A.K. Dhaka

Improvement of Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) Yield by Different Row Spacings and Varieties

A field experiment was conducted at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during rabi 2011-12 and 2012-13 to study improvement of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield by different row spacing and varieties. Three wheat varieties viz. DBW 17, PBW 550 and WH 711 with four row spacings (15.0, 17.5, 20.0 and 22.5 cm) were studied in experimentation split plot design. Results of the experiment revealed that all parameters including growth, yield and yield attributes were significantly influenced by different row spacings. Based on pooled mean data, maximum plant height (90.8 cm) and effective tillers/ m2 (481) were recorded in 15.0 cm row spacing crop, which were significantly higher than wider row spacing whereas, highest 1000 grain weight (42.7 g) and grains/earhead (41.9) were observed in 22.5 cm row spacing. The highest grain yield (54.0 q/ha) and straw yield (84.7 q/ha) were recorded when crop was sown at 15.0 cm row spacing, which was significantly higher than 20.0 and 22.5 cm row spacing crop. Among the cultivars, WH 711 recorded highest 1000 grains weight (43.5 g), whereas maximum grains/earhead were recorded in PBW 550 (41.9). Maximum grain yield (52.7 q/ha) was recorded in PBW 550 though the differences were non significant among different varieties, whereas, maximum straw yield (83.9 q/ha) was found in WH 711. Harvest index of PBW 550 (40.1) was significantly higher than DBW 17 and WH 711.

Economic and Land Use Evaluation of Barley Based Intercropping Systems

A field experiment was conducted at CCSHAU, Hisar during the Rabi season of 2013–14 in thrice replicated randomized block design with thirteen treatments to evaluate the intercropping of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)with mustard, chickpea and fenugreek with different row ratio in replacement series. Results revealed that barley seed yield was reduced more drastically in barley + mustard intercropping compared to barley intercropped with chickpea and fenugreek. Among intercropping treatments, barley + mustard (6:3) proved most economical barley based intercropping system having maximum barley equivalent yield (7936 kg ha−1, net return (66333 ha−1), B:C ratio (2.90), net return per day (451.2), RNRI (1.57), profit margin (65.5) and IAI (+1798.5) followed by barley + fenugreek (6:3) with highest values of LER (1.32), LEC (0.42), ATER (1.28), LUE (129.8per cent), SPI (66.2), MAI (18508 ha−1), MER (1.31) and IER (1.34). Among different row patterns, barley intercropped with either of the intercrop at 6:3 row ratio provided best performance. Hence, barley + mustard (6:3) intercropping system can be a best option to get more monetary return and resource use efficiency compared to their monocultures.