Impact of Irrigation Water Requirements and Fertigation Levels on Wheat Growth, Yield and Water Productivity

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2024–25 at Research Farm of the School of Agriculture Science, Vikrant University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. The experiment was laid out in   factorial randomized complete block design (FRBD) with 3 replications, viz., three irrigation levels of irrigations - I1 (100%), I2 (80%), and I3 (60%) - and 3 fertigation levels based on the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) - F1 (100%), F2 (75%), and F3 (50%). Results of the study revealed that among the Irrigations, fertilizers and interactions I1, F1, and I1F1 maximum plant height (88.67, 92.85 and 96.20 cm), tiller number (6.20 , 6.47 and 6.80), leaf area index (4.18, 4.44, 4.72), dry matter accumulation (39.27, 40.30  and 42.60 g/plant), spike density( 382.60, 394.0 and 410.0), grain number per spike ( 45.07, 46.33 and 48.30), 1000-grain weight (44.10, 45.03 and 46.80 g), grain yield per plot (3.13, 3.25 and 3.48 kg ) and grain yield per hectare (52.17, 54.17 and 58.00 q) and straw yield (7427.00 , 7643 and 7980 kg ), Harvest Index (41.28, 40.80 and 42.15 %) Nitrogen uptake (104.38, 105.42and 112.50 Kg/ha), Phosphorus uptake (25.20, 22.84 and 25.20Kg/ha), and Potassium Uptake (110.84, 112.47 and 118.25 Kg/ha) respectively. However, the highest water productivity was recorded under I3F1, demonstrating the potential of deficit irrigation combined with full fertigation in improving resource use efficiency. These findings underscore the agronomic and environmental benefits of integrated irrigation and fertigation strategies for enhancing wheat productivity and resource-use efficiency in semi-arid regions.