Vol. 12, Issue 6 (2023)

Author(s):
Alekh Kumar Sharma, JP Singh, Rajesh Kumar Singh, SK Verma and RK Singh

Abstract:
The current study, titled "Effect of crop establishment method, mulching, and irrigation scheduling on yield and water productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)," was carried out at the Agricultural Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, during two consecutive rabi seasons in 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively. The experiment was set up in a split plot design with three replications, combining two crop establishment methods, S₁: Conventional sowing, S₂: Raised bed sowing and two mulching practices i.e. M₀: No mulch, M₁: Straw mulch @ 5 t ha^-1 in main plot and four irrigation scheduling practises, I₁: CRI only, I₂: CRI + 100 mm CPE, I₃: CRI + 150 mm CPE, and I₄: CRI + 200 mm in sub plot. Among the main plot treatment, S₂ (raised bed sowing) and M₁ (straw mulch @ 5 t ha^-1) had a significant influence on crop growth (plant height) and yield attributes (ear length and test weight) during both the years. In case of irrigation scheduling treatments, irrigation at CRI + 100 mm CPE (I₀) exerted significantly higher plant height, ear length and test weight during both the years. It can be recommended that raised bed sown wheat with straw mulch @ 5 t/ha in and irrigation scheduling based on CRI+100 mm CPE should be practiced to achieve better crop growth and yield attributes of wheat in Varanasi region of eastern Uttar Pradesh.