Effect of Pulse Irrigation (Drip) under Different Lateral Spacing and Its Effect on Water Productivity, Growth and Yield of Wheat Crop (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

The field experiment was carried out during the rabi season of 2021–22 at the College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, Anand Agricultural University, Godhra. to evaluate the effect of pulse drip irrigation and different lateral spacing on the growth, yield, and water productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). A split-plot design was adopted with four pulse irrigation levels—continuous flow (P1), two pulses (P2), three pulses (P3), and four pulses (P4)—and three lateral spacings: 0.6 m (S1), 0.8 m (S2), and 1.0 m (S3), replicated three times. The experiment used 16 mm laterals with 0.4 m emitter spacing and a discharge rate of 4 lph. Irrigation was scheduled at an IW/CPE ratio of 0.8 at four-day intervals. The high-yielding wheat variety GW 496 was selected, sown on November 28, 2021, at a seed rate of 120 kg ha-1 using a seed-cum-fertilizer drill. The recommended fertilizer dose of 120:60:60 kg N: P: K per hectare was applied, with half the nitrogen and the full phosphorus and potash given as a basal dose. The results revealed that both pulse frequency and lateral spacing significantly influenced wheat growth and yield parameters. The highest plant height (70.5 cm), number of effective tillers (62.5 m-1), grains per spike (51.2), and grain yield (4228 kg ha-1) were recorded under P4, while P1 recorded the lowest. Among lateral spacings, S1 produced the highest grain yield (3913 kg/ha) and water productivity. The combined treatment P4S1 (four pulses with 0.6 m spacing) achieved the best overall performance, with a grain yield of 4854 kg ha-1, straw yield of 5163 kg ha-1 and a maximum benefit-cost ratio of 2.84. hence offering a sustainable and economically viable practice for enhancing wheat productivity in the water-scarce regions of Gujarat.