Effect of Preceding Crops and Nutrient Management on Growth, Productivity and Quality of Wheat in Irrigated Conditions

A field experiment was conducted during 2007-08 and 2008-09 at Anand to study the production potential and economics as influenced by wheat based cropping sequence in middle Gujarat conditions. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications, keeping three preceding crops (Maize, Soybean and Greengram) in main plots and two levels of bio-organic (Control and Vermicompost @ 2.0 t ha-1), two nitrogen levels (50 % N of RD i.e. 60 kg N ha-1 and 100 % N of RD i.e. 120 kg N ha-1) and two levels of phosphorus (Control and 40 kg P205 ha-1) in sub-plots. Growing soybean and greengram as the preceding crop resulted significantly higher grain and straw yields of wheat than preceding maize crop. Among the different cropping sequence, the maximum wheat grain equivalent yield (WGEY) was recorded with soybean- wheat being 20.3 and 43.9 % higher than that of greengram - wheat and maize - wheat crop sequence, respectively. Nutrient management in wheat crop produced the highest grain and straw yields of wheat under vermicompost @ 2.0 t ha-1, which was 4.9 % more over control. Application of 100 % N of RD (120 kg N ha-1 recorded significantly higher grain yield of wheat and net realization than 50 % recommended N treatment. In case of phosphorus levels the application of 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 gave remarkably the highest grain yield and net return. Soybean - Wheat crop sequence secured maximum net return, land use efficiency and production efficiency under wheat crop fertilized with 120 kg N and 40 kg P2O5 ha-1.