Phosphorous and beneficial microorganism influence yield and yield components of wheat under full and limited irrigated conditions

ABSTRACT

Field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of phosphorus (P) and beneficial microorganism (BM) on the yield and yield components wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Siren-2010). The experiment was conducted under full (five irrigations) and limited (two) irrigation conditions at the Research Farm of The University of Agriculture Peshawar during winter 2012–13. The experiment under both full and limited irrigated conditions was laid out in randomized complete block design using three replications. The results showed that irrigated plots produced more spikes m⁻² (254), grains spike⁻¹ (55.5), heavier thousand grains weight (39.4 g), and higher grain yield (3612 kg ha⁻¹ than limited irrigated condition. Application of P at the highest rate (90 kg P ha⁻¹) produced more spikes m⁻² (260) and grains spike⁻¹ (52.4), and increased maximum thousand grain weight (39.1 g) and grain yield (3617 kg ha⁻¹). Application of BM at the highest rate (30 L ha⁻¹) resulted in maximum number of spikes m⁻² (257) and grains spike⁻¹(51.7), highest thousand grains weight (39.1 g) and grain yield (3765 kg ha⁻¹). The results confirmed that under full irrigated condition the increase in both P and BM levels (90 kg P ha⁻¹ and 30 L ha⁻¹, respectively) and under limited irrigated condition the intermediate levels of both P and BM (60 kg P ha⁻¹ and 20 L ha⁻¹, respectively) could increase wheat productivity under semi-arid conditions.

KEYWORDS:

• Beneficial microorganism
• irrigation
• phosphorus
• wheat
• yield