EFFECT OF IRRIGATION SKIPPING AND POTASSIUM FOLIAR APPLICATION ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF WHEAT

Abstract

The experiment was carried out in the research field and laboratory of the Department of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur during the period of December 2022 to March 2023 with a view to evaluate the effect of foliar application of potassium (K) with irrigation withholding in different growth stages of wheat (Triticum aestivum). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design having three replications. The treatments were 1. K0 (well watered (WW), no spray of K), 2. K1 (irrigation withholding (IW) at tillering without K spray), 3. K2 (IW at tillering with 1%K spray), 4. K3 (IW at flowering without K spray), 5. K4 (IW at flowering with 1%K spray), 6. K5 (IW at milking without K spray), 7. K6 (IW at milking with 1%K spray). Results revealed that plant height, leaf number, tiller number, TDM, CGR, LAI and SPAD values were highest in K0 (WW, no spray of K) treatment which was followed by K6 (drought at milking with 1%K spray) treatment but the lowest value of the traits were recorded from K5 (IW at milking without K spray) treatment indicating that drought at milking stage without K spray was the most harmful for wheat growth. Days required to booting, anthesis and maturity showed significant variation due to treatment variations. With some exceptions, the highest days for those stages was required in K0 followed by K6 and the lowest days required in K1. Most of the yield components and yield of wheat varied significantly due to different treatments. K0 showed superiority over all the treatments followed by K6 and the lowest values were found from K5 (IW at milking without K spray). The present investigation was carried out to find out the effective time of foliar spray of potassium to reduce the adverse effect of water deficit stress in relation to growth and yield.