Phenological response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars under varying seed rates and nutrient management

Abstract

Phenological development plays a crucial role in determining wheat productivity as it regulates the duration of vegetative and reproductive growth phases. A field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2022–23 and 2023–24 at the Instructional Farm, DKS College of Agriculture and Research Station, Bhatapara, Chhattisgarh, India. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three cultivars (Chhattisgarh Amber wheat, Chhattisgarh Genhu-3 and GW-366) and two seed rates (100 and 150 kg ha⁻¹) in the main plots, and three nutrient levels [100% recommended dose of nutrients (RDN), 125% RDN and 100% RDN + 2 Foliar sprays of 19:19:19 + Azotobacter + PSB] in the sub-plots. Results revealed that phenological stages were significantly influenced by cultivar, seed rate and nutrient management. Chhattisgarh Amber wheat recorded the maximum days to 50% flowering and physiological maturity, while Chhattisgarh Genhu-3 exhibited earlier phenological development. Increasing seed rate to 150 kg ha⁻¹ accelerated flowering and maturity compared to 100 kg ha⁻¹. Application of 125% RDN significantly delayed flowering (67.9 days) and physiological maturity (125.8 days), whereas 100% RDN resulted in earlier crop development. The interaction effect showed that GW-366 with 100 kg seed rate ha⁻¹ under 125% RDN recorded the maximum days to 50% flowering (70.4 days), whereas Chhattisgarh Genhu-3 with 150 kg seed rate ha⁻¹ under 100% RDN exhibited the earliest flowering (59.4 days).