Growth, yield and economics in late-sown wheat (Triticum aestivum) as affected by irrigation levels and moisture-conservation practices

A trial using split-plot design was conducted during the winter season of 2016-17 on silty clay-loam soils at research farm of Pantnagar, located in the foothills (tarai) region of Uttarakhand, to evaluate growth, yield and economics of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Treatments comprised 3 irrigation practices (2, 3 and 4 irrigations) as main factor and 4 moisture-conservation practices (un-amended control, recommended fertilizers (RDF)-(N : P₂O₅ : K₂O 120 : 60 : 40 kg/ha), RDF + farmyard manure (FYM) 6 t/ha and RDF + paddy straw biochar (biochar)10 t/ha) as subfactors. Wheat growth and yield attributes were the highest in 4 irrigations and led to significantly higher grain yield, gross returns (GR), net returns (NR) and benefit: cost (BC) ratio. The RDF + FYM also resulted in the highest growth and yield attributes, yield, GR, NR and BC. Four irrigations had 44 and 36% higher moisture content at 0- 15 and 15-30 cm depth respectively at 90 days. Compared to RDF, RDF + FYM had 18 and 13% higher moisture content at 0-15 and 15-30 cm depth respectively) at 90 days. Thus this study indicates that in late-sown wheat, 4 irrigations along with RDF + FYM could be an economically feasible practice for achieving high yield and economics under tarai condition of Uttarakhand.