CROP GROWTH ANALYSIS AND SEED DEVELOPMENT PROFILE OF WHEAT CULTIVARS IN RELATION TO SOWING DATES AND NITROGEN FERTILIZATION

Growth attributes from sowing to physiological maturity and seed developmental changes from anthesis to physiological maturity were monitored in two varieties of wheat (Pirsabaq-2005 and Khyber-87) under the influence of four sowing dates (Oct. 24th, Nov. 13th, Dec. 3rd and Dec. 23rd) and four levels of nitrogen (0, 100, 130 and 160 Kg ha(-1)) at New Developmental Farm of The University of Agriculture, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Peshawar, Pakistan during 2008-09 and 2009-10. Analysis of the two years average data indicated that early and normal (Oct. 24th and Nov. 13th) seeded crops resulted in the highest significant values of Crop Growth Rate (CGR) and Absolute Growth Rate (AGR) at third month of sampling after sowing, fresh seed weight (wet basis) and fresh seed germination (%) at 50 DAA (days after anthesis) but fresh seed moisture content was reduced up to 30-40% at 50 DAA while all the studied characters were declined under late seeded condition. Individual effect of 130 kg N ha(-1) was founded best for all the concern growth and seed developmental traits but further increase in nitrogen dose responded negatively to the concern study of crop and seed. All growth attributes and seed developmental profile under study revealed that interaction of early and normal sowing with 130 kg N ha(-1) using Pirsabaq-2005 cultivar, were also recorded for significant relation. The overall findings concluded that growing wheat variety Pirsabaq-2005 on Oct. 24th and Nov. 13th and application of 130 kg N ha(-1) could be more beneficial in the study area.