EFFECTS OF NITROGEN AND FOLIAR SULPHUR APPLICATIONS ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF TWO WHEAT VARIETIES GROWN IN NORTHERN PAKISTAN

A research trial was conducted at the New Developmental Research Farm of the University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan, during 2008-2009. Two wheat varieties were sown on 1 st December 2008 at the seed rate of 100 kg ha 1 . Urea, DAP and elemental sulphur were used as sources for Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Sulphur (S), respectively. Treatments were: Factor-A: Varieties (V), i.e., V1 = Pirsabak-2005, V2 = Ghaznavi-98, Factor-B: N and S application (kg ha -1 ), i.e., T1 (80 kg N at sowing), T2 (140 kg N at sowing, T3 (80 kg N at sowing and anthesis: 40+40 kg), T4 (140 kg N at sowing and anthesis:100+40 kg), T5 (80 kg N at sowing + 20 kg S at stem extension:), T6 (140 kg N at sowing + 20 kg S at stem extension), T7 (80 kg N at sowing + 20 kg S at anthesis), T8 (140 kg N at sowing + 20 kg S at anthesis). The experiment was set in randomized complete block design (RCBD). Applications of 140 kg N ha -1 at sowing alongside applications of 20 kg S ha -1 at anthesis was helpful in increasing grain yields in both varieties. It was therefore recommended that foliar S should be included as an important input, alongside N, in the production technology of both Pirsabak-2005 and Ghaznavi-98 varieties of the wheat crop which are being cultivated in the Peshawar region of Pakistan.