Moisture extraction pattern and ET-yield models in wheat under different management practices in central Punjab

Abstract

Under water limiting conditions, evaluation of sensitivity of crop growth stages to evapotranspiration is indispensable for efficient and judicious use of irrigation water. The present investigation was carried out at the research farm, School of Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during rabi 2006-07 and 2007-08. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with two planting methods i.e. flat planting (F) and planting on raised beds (B) and five irrigation levels. Flat planting method recorded higher soil moisture depletion / ET as compared to bed planting during both the years of investigation. During 2006-07, soil moisture depletion for rainfed and four post-sowing irrigation treatments was 256 and 376 mm for bed planted, whereas it was 285 and 402 mm for flat sown crop, respectively. Similarly during 2007-08, soil water depletion for the corresponding treatments was 286 and 437 mm for bed planted; whereas it was 337 and 467 mm for flat sown crop. Multiplicative and additive ET and yield models suggested reproductive growth to be the most sensitive crop growth stage to soil moisture.

Keywords

• Management practices
• planting methods
• irrigation schedules
• evapotranspiration
• ET-yield models