WHEAT RESPONSE TO FARM YARD MANURE AND NITROGEN FERTILIZATION UNDER MOISTURE STRESS CONDITIONS

Information on the combined use of organic and inorganic fertilizers on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity is lacking under moisture stress conditions of Northwest Pakistan. The present experiment was designed to ascertain the combined effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer management on rainfed wheat. Four levels of farm yard manure, FYM, (0, 10, 20, and 30 Mg FYM ha-1) and nitrogen (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg N ha-1) were used. The experiment was conducted at the Agriculture Research Farm of NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan during crop season of 2003-04. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with four replications. Plant height, productive tillers m-2, grains spike-1, grain yield, straw yield, and harvest index were significantly higher in plots which received 30 Mg FYM ha-1. In the case of nitrogen (N) no distinctive differences between the effect of 90 and 120 kg ha-1 was observed for most of the parameters. Nitrogen application at 90 kg ha-1 had significantly higher; plant height, grains spike-1, grain yield, straw yield, and harvest index as compared with the lower levels, i.e., 0, 30, and 60 kg N ha-1 but were at par with 120 N kg ha-1. Significantly higher numbers of productive tillers m-2, grains spike-1, grain yield, straw yield and harvest index were recorded with application of 30 Mg FYM ha-1 + 90 kg N ha-1. The present study suggested that application of 30 Mg FYM ha-1 + 90 kg N ha-1 are promising levels for higher production of wheat under moisture stress conditions. Further research work is needed to ascertain the effect of N above 90 kg ha-1 under different moisture regimes.