Vol. 10, Issue 1 (2021)

Author(s):
Prashansha Singh, Vinaya Kumar Yadav, Pram Chandra Yadav and Girish Chandra Pandey

Abstract:
The present investigation entitled “Effect of salicylic acid on growth, bio-chemical changes and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under different date of sowing condition” was conducted at Students Instructional Farm of the Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad (U.P.) during rabi seasons of 2014-15 and 2015-16. The experiment was planned under RBD (Randomized Block Design) with three replications. The treatment consisted of two date of sowing viz;25th November and 25th December with two varieties NW-5054 and NW-2036 with ten salicylic acid treatment viz; (T1)Control, (T2)Seed soaking in (0.25mM) salicylic acid, (T3)Foliar spray of (0.25mM) salicylic acid at 30 DAS, (T4)Seed soaking in (0.25mM) salicylic acid + Foliar spray of (0.25mM) salicylic acid at 30 DAS,(T5)Seed soaking in (0.50mM) salicylic acid, (T6)Foliar spray of (0. 50mM) salicylic acid at 30 DAS, (T7) Seed soaking in (0.50mM) salicylic acid + Foliar spray of (0.5mM) salicylic acid at 30 DAS,(T8)Seed soaking in (0.75mM) salicylic acid, (T9)Foliar spray of (0.75mM) salicylic acid at 30 DAS, (T10)Seed soaking in (0.75mM) salicylic acid + Foliar spray of (0.75mM) salicylic acid at 30 DAS. When late sown variety was planted timely all the growth attributes showed drastic reduction with respect to late sowing (25th December).However, NW-5054 showed comparatively good performance in terms of growth attributes at timely sown (25th November). Performance of NW-5054 was very good as compared to NW-2036 due to delayed sowing on 25th December. Application of salicylic acid significantly increased all growth attributes in both varieties under both timely and late sown. Time of sowing decreased substantially almost in all the yield components and enzyme activity measured viz; number of ear per plant, ear length, number of grains per plant, test weight, grain yield per plant, straw yield, catalase activity, peroxidase activity, 50% flowering and days to physiological maturity which caused severe reduction in yield. Overall, T10 (Seed soaking in (0.75mM) salicylic acid + Foliar spray of (0.75mM) salicylic acid at 30 DAS) treatment showed best result and T2 Seed soaking in (0.25mM) salicylic acid gave least. All the salicylic acid treatments reduced the detrimental effect of heat stress on both the varieties by improving physiological traits which ultimately helped in obtaining higher yield.