PJB-2021-475
IMPACT OF PHOSPHORUS AND TILLAGE MANAGEMENT ON WHEAT PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILITY
Hamdan Ali Khan
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) unavailability and lack of organic matter in the soils under semiarid climates are the two major constraints for the low wheat productivity and profitability. A two consecutive year’s i.e. 2017-18 (Y1) and 2018-19 (Y2) field experiment was conducted to study the impact of P and tillage management on wheat productivity and profitability. The experiment was accomplished at the Agronomy Research Farm of The University of Agriculture Peshawar. The experiment was comprised of two tillage depths, shallow (15 cm) and deep (30 cm)), organic sources [animal manures: (poultry manure & cattle manure) vs. crops residues: (mungbean residues & sugar cane residues) each applied at the rate of 10 t ha-1] and four P levels (0, 60, 90 and 120 kg ha-1). The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block (RCB) design with split plot arrangement, having three replications. Tillage depths and organic sources were allotted to main plots, and P-levels into sub-plots. Plot size was kept 3m x 5m (15 m2) having 10 rows, 30 cm apart and 5 m long. Seed rate of 120 kg ha-1on flat beds were used. The results showed that days to emergence and emergence m-2 was not significantly affected by tillage depths, organic sources and P levels. Deep tillage produced taller plants (101.9 cm), maximum spike length (10.9 cm), more days to anthesis (127 d) and physiological maturity (162), more number of leaves (6), leaf area (3.3), leaf area index (3.3), leaves (110.4 and 87.1 g m-2), stem (379.1 and 456.8 g m-2), and spike (125.8 and 470.4 g m-2) dry weights at anthesis and physiological maturity, respectively. Maximum number of spikes m-2 (279) grains spike-1 (39), thousand grains weight (36.8 g), biological yield (9511 kg ha-1), grain yield (3614 kg ha-1), grain P content (0.336 mg kg-1), straw P contents (152 mg kg-1), soil P content (4.68 mg kg-1), benefit cost ratio (3.24), net returns (168067 PKR) obtained under deep tillage during both years. Application of poultry manure significantly delayed days to anthesis (127 d) and physiological maturity (162 d), increased number of leaves (6), leaf area (148.6 cm2), LAI (3.3), higher leaves (110.4 and, 88.1 g m-2), stem (383.7 and 467.6 g m-2), and spike (127.7 and 474.0 g m-2) dry weights at anthesis and physiological maturity, respectively. Poultry manure produced higher biological yield (9716 kg ha-1), grain yield (3664 kg ha-1), grain P content (0.352 mg kg-1), straw P content (0.160 mg kg-1), soil P content (4.70 mg kg-1), benefit cost ratio (3.24), net return (171629 PKR) followed by cattle manure. Phosphorus (P) application at the rate of 90 kg P ha-1 produced highest grain yield (4068 kg ha-1), grain P content (0.371 mg kg-1), soil P content (5.09 mg kg-1) and harvest index (40.4%). P at the rate of 60 kg P ha-1 enhanced BCR and P use efficiency (PUE), followed by 90 kg P ha-1. From the results it was concluded that most of the agronomic and quality parameters of wheat were higher with integrated use of 120 kg P ha-1 and poultry manure under deep tillage system. Therefore, application of 120 kg P ha-1 along with poultry manure and deep tillage system could increase wheat productivity and profitability under semiarid climate of Peshawar.
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