Effect of different sowing dates on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars under mid hill situation of West Bengal

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi 2008-09 and 2009-2010 at the Regional Research Station (Hill Zone) of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalimpong (1250 m amsl), to elucidate the ef- fect of different sowing dates and cultivars on yield of wheat ( Triticum aestivum (L.) emend Fiori & Paol.). The experiment was conducted in split plot design with 3 replications with treatments comprising five dates of sowing viz. Nov. 1, Nov. 15, Nov. 30, Dec. 15 and Dec. 30 in main plots and 6 different wheat cultivar viz. HS 473, HPW 236, VL 875, HS 365, VL 832, PBW 343 and SKW 196 in sub-plots. Sowing on Novem- ber 15, significantly influenced most yield attributes and was at par with November 30 sowing, but signifi- cantly superior to later sowings. The highest grain yield was obtained with November 15 sowing (2.79 and 2.49 t/ha), which was at par with November 30, and November 1 sowings in first year and in second year this was statistically similar with all date of sowing except extreme late sown condition. Sowing in mid November gave 14.9 and 26.2% more grain yield over December 30 sowing. Amongst the cultivars, HS 473 was found to be best and gave significantly more grain yield than HS 365 (2.93 and 2.74 t/ha) and was at par with VL 875 (2.86 and 2.50 t/ha) and PBW 343 (2.89 and 2.61 t/ha). More biomass production was recorded with early November 15 sowing, which was at par with November 30 sowing. Within the cultivars, maximum biomass production was recorded with HS 473 (7.78 and 7.28 t/ha) and was statisti- cally at par with VL 875, SKW 196 and PBW 343. Uptake of NPK was most with PBW 343, which was at par with HS 473. Maximum net return ( 24,926 and 23,192/ha, respectively) recorded with No- vember 15 sowing, followed by November 30 sowing. This treatment also recorded higher B: C ratio (2.11 and 2.03, respectively). Amongst cultivars, maximum net return ( 26,986 and 24,368/ha) and B: C ratio (2.21 and 2.08) was recorded with cultivar HS 473 followed by PBW 343 and SKW 196.