Grain Quality and Nutrient Uptake Evaluation of Wheat (Triticum aestivum) under Different Sowing Methods, Mulch Levels and Irrigation Schedules

The effect of sowing methods, mulch levels and irrigation schedules on grain quality and nutrient uptake in wheat was investigated at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India during winter seasons of 2013–14 and 2014–15. Combinations of sowing methods viz., bed sowing and flat sowing and mulch levels viz., no mulch, rice straw mulch @ 3 t/ha and 6 t/ha were main plots and irrigation schedules viz., 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 IW: CPE were sub-plots. The experiment was laid out in splitplot design with three replications. The quality parameters viz., hectolitre weight, grain hardness, protein content, gluten content and sedimentation value and N, P and K uptake were not significantly influenced by sowing methods. Mulch levels showed no significant effect on the grain quality. However, N, P and K uptake by grain (12.7, 25.2 and 17.4%) and straw (16.4, 18.2 and 19.1%) was significantly higher under mulch application of 6 t/ha than under no mulch, respectively. Among the irrigation schedules, irrigation schedule of 1.0 IW: CPE gave significantly higher hectolitre weight (78.5 kg/hl) as compared with 0.6 IW: CPE (76.0 kg/hl); however, reverse trend was observed in case of grain protein content. P and K uptake by grain was significantly higher (12.9 and 9.2%) under 1.0 IW: CPE as compared with 0.6 IW: CPE. So, rice straw mulch and irrigation schedule of 1.0 IW: CPE helps in improving the nutrient uptake.