Evaluation of growth regulators and foliar nutrition for growth, yield and seed quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum l.) under timely and late sown conditions
Loading...
Date
2022-10
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar
Abstract
The present investigation was carried out during rabi season of 2020-21 and 2021-22 at Norman E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology Pantnagar. The experiment involved wheat crop variety UP-2565 laidout in factorial randomized block design with two control in three replications. One factor consisted of two date of sowing viz. timely (Nov 23) and late (Dec 15) and second factor consisted of foliar nutrition with six chemicals i.e. KCl @1 %, ascorbic acid @10 ppm, thiourea @400 ppm, cycocel @1000 ppm, salicylic acid @400 ppm and salicylic acid @800 ppm and third factor was spraying schedule twice i.e. at vegetative + anthesis and anthesis stage alone. Delay in sowing from Nov 23 to Dec 15 brought significant reduction in grain yield by 13.6 % and 12.9 % during 2020-21 and 2021-22, respectively. Late sown crop exhibited significantly higher canopy temperature, proline content and superoxide dismutase, lower relative water content and nitrate reductase activity. Commencement of days to booting, heading, anthesis and physiological maturity occurred earlier in late sown crop as compared to timely sown wheat crop. Seed quality in terms of germination, seedling length, seedling dry weight, seedling vigour indices, dehydrogenase and alpha amylase decreased in produce of late sown wheat crop, while, seed protein content was significantly higher in late sown wheat crop. In contrast to this, starch content was significantly higher in timely sown in comparison to late sown wheat. During both the years, foliar nutrition significantly improved yield and seed quality of both timely and late sown crop than control. Foliar nutrition of salicylic acid @800 ppm and thiourea @400 ppm recorded significantly higher biological and grain yield. Seed quality in terms of germination and seedling vigour indices was significantly influenced by foliar nutrition of salicylic acid @800 ppm, KCl @1 % and thiourea @400 ppm whereas, dehydrogenase and alpha amylase were significantly improved by salicylic acid @800 ppm and thiourea @400 ppm. Seed protein was significantly higher in salicylic acid @800 ppm and KCl @1 % while starch content, proline , superoxide dismutase and relative water content were higher in salicylic acid @800 ppm. Nutrient uptake by the grain was significantly higher in salicylic acid @800 ppm and thiourea @400 ppm giving the highest net return and B: C ratio. However spraying schedule of foliar nutrition did not show significant variation on grain yield and seed quality parameters.