Growth and Yield of Wheat as Influenced by Nitrogen Levels and Weed Management Practices under Zero-till Condition

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during the rabi seasons of 2015–16 and 2016–17 at the Agronomy Research Farm, Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, to evaluate the influence of nitrogen levels and weed management practices on the growth and yield of wheat cultivated under zero-tillage conditions. Twenty treatment combinations were evaluated in a factorial randomised block design with three replications. The treatments comprised four nitrogen levels (90, 120, 150 and 180 kg N ha⁻¹) and five weed management practices: weedy check, hand weeding twice (30 & 60 DAS), clodinafop + metsulfuron, fenoxaprop + metsulfuron and sulfosulfuron + metsulfuron. Increasing nitrogen from 90 to 180 kg N ha⁻¹ improved growth parameters and grain yield, with the highest grain yield recorded under 180 kg N ha⁻¹ in both years. Effective weed management also improved crop performance. The weedy check recorded higher weed density and dry matter and lower yield, while hand weeding twice produced the highest grain and straw yield. Among the herbicidal treatments, clodinafop + metsulfuron at 60 + 4 g a.i. ha⁻¹ was the most effective in reducing weed density and weed dry matter and produced high grain yield. The findings indicate that adequate nitrogen application combined with effective weed control can improve wheat productivity under zero-till conditions.