Efficiency of Dry Matter and Nitrogen Accumulation and Redistribution in Wheat as Affected by Tillage and Nitrogen Management

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted over 2 years with the hypothesis that farmyard manure (FYM), soybean residue (SR) as sole and/or in combination with urea under different tillage practices has similar effects on crop nitrogen (N) status and accumulation of dry matter (DM). Conventional ploughed plots had higher DM than other. Post anthesis accumulation of DM for minimum tillage (MT) was 4% higher than DT. Incorporation of 20 tons FYM ha⁻¹ combined with 30 or 60 kg ha⁻¹ had higher DM and N partitioned to leaves, stem, and spike than control. Leaves accumulated more DM at anthesis stage than other, whereas stem and spike at maturity than earlier stages. Fertilized plots had higher DM and N redistribution efficiency than control. However, N remobilization increased linearly with increasing DM accumulation (r² = 22%). It was concluded that FYM coupled with N under MT showed marked variations for DM partition and N status in wheat than other treatments.

Keywords:

• partition of dry matter
• N status
• accumulation
• redistribution efficiency
• wheat