Effect of Split Application of Nitrogen and Potassium on Growth and Yield of Irrigated Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important cereal crops globally and serves as a staple food for a substantial proportion of the world’s population. The study aims to evaluate the effect of split application of nitrogen and potassium on the growth and yield attributes of irrigated wheat. The experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2024–25 at SAGE University, Bhopal following a Randomized Block Design with nine treatments and three replications. The treatments consisted of different levels and split applications of nitrogen and potassium, including 100% and 75% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF: 80:40:40 kg N:P₂O₅:K₂O ha⁻¹), applied at basal, crown root initiation (CRI), and boot leaf stages. The results revealed that split application of nitrogen and potassium significantly enhanced growth parameters such as plant height, dry matter production, leaf area index (LAI), and number of tillers per meter row length at different growth stages, except at 30 DAS. Among the treatments, application of 100% RDF with nitrogen and potassium in three equal splits (33:33:33%) at basal, CRI, and boot leaf stages recorded significantly higher plant height (97.6 cm at harvest), dry matter production (96.40 g m⁻¹ row length at 90 DAS), LAI (3.36 at 90 DAS), and number of tillers (224.00 m⁻¹ row length at 60 DAS), and was found to be at par with other split treatments under 100% RDF. Yield attributes showed variable responses to split nutrient application. Grain weight per spike was significantly increased, with the highest value (1.78 g) recorded under 100% RDF with three equal splits of nitrogen and potassium, which was at par with 25:25:50% split application. However, the number of grains per spike and test weight did not show significant differences, although higher values were observed under the same treatment. The study concludes that split application of nitrogen and potassium, particularly in three equal splits (33:33:33%) at basal, CRI, and boot leaf stages under 100% RDF, is an effective nutrient management practice for enhancing growth and improving yield attributes of irrigated wheat. This approach ensures better nutrient use efficiency and can be recommended for sustainable wheat production under irrigated conditions.