Evaluating growth, radiation use efficiency (RUE) and yield performance of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in response to nitrogen and irrigation

Reduced irrigation and nitrogen amount can be effective for yield and yield components and wheat yield can be limited by both of these factors. Radiation use efficiency for total dry matter and grain yield has been calculated from intercepted radiation throughout crop season which has significant effects on total dry matter and grain yield. A field experiment was conducted at postgraduate Agricultural Research Station (PARS), University of Agriculture, FaisaIabad on wheat cultivar Millat-2011 during 2nd week of November, 2013 to study its response to various irrigation and nitrogen regimes. Treatments were comprised of all possible combinations of irrigation levels and nitrogen doses. Three levels of irrigation I1 = Full irrigation of 75 mm at tillering, stem elongation, booting and grain formation, I2 = 80% of full irrigation at tillering, stem elongation, booting and grain formation and I3 = 60% of full irrigation at tillering, stem elongation, booting and grain formation) was randomized in main plots and three doses of nitrogen N1=55 kg per ha, N2=110 kg per ha (Recommended) and N3= 165 kg per ha) was allocated in Sub plots using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement. Results indicated that maximum plant height (95.40 cm), leaf area index (4.90), total dry matter (1597.49 g m-2), number of productive tillers (393 m-2), Harvest index (36.3 8%), biological yield (15100 kg per ha) and grain yield (5540 kg per ha) were achieved in treatment (I1N3) where 75 mm of irrigation Was applied at tillering, stem elongation, booting and grain formation stage with 165 kg N per ha was applied which was statistically at par with treatment (I1N2) where 75mm of irrigation at all critical growth stages with recommended dose of nitrogen (110 kg per ha) was applied. Radiation use efficiency significantly affects the TDM and GY under different fertilizer and irrigation regimes.