Vol. 8, Issue 12, Part D (2025)
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2019-20 at the Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology, and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, to evaluate the effects of sowing dates, nitrogen levels, and irrigation scheduling on the growth and yield attributes of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture with low organic carbon (0.38%), low available nitrogen (174.62 kg/ha), and medium levels of phosphorus (19.50 kg/ha) and potassium (223.28 kg/ha). Wheat variety HD 2967, known for its adaptability in the region, was used as the test crop. The experiment consisted of eighteen treatment combinations laid out in a split-plot design with two sowing dates (20 November and 20 December) and three irrigation levels assigned to the main plots, while three nitrogen levels (80, 120, and 160 kg N/ha) were allocated to the sub-plots, each replicated three times. The results revealed that early sowing on 20 November significantly improved wheat productivity, registering higher grain yield (3.30 t/ha), straw yield (4.28 t/ha), and biological yield (7.58 t/ha) compared to 20 December sowing. Among irrigation levels, four irrigations (I₃) applied at CRI, tillering, booting, and milk stages produced the highest grain yield (3.35 t/ha), straw yield (4.30 t/ha), and biological yield (7.64 t/ha). Nitrogen application at 160 kg/ha (N₃) also resulted in significantly superior yields compared to 120 kg/ha and 80 kg/ha. Harvest index (%) was found to be non-significant across treatments. Economic analysis indicated that the combination of 20 November sowing, four irrigations, and 160 kg N/ha provided the highest gross returns, net returns, and benefit-cost ratio, establishing it as the most economically viable treatment.
