Response of late-sown wheat (Triticum aestivum) to irrigation schedules

A field experiment was conducted during the winter seasons of 1995-97 on ac idic sandy-loam soil at Ranchi, to find out the critical growth stages for irrigations as per availability of water for higher and profitable producti on of late-sown wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.). Wheat re ceiving 4 irrigations at crown-root-initiation, maximum tillering, boot and milk stages gave maximum grain (2,707 kg/ha) and straw (4,164 kg/ha) yield s, with net return of Rs 11,855/ha and net benefit of Rs 1.31 on each rupee investment. This treatment showed significant edge over all other irrigati on schedules except the crop receiving 3 irrigations at maximum tillering, boot and milk stages (2,523 kg/ha grain yield, and Rs 10,474/ha net return with 1.23 benefit: cost ratio). Among 2 irrigation schedules, wheat irrigat ed at maximum tillering and milk stages gave the maximum grain (2,011 kg/ha ) and straw (2,823 kg/ha) yields, with not return of Rs 7,328/ha and net be nefit of Rs 0.92/rupee investment.