Growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum) as influenced by irrigation scheduling and organic manures under Semi-arid Eastern Plain Zone of Rajasthan

A field experiment was conducted under loamy sand soil during the winter (rabi) seasons of 201415 and 201516 at Jobner, Rajasthan, to study the effect of irrigation scheduling and organic manures on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The treatments, consisting of 5 irrigation scheduling, i.e. I (irrigation at criti- 1 cal stages), I [0.9 irrigation water: cumulative pan evaporation (IW:CPE) ratio], I (0.6 IW:CPE ratio at vegetative 2 3 phase + 0.8 IW:CPE ratio at reproductive phase), I (0.6 IW:CPE ratio at vegetative phase + 1.0 IW:CPE ratio at 4 reproductive phase) and I (0.8 IW:CPE ratio at vegetative phase + 1.0 IW:CPE ratio at reproductive phase) in 5 main plots, and 4 organic manures [control, FYM @ 15 t/ha, vrmicompost (VC) @ 6 t/ha and FYM @ 7.5 t + VC @ 3 t/ha] in subplots, were replicated 4 times in split-plot design. The pooled mean results showed that irrigation ap- plied at an 0.9 IW:CPE ratio (I ) recorded the maximum values of growth parameters (dry-matter accumulation and 2 functional leaves) and yield (grain, straw, biological and harvest index) proved significantly superior to I , I and I . 1 4 3 However, the treatment I with maximum plant height also remained equally effective with regard to above param- 5 eters. With regard to relative water content and total number of tillers the above treatment being at par with I 1 proved superior to rest of the treatments. Results further indicated that application of FYM at 7.5 t + VC at 3 t/ha (M ) resulted in significantly higher growth parameters (plant height, dry-matter accumulation and total number of 3 tillers), yield (grain, straw, biological and harvest index) and being at par with M (VC at 6 t/ha) proved superior to 2 rest of the treatments. However, the above treatment (M ) recorded significantly higher functional leaves and rela- 3 tive water content (RWC) over M (Control) and M . Scheduling of irrigation to wheat either at 0.9 IW:CPE ratio 0 2 throughout the growth or 0.8 IW:CPE ratio at vegetative phase + 1.0 IW:CPE ratio at reproductive phase resulted in significantly, higher yield (grain, straw and biological). Irrigating the crop with 0.8 IW:CPE ratio at vegetative phase + 1.0 IW:CPE ratio at reproductive phase was found most effective, as this schedule besides resulting in al- most equal yields also curtailed 1 irrigation with the highest water-use efficiency. The treatment combination, I M 2 3 recorded the significantly higher grain yield over rest of the treatment combinations except I M I M and I M . 2 2, 5 2 5 3