EFFECT OF IRRIGATION, SEEDING DATE AND FERTILIZER ON GROWTH AND YIELDOF WHEAT (TRITICUM-AESTIVUM)

A field experiment was conducted during the winter season of 1992-93 a nd 1993-94 on sandy loam soil of Ranchi, to study the effect of irriga tion, seeding date and fertilizer on growth and yield of wheat (Tritic um aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.). Wheat crop receiving 4 irrigatio n maintaining higher leaf-area index (LAI), dry matter, crop-growth ra te (CGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR) resulted in 43 and 14% more g rain yield than 2 (22.32 q/ha) and 3 irrigations (27.86 q/ha) respecti vely. Timely-seeded crop (24 November) also recorded higher LAI, dry m atter and CGR and gave 39% more grain yield than late seeding 18 Decem ber (22.85 q/ha). Seeding beyond 24 November reduced the grain yield b y 37.5 kg/ha/day. Similarly, crop grown with 100% recommended fertiliz er having higher LAI, NAR and dry-matter accumulation rate gave 35% mo re grain yield than 50% recommended fertilizer (23.31 q/ha).