Phenology, Growth, Yield and Protein Content of Wheat as Influenced by Foliar Application of Nitrogen

Background and Objective: Foliar application of nitrogen (N) is an important technique in overcoming N deficit from different stresses particularly drought of wheat crop.However, the wheat crop response to foliar N are inconstant and there is limited understanding of its effects in Bangladesh.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of foliar spray of N on phenology, growth, yield and protein content of late sown wheat in rice-based cropping was pattern in Bangladesh.Materials and Methods: There were 10 treatments such as recommended fertilizer dose in soil (RD) with Foliar Spray (FS) of N at 40 Days After Emergence (DAE) (T 1 ), RD with FS of N at booting stage (T 2 ), RD with FS of N at heading stage (T 3 ), RD with FS of N at milking stage (T 4 ), RD with FS of N at 40 DAE and booting stage (T 5 ), RD with FS of N at 40 DAE+heading stage and milking stage (T 6 ), RD with FS of N at 40 DAE+booting stage and milking stage (T 7 ), RD (T 8, control treatment), half RD of N (T 9 ) and half RD of N with FS of N at booting stage (T 10 ).The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications.Three percent urea was used for foliar spray.Data were analyzed using Analysis of variance ANOVA and mean separation was done by LSD at p = 0.05.Results: The highest dry matter (1811.41g mG 2 ), grain yield (4.02 t haG 1 ) and protein content (12.37%) were obtained from T 7 treatment.Gross return, gross margin and BCR were also higher in T 7 than any other treatments and the lowest BCR (2.43) was calculated in half of recommended fertilizer dose of N (T 9 ).Conclusion: Recommended fertilizer dose with foliar spray of N at 40 DAE+booting stage and milking stage delayed the senescence which lead to lengthen the duration of reproductive phase, increasing the grain yield (28.84%) as well as protein content (29%) compare to half of recommended fertilizer dose of N.