 + 1st irrigation_1/2, sowing_1/2 + after cut_1/2, sowing_1/3 + after cut_2/3 and sowing_1/3 + 1st irrigation_1/3 + after cut_1/3 (T₃ to T₁₀), cut at 10 cm stubble height with 2 N doses (60 and 75 kg/ha) each scheduled with 4 different combinations of scheduling, viz. sowing_1/2 + 1st irrigation_1/2, sowing_1/2 + after cut_1/2, sowing_1/3 + after cut_2/3 and sowing_1/3 + 1st irrigation _1/3 + after cut_1/3 (T₁₁ to T₁₈). The treatment with cut at 55 days after sowing (DAS) at 5 cm stubble height with 75 kg N/ha applied at sowing_1/2 + 1st irrigation_1/2 resulted in the highest green fodder yield during both the years. Among cutting and nitrogen-management treatments, the highest leaf-area index and plant height were observed under the treatment 75 kg N/ha applied at sowing_1/3 + after cut2/3 with cut at 55 days after sowing at 10 cm stubble height owing to the complementary effect of nitrogen fertilizer and growth of wheat that might have resulted in increased vegetative growth of wheat and hence LAI and plant height. In cut plots, heading delayed by 1 week as compared to no-cut treatments. Among cutting and nitrogen-management treatments, the highest effective tillers, grain yield, net returns and benefit: cost ratio were observed under the treatment 75 kg N/ha applied at sowing_1/3 + after cut_2/3 with cut at 55 days after sowing at 10 cm stubble height followed by 75 kg N/ha applied at sowing_1/3 + after cut_2/3 with cut at 55 days after sowing at 5 cm stubble height and 60 kg N/ha applied at sowing_1/3 + after cut_2/3 with cut at 55 days after sowing 10 cm stubble height and both were statistically at par with each other and higher than rest of the treatments.