Vol. 12, Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
JM Modhvadia, AD Rathod, RJ Patel and Deen Dayal Bairwa

Abstract:
The field experiment conducted in a silty loam soil with a slightly alkaline pH (8.10) and an EC of 0.36 dS m^-1 revealed noteworthy outcomes. It identified lower nitrogen (242 kg ha^-1), medium phosphorus (39.20 kg ha^-1), high potash (292 kg ha^-1), and medium sulphur (19.05 ppm) levels. Utilizing a Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications, the experiment assessed four phosphorus (P₀-0, P₁-30, P₂-60, P₃-90 kg P₂O₅ha^-1 and three sulphur (S₀-0, S₁-20, S₂-40 kgha^-1) levels. The results exhibited substantial improvements with 90 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 in various yield attributes: tillers per meter row (89.9), effective tillers (85.7), spike length (8.7 cm), spikelets per spike (15.9), grains per spike (44.8), grain yield (4451 kg ha^-1), straw yield (6886 kg ha^-1), and test weight (46.18 g). The highest protein content (12.69%) was achieved with 90 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1, akin to 60 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1. Similarly, 40 kg S ha^-1 exhibited akin results to 20 kg S ha^-1. Notably, the interaction effect of 90 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 + 40 kg S ha^-1 significantly increased grain per spike, grain yield, and test weight. These findings underscore the pivotal role of phosphorus and sulphur in augmenting wheat productivity within this soil and agro-climatic zone.