Effect of Irrigation Regimes and Nitrogen Levels on Phenology and Grain Yield of Late Sown Wheat

A field experiment was conducted to study the response of irrigation regimes and nitrogen levels on phenology and grain yield of late sown wheat. The experiment consisting of three irrigation regimes viz. one irrigation (at CRI), two irrigations at (CRI and heading) and four irrigations at (CRI, late tillering, heading and milking) in main plots and five nitrogen levels viz. control i.e. 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg N/ha in sub-plots was laid out in strip plot design. Days taken to heading, anthesis and physiological maturity delayed significantly with increased irrigation regimes and nitrogen levels. Similarly, plant height, dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate (CGR) and leaf area index (LAI) increased significantly with increased irrigation regimes from one to two and two to four irrigations and dose of nitrogen. The grain yield increased by 50.6 and 47.5% over one irrigation and 20.4 and 21.9% over two irrigations in four irrigations (3832 and 3989 kg/ ha) during 2010-11 and 2011-12, respectively. The growth parameters namely plant height, LAI, dry matter accumulation and CGR showed significant positive relationship with grain yield. Increase in dose of nitrogen increased the grain yield significantly up to 150 kg N/ha during both the year. However, the grain yield of wheat was statistically at par with 150 and 200 kg N/ha.