Yield and yield contributing characteristics of wheat under bed planting method

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season of 2011–12 at the Research Farm, School of Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana to study the effect of sowing dates, varieties and planting methods on the growth and yield of wheat. The experiment was laid out in split-split plot design with three dates of sowing in main plots, two varieties in sub-plots and two methods of planting in sub-sub-plots. The different phenological stages and biometric observations viz leaf area index (LAI) and dry matter accumulation were recorded periodically. The yield and yield contributing characteristics although showed non-significant effect with two planting methods but the higher yield (4680.03 kg/ha) was obtained under bed planted crop than flat planted crop (4653.80 kg/ha). The grain yield was high in the 1 November sown crop (5132.83 kg/ha) as compared to 15 and 30 November sown crops. Variety PBW 550 recorded higher grain yield (4682.23 kg/ha) as compared to variety PBW 343 (4651.64 kg/ha). Bed planting not only saves the resources like water, nutrients and labour but also facilitates the greater diversification of cropping system.