“Gigas” bread wheat in perspective of nitrogen economy: I. comparative response of ‘Gigas’ wheat to single staggered application of nitrogen in respect of growth and yield

Morphologically distinct ‘Oigas’ bread wheat, Oligoculm, a “restricted tillering” type, its cross with HD 2204 and C 306, a “profuse tillering” type were compared for their nitrogen economy. Nitrogen as a single dose was applied at separate intervals under normal irrigated conditions. Oligoculm maintained “restricted tillering” despite varied timings of N application. Maximum leaf area plant⁻¹ was recorded in Oligoculm x HD 2204. Oligoculm produced maximum dry weight of leaf, stem, ear and TDM production. HD 2204 aod Oligoculm x HD 2204 produced maximum grain yield. plant⁻¹ while Oligoculm was found superior when grain yield was expressed on per shoot basis. The “restricted tillering” habit of Oligoculm was found desirable for getting higher grain yield. Single application of entire N between 10–45 DAG produced high grain yield. Oligoculm and its cross were assessed as low-input-genotypes.