Influence of regulated deficit irrigation on crop and water productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Loading...
Date
2022-12-14
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
CSK HPKV, Palampur
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted in wheat crop during rabi 2021-22 at
Irrigation and Water Management Farm of Department of Soil Science, CSK HPKV,
Palampur to study the effect of regulated deficit irrigation on the yield and water
productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The treatments consisted of selected
combination of four deficit levels viz. high (50% ETC), medium (70% ETC), low (90%
ETC) and free from deficit (100% ETC) and three phases of application viz. phase I (CRI
and jointing), phase II (flowering) and phase III (dough stage). A total of eight
combinations viz. FFF: Free from deficit at all three phases; LLL: Low deficit at all three
phases; MMM: Medium deficit at all three phases; FMM: Free from deficit at phase I,
Medium at phase II, Medium at phase III; HFM: High at phase I, Free from deficit at phase
II, Medium at phase III; MFH: Medium at phase I, Free from deficit at phase II, High at
phase III; MFM: Medium at phase I, Free from deficit at phase II, Medium at phase III;
HFH: High at phase I, Free from deficit at phase II and High at phase III, were tested under
randomized block design, replicated thrice. The soil of the experimental site was silty clay
loam in texture, acidic in reaction, medium in organic carbon, available potassium, high in
available phosphorus and low in available nitrogen. Results revealed that among all
regulated water deficit schemes the low deficit LLL scheme of 90% ETC application at
CRI, flowering and dough stage resulted in higher growth, root volume and weight, yield
attributes, yield and water productivity and was similar to the wheat cultivation under
water deficit free condition at all critical stages of growth (FFF). Any water deficit below
90% ETC especially a high deficit of 50% ETC at phase I (CRI) and phase III (dough)
(HFH) resulted in significant decrease in yield and water productivity. Although, a higher
net return (₹ 72303 ha-1
) and benefit cost ratio (2.35) was obtained under water deficit free
condition but it was closely followed by net return and benefit-cost ratio of ₹ 67603 ha-1
and 2.26, respectively under regulated low water deficit regime (LLL).