Enhancing yield and water productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum) through furrow irrigated raised bed system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains of India

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2006–08 at Hisar, India to study the effects of planting patterns and cultivars on the water productivity and grain yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.). In this experiment, 3 wheat cultivars were sown in 6 planting patterns including 5 bed configurations in furrow irrigated bed planting systems and 1 flat planting with row-to-row distance of 22.5 cm. In furrow irrigated bed planting systems, the crop was planted on the top of beds of 75 cm bed, 2 rows (B75–2); 75 cm bed, 3 rows (B75–3); 90 cm bed, 2 rows (B90–2); 90 cm bed, 3 rows (B90–3) and 90 cm bed, 4 rows (B90–4). The results showed that by following furrow irrigated bed planting systems, on an average 40% water was saved as compared to 1 flat planting with row spacing of 22.5 cm with significant increase in the productivity of water. In furrow irrigated bed planting systems, B90–3 and ‘WH 1022’ displayed significantly higher water productivity compared with other treatments (2.25 and 1.75 kg/m3). Physiological traits, yield attributes and yields were significantly influenced by planting patterns and wheat cultivars. However planting pattern×cultivar interaction was significant for leaf area index, photosynthetic rate, the number of spikes/m2 and biological yield. ‘WH 1022’ showed higher photosynthetic rate than ‘PBW 343’ and ‘WH 711’ in furrow irrigated bed planting system except B90–4 while the latter 2 cultivars showed higher photosynthetic rate in flat planting with row spacing of 22.5 cm. On an average, transpiration rate was higher for ‘WH 1022’ and ‘PBW 343’ than the ‘WH 711’. In all planting patterns, ‘WH 1022’ and ‘PBW 343’ gave significant higher number of spikes/m2 except in flat planting with row spacing of 22.5 cm and biological yield than ‘WH 711’. The grain yield was significantly higher in B90–3 (6180.39 kg/ha) and cultivar ‘WH 1022’ (5 219 kg/ha).