Effect of Different Levels of Phosphorus and Method of Application on the Growth and Yield of Wheat

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the productivity of wheat under different levels of phosphorus and method of application at Department of Agronomy, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam. Experiment was laid out in a RCBD (factorial) with three replications. The treatments were four phosphorus levels (P1 = 0 Kg?ha–1 + Recommended Nitrogen, P2 = 30 Kg?ha–1 + Recommended Nitrogen, P3 = 60 Kg?ha–1 + Recommended Nitrogen and P4 = 90 Kg?ha–1 + Recommended Nitrogen) and two placement methods (A1 = Drilling method and A2 = Broadcast method). The statistical analysis of phosphorus levels and placement exhibited significant differences to the maturity days, plant height, tiller production, spike length, grains per spike, seed index, harvest index and grain yield ha–1. However, the interactions of P levels and placement in all crop characters were non-significant except the grain yield/ha–1. The results revealed that application of 90 kg P ha–1 prolonged 143 days for maturity, taller plants (100.16 cm), more tiller plant–1 (13.50), lengthy spikes (12.83 cm), more grains spike–1 (51.33), heavier seed index (48.16 g), better harvest index (50.82%) and satisfactory grain yield (4240.50 Kg?ha–1). The unit increase in grain yield was positively correlated with the increased values of observed crop parameters by extending the values of maturity r = 0.85, plant height r = 0.94, tillers plant r = 0.96, spike length r = 0.95, grains spik–1 r = 0.97, seed index r = 0.95 and harvest index r = 0.97. It was concluded that 90 kg P ha–1 was superior level of phosphorus if, applied with seed drilling for obtaining satisfactory grain yield of wheat crop.