Evaluation of tall wheat (Triticum aestivum) for dual purpose under various cutting and nitrogen-management practices

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 201516 and 201617 at Hisar, Haryana, to evaluate tall wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for dual purpose under cutting and nitrogen management practices. Treatments comprising 18 different combinations of cutting and nitrogen management included uncut with 2 N doses, viz. 60 and 75 kg/ha (T and T )-both applied half at sowing + half at 1st irrigation, cut at 5 cm stubble 1 2 height with 2 N doses (60 and 75 kg/ha) each scheduled with four different combinations of scheduling, viz. sow- ing + 1st irrigation , sowing + after cut , sowing + after cut and sowing + 1st irrigation + after cut (T 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/3 2/3 1/3 1/3 1/3 3 to T ), cut at 10 cm stubble height with 2 N doses (60 and 75 kg/ha) each scheduled with 4 different combinations 10 of scheduling, viz. sowing + 1st irrigation , sowing + after cut , sowing + after cut and sowing + 1st irri- 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 1/3 2/3 1/3 gation + after cut (T to T ). The treatment with cut at 55 days after sowing (DAS) at 5 cm stubble height with 1/3 1/3 11 18 75 kg N/ha applied at sowing + 1st irrigation resulted in the highest green fodder yield during both the years. 1/2 1/2 Among cutting and nitrogen-management treatments, the highest leaf-area index and plant height were observed under the treatment 75 kg N/ha applied at sowing + after cut with cut at 55 days after sowing at 10 cm stubble 1/3 2/3 height owing to the complementary effect of nitrogen fertilizer and growth of wheat that might have resulted in in- creased vegetative growth of wheat and hence LAI and plant height. In cut plots, heading delayed by 1 week as compared to no-cut treatments. Among cutting and nitrogen-management treatments, the highest effective tillers, grain yield, net returns and benefit: cost ratio were observed under the treatment 75 kg N/ha applied at sowing + 1/3 after cut with cut at 55 days after sowing at 10 cm stubble height followed by 75 kg N/ha applied at sowing + 2/3 1/3 after cut with cut at 55 days after sowing at 5 cm stubble height and 60 kg N/ha applied at sowing + after cut 2/3 1/3 2/3 with cut at 55 days after sowing 10 cm stubble height and both were statistically at par with each other and higher than rest of the treatments.