EFFECT OF SEED-FURROW MULCHING, NITROGEN RATES AND WEED MANAGEMENT-PRACTICES ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF LATE-SOWN WHEAT (TRITICUM-AESTIVUM)

A field experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) season of 1989-9 0 and 1990-91 to study the effect of seed-furrow mulching nitrogen rat es and weed-management practices on growth and yield of late-sown whea t (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) application of 100 kg N/ ha and seed-furrow mulching with farmyard manure 50 q/ha recorded sign ificantly higher grain yield, net return and net return/rupee of inves tment. Among the weed-management practices, although hand-weeding and chemical weeding being at par with each other and recorded significant ly higher yield attributes and grain yield than the weedy check, but t he net return and net return/rupee of investment were higher in pendim lthalin-treated plots. Yield obtained at 75 kg N/ha under weed-managem ent practices were significantly higher than the yield obtained at 100 kg N/ha under weedy check. Similarly, yield obtained under both the l evels of mulching at 75 kg N/ha was also significantly higher than tha t at higher nitrogen level under no mulching.