Performance of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) under different nitrogen levels and its split application under north Gujarat condition

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2013–14 and 2014–15 at the Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat, to study the effect of different nitrogen levels and its split application on performance of bread wheat Triticum aestivum. The experiment consisted of 14 treatment combinations which comprised 2 levels of nitrogen and 7 split application of nitrogen, and was conducted in randomized block design with factorial concept with 3 replications. Significantly higher dry-matter accumulation (g)/m row length at 90 DAS (209.3 g) and at harvesting (221.5 g), leaves/plant (18.7), effective tillers (72.9)/m row length at harvesting, grain yield (4,572 kg/ha), protein (12.63%), wet gluten (29.79%) and sedimentation value (40.93 ml) were recorded when crop was fertilized with 160 kg N/ha. Plant height at harvesting (94.1 cm), dry-matter accumulation/m row length at 90 DAS (232.5 g) and at harvesting (243.7 g), leaves/plant (20.2), effective tillers (83.4)/meter row length, ear length (9.7 cm), grains/ear (53.4), grain yield (4,964 kg/ha) and straw yield (5,792 kg/ha) were significantly higher when nitrogen was applied as 50% at sowing, 25% at crown-root-initiation (CRI) stage and 25% at 1st node stage. Test weight (41.71 g), protein (12.21%), quality parameters i.e. protein content (12.21%), wet gluten content (29.87%), hectoliter weight (81.57 kg/ml), sedimentation value (41.23 ml) and grain diameter (2.82 mm) were significantly higher under splitting of nitrogen as 10% each at sowing, CRI, 1st node, tillering, flag leaf, heading, flowering, milking, dough and hard dough stage. Nitrogen 160 kg/ha applied 50% at sowing, 25% at CRI stage and 25% at 1st node stage accrued the maximum gross and net realization and benefit: cost ratio.