TITLE:
Effect of Growth Stage-Based Irrigation Schedules on Biomass Accumulation and Resource Use Efficiency of Wheat Cultivars
AUTHORS:
Muhammad Mubeen, Ashfaq Ahmad, Tasneem Khaliq, Syeda Refat Sultana, Shahid Hussain, Amjed Ali, Hakoomat Ali, Wajid Nasim
KEYWORDS:
Triticum aestivum L.; Irrigation; Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR); Radiation Use Efficiency (RUE); Total Dry Matter (TDM)
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.4 No.7,
July
11,
2013
ABSTRACT: Climate and
weather conditions greatly affect the performance of new wheat cultivars for
yield and resource use efficiency. In order to know the effect of irrigation
schedules based on growth stage (the most vital criterion in the region) on
growth, yield and radiation use efficiency of wheat cultivars in Faisalabad
conditions, a study was planned at Agronomic Research Area, University of
Agriculture, Faisalabad during 2009-2010. Split plot design with irrigation levels in
main plots and cultivars in sub-plots was implied. Irrigation levels were: IT = irrigation
at tillering stage, ITS = irrigation at tillering and stem elongation stage,
ISB = irrigation at stem elongation and booting stage and ITSBG = irrigation at
tillering, stem elongation, booting and grain filling stage. Cultivars selected
were: Faisalabad-2008, Lasani-2008, Miraj-2008, Shafaq-2006 and Chakwal-97.
Irrigation treatment ITSBG gave higher grain yield (4.23 t·ha-1) followed by ISB
(3.60 t·ha-1),
however ITSBG was statistically similar to ISB in radiation use efficiency
(RUE) for grain yield (RUEGY). Similarly the two treatments were
statistically at par in maximum leaf area index, total dry matter (TDM)
accumulation, cumulative photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and RUETDM.
Hence where less numbers of irrigations are available, irrigation at stem
elongation and booting stage is suitable for achieving economic yield.
Lasani-2008 produced maximum grain yield (4.37 t·ha-1) compared to other cultivars but
it was statistically at par with Shafaq-2006 in plant height, TDM production and RUETDM. Depending on the
availability, the two cultivars may be chosen under irrigated conditions of Faisalabad.