THERMAL EFFECT ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF WHEAT UNDER DIFFERENT SOWING ENVIRONMENTS AND PLANTING SYSTEMS

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of photothermal units on growth and yield under different sowing and planting systems during two consecutive rabi seasons of 2002-03 and 2003-04. Leaf area index, biological yield and grain yield were recorded in all the treatments. Agrometeorological indices i.e. photothermal and heliothermal units were computed at different phenological stages of wheat crop. The wheat crop sown on 20th November consumed more photo and helio thermal units as compared to 20th December sown crop. Nitrogen application significantly increased the photothermal units consumption of wheat crop. The biological and grain yields were also significantly affected by sowing time, planting system and nitrogen level. Delay in sowing after 20th November resulted in decrease in biological and grain yields. Raised bed planting system marginally improved grain yield over conventional planting system