1
2Junior Scientist,
3
*Corresponding author's Email: darajaz9@gmail.com
An experiment was conducted during 2014–15 and 2015–16 at Ludhiana, Punjab, to study the effect of time and depth of irrigation water on growth, yield and economics of drip-irrigated wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The experiment was conducted in a split-plot design comprising 3 irrigation timings [3 irrigations at crown-root initiation, booting and milking (CBM); 4 irrigations at crown-root initiation, tillering, booting and milking (CTBM) and 5 irrigations at crown-root initiation, tillering, booting, milking and dough (CTBMD)] in main plots and 4 irrigation depth [50 mm at each stage in 2 splits (2 SP); 75 mm at each stage in 3 splits (3SP); 100 mm at each stage in 4 splits (4SP); 75 mm at each stage conventionally (CP)] in subplots, replicated 4 times. Five irrigations at CTBMD resulted in significantly higher growth and yield attributes as well as grain yield than 3 irrigations at CBM; however, it was at par with 4 irrigations at CTBMD. The grain yield reduced by 12.9% and 13.6% in CBM than CTBMD during 2014- 15 and 2015–16, respectively. Four splits of 100 mm irrigation depth resulted in significantly higher growth and yield attributes as well as grain yield than 2 splits and CP. Grain yield reduced by 10.7 and 10.2% in CP than 4 SP during 2014–15 and 2015–16, respectively. Though grain yield in 2 SP and CP was similar, there was water saving of 33.3% in 2 SP as compared to CP. The highest net returns (
Drip irrigation, Economics, Growth, Irrigation depth, Irrigation timing, Yield