NUTRIENT UPTAKE, GROWTH AND YIELD OF WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) AS AFFECTED BY MANGANESE APPLICATION

The study was carried out for two consecutive years (2005-06 to 2006-07) to evaluate the wheat response to five different levels (0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 kg ha(-1)) of manganese (Mn) alongwith 150-100-60 kg NPK ha(-1) application. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three repeats under irrigated conditions at Agriculture Research Farm Karor, District Layyah. NPK was applied in the form of urea, triple super phosphate and sulphate of potash while Mn was applied in the form of manganese sulphate (30% Mn). Wheat variety BK-2002 was tested for both the years. Average of two years results showed a positive and significant response of wheat to Mn application. The highest grain yield of 4.59 t ha(-1) was achieved with the highest application of 16 kg Mn ha(-1) along with NPK against 3.96 t ha(-1) from NPK alone. Maximum wheat straw yield of 6.11 t ha(-1) was obtained with the 16 kg Mn ha(-1) while lowest (5.67 t ha(-1)) with the NPK alone. The uptake of N, K and Mn was significantly increased with the application of Mn except P.