Effect of crop establishment methods and irrigation schedules on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum)

A field experiment was conducted during 2014–15 and 2015–16 at Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, to study the effect of irrigation and crop-establishemnt methods on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In this experiment, 3 irrigation schedules (4 cm irrigation at IW: CPE of 0.8, 5 cm irrigation at IW: CPE of 1.0 and 6 cm irrigation at IW: CPE of 1.2) in 6 planting patterns including 5 bed configurations in furrow-irrigated bed planting systems and 1 flat planting with row-to-row distance of 22.5 cm. In furrow-irrigated bed planting systems, the crop was planted on the top of the 75 cm bed, 2 rows (B75-2); 75 cm bed, 3 rows (B75-3); 90 cm bed, 2 rows (B90-2); 90 cm bed, 3 rows (B90-3) and 90 cm bed, 4 rows (B90-4). The results showed that by following furrow-irrigated bed planting systems, on an average, 40% water was saved as compared to 1 flat planting with row spacing of 22.5 cm with significant increase in the productivity of water. Plant height, dry-matter accumulation, number of tillers, root length, root dry weight and crop growth rate displayed significantly higher with land configuration of 90 cm bed, 2 rows (B90-2). Among the yield attributes, grains/spike, spike length (cm), spikelets/spike and test weight increased significantly in B75-2 and B90-2, and 4 cm irrigation at 0.8 irrigation water: cumulative pan evaporation (IW: CPE) respectively. The grain yield (4.65 and 4.76 t/ha), straw yield (6.05 and 6.15 t/ha); biological yield (10.71 and 10.94 t/ha) and harvest index (43.39 and 43.49) were significantly higher under B90-4 land configuration with 4 cm irrigation at an 0.8 IW: CPE in 2014–15 and 2015–16, respectively.