Efficient irrigation management for enhancing productivity and profitability of wheat under semi-arid inceptisols in Gujarat

Effective irrigation scheduling to manage water requirement of wheat were evaluated with four water application approaches (I₁: Irrigations at crown root initiation (CRI) + tillering + jointing + flowering; I₂: Irrigations at CRI + tillering + jointing + flowering + milking; I₃: Irrigations at CRI + tillering + jointing + flowering + milking + dough; and I₄: Irrigations at 0.8 IW: CPE ratio) in combination with two seeding rates (125 and 150 kg ha⁻¹) and two sowing methods (line sowing at 22.5 cm and broadcasting) at Anand in Gujarat during 2010 and 2011. Observations were recorded on growth, yield attributes grain yield, straw yield, protein content and field water use efficiency (FWUE) in each year. The dry matter of wheat significantly increased with increase in the irrigation frequency. I₄: Irrigation scheduled at 0.8 IW: CPE ratio and irrigations at CRI + tillering + jointing + flowering + milking + dough stage (I₃) gave significantly higher mean grain and straw yields (5.361 and 6.535 t ha⁻¹) compared to irrigation with I₁ or I₂ treatments. However, seed rate @ 150 kg ha⁻¹ gave significantly higher plant population with taller plants, grain and straw yield than 125 kg ha⁻¹. Dry matter accumulation/plant increased with a decrease in the seed rate from 150 to 125 kg ha⁻¹ at 30 and 45 days after sowing (DAS). Seed rate @ 150 kg ha⁻¹ gave significantly higher grain yield (5.673 t ha⁻¹) and straw yield (6.211 t ha⁻¹) compared to 125 kg ha⁻¹. Among sowing methods, line sowing was significantly superior to broadcasting method with regard to improvement in dry matter accumulation/plant. Line sowing gave significantly higher grain yield (5.612 t ha⁻¹) compared to broadcasting method. The grain and straw yield, protein content and FWUE were significantly correlated with different plant traits observed during crop growth period. I₄+ line sowing + seed rate @ 150 kg ha⁻¹ was superior with respect to maximum gross returns ( 101868 ha⁻¹), net returns (69253 ha⁻¹) and benefit-cost (B: C) ratio (3.12) compared to other treatments. Based on rank analysis, I₄+ line sowing + seed rate @ 150 kg ha⁻¹ was highly efficient for attaining maximum grain and straw yield, protein content, FWUE, besides monetary returns and B: C ratio under semi-arid Inceptisols in Gujarat.