Effects of System of Wheat Intensification (SWI) Practices and Nutrient Management on Growth and Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Background: Wheat productivity under the System of Wheat Intensification (SWI) depends on appropriate crop and nutrient management. Adequate and balanced nutrient supply can support improved vegetative growth and yield formation under SWI. However, information on the comparative response of wheat to different nutrient levels supplied through chemical fertilisers and farmyard manure under SWI conditions in Logar, Afghanistan, remains limited. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of System of Wheat Intensification practices and nutrient management on the growth characteristics and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Study Design: Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD). Place and Duration of Study: A field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Logar University, Logar, Afghanistan, during 2024 to evaluate the effects of different nutrient management treatments under the System of Wheat Intensification on the growth and grain yield attributes of wheat. Methodology: The experiment comprised eight treatments arranged in an RCBD: T1 (control), T2 (25% RDF (NP 30,15 kg/ha), T3 (50% RDF (NP 60,30 kg/ha), T4 (75% RDF (NP 90,45 kg/ha), T5 (100% RDF (NP 120,60 kg/ha), T6 (25% RDF through FYM), T7 (50% RDF through FYM), and T8 (100% RDF through FYM). Result: Results showed that T8 produced the highest number of spikelets per spike (21.17), which was not statistically different from T5 (20.97) and T4 (20.60). Likewise, the maximum number of grains per spike (44.17) was noted in T8, which was not significantly different from T5 (43.00) and T4 (41.67). The highest grain yield (4.73 t/ha) was obtained in T8, which was statistically at par with T5 (4.47 t/ha). These treatments were significantly superior to the control (T1). The experiment indicated that full RDF, whether supplied through chemical fertilisers or FYM, significantly improved grain yield, tillers per plant, spike length, spikelets per spike, grains per spike, and 1000-grain weight under the system of wheat intensification.