Effect of soil moisture regimes and fertility levels on growth, yield and water use efficiency of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Investigations were carried out at the Agricultural Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (India) during two consecutive rabi seasons of 2001-02 and 2002-03. soil is typically Gangetic alluvium (order-inceptions). The factors under study comprised of two depth of irrigation water (D₁- 45 mm and D₂-60 mm), 4 IW/CPE ratio (I₁-0.8 IW/CPE ratio, I₂-1.0 IW/CPE ratio, I₃-0.6 IW/CPE during vegetative phase and 1.0 IW/CPE ratio during reproductive phase and I₄-0.8 IW/CPE ratio during vegetative phase and 1.0 IW/CPE ratio during reproductive phase) and three fertility levels (F₁-60, 30, 30; F₂-120, 60,60 and F₃-180,90,90 kg N, P₂O₅, K₂O ha^-1). Combination of depth of irrigation water and irrigation based on IW/CPE ratio formed the main plot while fertility levels were allotted to sub plot treatment in Split Plot Design replicated thrice. The highest consumptive use was associated with 45 mm irrigation water in 2001-02 and 60 mm irrigation water during 2002-03. However, 45 mm irrigation resulted in 6.76 per cent increase in WUE over 60 mm in 2001-02 and 12.22 per cent during 2002-03 grain yield significant increase in yield was recorded upto F₂ level at 45 mm irrigation water (D₁F₂).