Effect of nitrogen levels, irrigation regimes and weed management in durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.)

A field experiment was conducted at the research farm of PAU, Ludhiana during 2003–04 and 2004–05 to study the effect of nitrogen levels, irrigation regimes and weed control methods on root density, water use and grain yield of bed planted durum wheat on loamy sand soil, rating low in available nitrogen and medium in phosphorous and potassium. About 60 per cent roots were confined to upper 0–15 cm soil layer. Maximum water use efficiency of 103.0 and 94.01 kg grain ha⁻¹ cm⁻¹ was recorded during 2003–04 and 2004–05, respectively under application of 150 kg N ha⁻¹. Application of 120 kg N ha⁻¹ (though at par with 150 kg N ha⁻¹) provided a yield advantage of 9.4 and 6.04 per cent over 90 kg N ha⁻¹ during first and second year of experimentation respectively. Clodinafop 0.06 kg ha⁻¹ application effectively controlled Phalaris minor and resulted in significant improvement in grain yield (14.4%) as compared to unweeded check. The two moisture regimes did not produce any significant effects on wheat grain yield.