Effect of tillage and crop residue management on yield and yield contributing characters in durum wheat

The effect of tillage and crop residue management on yield and yield contributing characters of durum wheat (var. PDW 274) was studied on a loamy sand irrigated soil during 2004–05 and 2005–06. Different planting methods (conventional tillage, fresh beds, permanent beds and no tillage) gave similar grain yield. Grain yield, grains per ear and thousand grain weight were significantly higher where 10 t FYM ha⁻¹ along 80% of recommended fertilizer dose (80% RFD+ M₁₀) and crop residue incorporation/mulching along recommended fertilizer dose (RFD-R) were applied. Grain yield was found to be a function of dry matter production, leaf area index, PAR interception, canopy air and soil temperature. Grain yield was significantly correlated with dry matter production (r= 0.223 to 0.552), plant height (r= 0.780 to 0.921), tiller count (r= 0.246 to 0.673), leaf area index (r= 0.592 to 0.802), PAR interception (r= 0.671 to 0.917), grains per ear (r= 0.962), thousand grain weight (r= 0.864) and protein content (r= 0.678). Regression analysis revealed that grains per ear and thousand grain weight accounted for, 74.6 to 92.6 per cent variation in grain yield and relationship between both can be used to assess crop yield.