Effect of agronomic practices on green fodder, grain yield and economics of dual-purpose wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 at Almora, Uttaranchal, to find out optimum sowing time, seed rate and N fertilizer requirement to maximize grain yield, green fodder yield and economics of dual-purpose wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.). The treatments, comprising the green foliage cut (75 days after sowing), cut + additional 30 kg N/ha, cut + additional 25 kg seeds/ha, cut + additional 30 kg N and 25 kg seeds/ha, were evaluated against uncut under 2 sowing dates (22 October and 7 November). Crop sown on 22 October gave more green fodder yield and net returns by 1.71 tonnes/ha (34.8%) and Rs 2840/ha (25.6%), respectively, than that sown on 7 November. Crop cut for green fodder gave significantly lower grain yield (14.5%) than uncut crop, which however, was offset by applying additional 30 kg N/ha alone or in combination with additional 25 kg seeds/ha. Cut crop raised with additional 25 kg seeds and 30 kg N/ha together recorded the highest green fodder yield (6.15 tonnes/ha). This treatment also provided net return (Rs 13629/ha) comparable to that of uncut crop (Rs 13746/ha). However, other cutting treatments recorded less net returns when compared with uncut crop.