Field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 at G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. The experiment was conducted in split plot design on wheat variety UP-2565 to study phenological development and yield of wheat in relation to sowing dates, seed priming and foliar nutrition. Main plot treatments consisted of two sowing date i.e. timely (November 28) and late (December 28) and seed priming with 2.0% KCl for 12 hours and non-primed seed. Sub plot treatment consisted of foliar treatment including foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSO4, 0.5% CaCl2, 0.5% KNO3, 2.0% urea and control. Foliar spray was done at maximum tillering and 80% flowering stage. Results revealed that grain yield reduction in late sown wheat was 22.9% and 24.0% during first and second crop season, respectively in comparison to timely sown wheat. Late sown crop showed significant reduction in number of days to attain phenological phases due to effect of high temperature at late vegetative phases. Commencement of days to flowering, anthesis and physiological maturity were 12.4 and 10.3 days (2016-17 and 2017-18 respectively), 12.1 and 11.3 days (2016-17 and 2017-18 respectively), 9.7 and 8.5 days (2016-17 and 2017-18 respectively) earlier in late sown than timely sown wheat crop. In seed priming treatment occurrence of phenological phases 1.9 to 2.8 days earlier than non-primed seed. There was no significant variation in yield attributes and grain yield due to seed priming. Foliar nutrition resulted significant increment in grain yield over no spray treatment. Grain yield increased by 28.9% and 23.7% with 2% urea, 26.8 and 19.4% with 0.5% ZnSO4, 21.7 and 14.6% with 0.5% KNO3 and 17.2 and 9.3% with 0.5% CaCl2 foliar spray during 1st and 2nd year, respectively. Timely sown wheat responded more to foliar treatment than late sown in relation to increment in grain yield. Foliar spray of 2% urea in timely (Nov 28) sown crop seemed the most productive combination followed by foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSO4 in same sowing date. Foliar spray of urea @ 2% and ZnSO4 @ 0.5% treatments were more viable for both the sowing dates and can compensate the yield loss.

Download this article as