EFFECT OF DIFFERENT NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS RATIOS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF WHEAT CULTIVAR ‘KHIRMAN

Field studies were conducted for two consecutive years during 2001-02 and 2002-03 at Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA), Tando Jam to investigate the response of wheat to different ratios of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Four levels of N (0, 90, 120 and 180 kg ha-1) and eight levels of P2O5 (0, 23, 30, 45, 60, 70, 90 and 135 kg ha-1) along with 60 kg K ha-1 in tencombinations were employed in different ratios i.e., (4:1, 4:2 and 4:3). Results showed that the agronomic parameters like plant height, number of grains/spike, grain weight/spike and 100-grain weight were influenced significantly by the application of N and P2O5. The highest biological yield was recorded with 180 kg N and 90 kg P2O5 ha-1, which was statistically identical to that produced by 120 kg N and 90 kg P2O5 ha-1. The yield trend at both years clearly indicated that application of N and P2O5 at 4:3 ratio improved their utilization efficiency. The results indicated that N and P2O5 combination of 120 and 90 kg ha-1 was suitable dose for obtaining the maximum yield of wheat under the agro-climatic conditions of Sindh