EFFECT OF VARIETY, SOWING TIME AND IRRIGATION ON THE GROWTH OF WHEAT

Abstract

The experiment was conducted through November 2012 to March 2013 in the experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, to find out the effect of variety, sowing time and irrigation on growth of wheat. The experiment comprised three factors; Factors A: four improved wheat varieties viz. (i) V1 = BARI Gom 21 (Shatabdi), (ii) V2 = BARI Gom 25, (iii) V3 = BARI Gom 26 and (iv) V4 = BARI Gom 27; Factor B: three sowing times viz. S1: Sowing at 18 November, S2: Sowing at 03 December and S3: Sowing at 19 December, Factor C: two irrigation viz. I: Irrigation; I0: No irrigation i.e. control. The experiment was laid out in Split split plot design with three replications. Variety was assigned in the main plot, sowing time was in the sub-plots and irrigation was in the sub-sub plots. Data was taken on different morph physiological parameters such as plant height, number of tillers plant-1, leaves plant-1, leaf area index (LAI), seed and husk development, dry matter, crop growth rate (CGR) and relative growth rate (RGR) at different days after sowing (DAS). It was evident from the results that morpho physiological characters of wheat were significantly influenced by variety, sowing time and irrigation and their interaction. Experimental results indicated that plant height and LAI, number of tillers plant-1 and leaf plant-1 increased up to 45 DAS and there after declined. Seed and husk gained weight 78 and 94 DAS respectively and thereafter remained constant. Dry matter per plant increased up to maturity while CGR and RGR up to 60-90 DAS stage. Variety, sowing time, irrigation and their interactions had significant effect on the morphological parameters except CGR and RGR. At maturity V1S1I showed significantly the highest plant height (98.95 cm), number of tillers plant-1 (7.58) and leaves plant-1 (39.89), LAI (2.02), individual grain weight (0.05 g), and individual husk weight (0.017 g) and dry matter plant-1 (19.24 g).