Effect of Nitrogen Management Strategies on Yield, Quality and Nitrogen Uptake by Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

There is little knowledge among farmers on the rate of nitrogen-fertilizer application. Therefore, there is a need to determine optimal rate of nitrogen-fertilizer application on growth and yield of wheat. Accordingly, an field experiment was conducted during the winter (Rabi) season at Crop Research Centre the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, to study the impact of different nitrogen level and splitting modules on quality, yield and nitrogen uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop. The main object of investigation was to find out the optimum dose and splitting of nitrogen for wheat in irrigated system under integrated nitrogen management approach. The experiment consisting of four nitrogen levels viz. control i.e. 0 kg N ha-1 , 90 kg N ha-1, i.e 120 kg N ha-1  and 150 kg N ha-1 as main plots and four splitting modules M1- 50% N as basal through VC, + 25% at CRI + 25% booting stage through urea, M2-50 % N as basal through FYM + 25% at tillering + 25% at booting stage through urea, M3 -50% N as basal through VC+FYM (1:1), + 25% at tillering + 20% at booting stage and 5 % N as foliar spray at pre flowering stage through urea, M4 -50% N as basal through VC+FYM (1:1), rest based on SPAD  reading through urea as sub-plots. The experimental results revealed that the plot which fertilized with 150 kg N ha-1 gave higher yield-attributing characters and yield (grain, straw and biological yield). The application of 150 kg N ha-1 resulted in 0.44, 15.25 and 80.8 per cent during 2016-17 and 0.41, 13.05 and 79.2 per cent during 2017-18 produced the higher grain yield over 120, 90 and 0 kg N ha-1. The content and uptake of nitrogen by grain, straw and total uptake as well as protein content and protein yield were obtained with 150 Kg N ha-1  but differences between 120 and 150 kg N ha-1 were non-significant, during both the year 2016-17 and 2017-18. Among different splitting modules M3 resulted significantly higher entire yield attributes, yield (grain and straw yield), nitrogen content and uptake by grain, straw and total uptake as well as content and yield of protein. The M3 module produced higher grain yield by 7.9, 14.7 and 24.8 per cent during 2016-17 and 8.1, 14.89 and 25.2 per cent during 2017-18 over M4, M1 and M2 splitting modules, respectively.