EFFECT OF TIME OF NITROGEN APPLICATION ON MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES OF DUAL-PURPOSE WHEAT

Wheat can be used as dual-purpose (forage and grain) crop, however, to avoid loss in grain yield, it requires proper fertilizer and crop management practices. In order to assess the effects of nitrogen time of application on growth and yield components of dual-purpose wheat, an experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Institute, Dera Ismail Khan, during the years 2009-10 and 2010-11. The results revealed that maximum number of productive tillers (m(-2)), number of grains spike(-1), leaf area index and duration (112 days after sowing), crop growth rate and grain yield was obtained in plots that received 75% recommended dose of nitrogen after cut. Fresh and dry forage yield were maximum either when full dose or 75% of recommended nitrogen was applied at sowing. Leaf area index and duration (56 days after sowing) was maximum when full dose of recommended nitrogen was applied at sowing. Minimum plant height was recorded in control plots. Split application of nitrogen increased grain protein content over sole or no application of nitrogen in dual-purpose wheat. The application of nitrogen either in two equal splits or 25% applied at sowing and 75% after cut resulted in increased benefit cost ratio.