The effect of phosphorus and time of nitrogen application on growth and yield of wheat (T. aestivum) [Sudan]

A field experiments were conducted during the 1994/95 and 1995/96 seasons at Gezira Scheme, Amara Kasier block, Wadi Shier group to investigates the effect of phosphorous fertilization and time of nitrogen application on the performance of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The phosphorous levels were 0 (P0), 18 (P1) and 36 Kg P2O5/fed (P2). The time of nitrogen application treatments inclode: the whole dose applied at sowring (T1); The whole dose applied before the first irrigation (T2); half of the dose applied before the first irrigation and the other half before the second irrigation (T3); half of the dose at sowing and the other half six weeks later (T4). During both seasons phosphorous significantly (P 0.05) increased plant height, flag leaf area, tillers/m to power tow, ears/m to power tow, and finally the grain and straw yield of wheat crop. The effect of phosphorous on spike length, spikelets per spike and number of grains per spike was not significant, but the trend was that slight increase was detected for these parameters due to phosphorous.On the other hand, thousand grain weight decreased with addition of phodphorous but the effect was not significant. The protein content of the grain decreased significantly (P0.05) with application of phosphorous during the second season. The effect of time of nitrogen application was significant (P0.05) on the tillers/m to power tow during the earing stage (85 days after sowing) during both seasons, but its effect on most of growth attributes, yield components, grain and straw yield was not significant. However, phosphorous X time of nitrogen application interaction for grain yield was significant indicating that response to phosphorous depends on time of nitrogen application. The effect of time of nitrogen application on grain protein content was not significant, but delaying nitrogen application seemed to increase grain protein