Effect of early sowing, N levels and seed rates on yield and yield attributes of different wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for three consecutive years during 2007 to 2010 at Karnal by using three high yielding disease resistant wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol] varieties namely PBW 502, HD 2687 and DBW 17 with two sowing time (last week of October and mid November), two seed rates (100 and 125 kg/ha) and two N rates (150 and 200 kg/ha) and replicated thrice. Pooled analysis revealed that early sowing pro- duced 10.06 % higher grain yield than normal sowing due to higher biomass, spikes/m2, harvest index and thou- sand grain weight. This was achieved due to 15 days earlier flowering in early sown, which provided more condu- cive environment for proper growth and development of wheat grain than timely sowing. Among varieties, HD 2687 produced significantly higher grain yield than other varieties. Application of 50 kg more N/ha than recom- mended dose exhibited significantly higher grain yield, whereas 25 % higher seed rate application showed no sig- nificant effect on grain yield. October sowing recorded higher gross returns (9.6%), net returns (19.3%) and benefit cost ratio (2.01) than mid November sowing.