Growth, yield, water use efficiency of wheat (Triticum aestivum) under different sowing dates, planting methods and irrigation treatments

Field experiments were conducted at the Research Farm, Department of Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology, PAU, Ludhiana during rabi seasons of 2014-15 and 2015-16. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) variety WH-1105 was sown on 10th and 30th November under two planting methods (flat and bed) with three irrigation treatments (I1- three post-sowing irrigations at crown root initiation (20-25 days after sowing), flag leaf emergence (70-80 days after sowing) and soft dough stages (115-120 days after sowing), I2- I1+ fourth irrigation during last week of March (Hard dough stage) and I3- Recommended four post-sowing irrigations (crown root initiation, tillering, jointing/booting and milking) in sub-sub plots replicated four times. The experiment was planned to study the effect of sowing dates, planting methods and irrigation treatments on growth, yield and water use efficiency of wheat. Dry matter accumulation and leaf area index showed significant differences between different dates of sowing and planting methods during entire growing period however significant differences among irrigation treatments were observed at 120 DAS during both the seasons. The grain yield and water use efficiency was higher in 10th November sowing as compared to 30th November as well as under bed planting compared to flat planting. However by giving one extra irrigation during end of March under I2, the increase in grain yield was up to 6-13% over I3 and I1 treatments.