Effect of Nitrogen and Boron on the Yield of Wheat Cv. Kanchan

J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 3(2): 215-220, 2005 ISSN 1810-3030

Effect of nitrogen and boron on the yield of wheat cv. Kanchan

M.M. Khan', A.K. Hasan2, M.H. Rashid2, and F. Ahrned3 Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), 2 3 Sher-e-Banglanagar, Dhaka, Department of Agronomy and Department of Agroforestry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh Abstract

An experiment was carried out at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from January to April 2004 to study the effect of different levels of nitrogen and boron on the yield of wheat cv. Kanchan. The treatments included four levels of nitrogen VIZ., 45, 60, 85 and 110 kg N ha-1 and four levels of boron viz., 0, 1, 2 and 3 kg B ha-1. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The results revealed that Yield and yield contributing characters were influenced significantly by both levels of nitrogen and boron. Among the levels of nitrogen, 110 kg N ha-1 produced the highest grain (5.54 t ha-1)and straw (8.21 t ha-1 ) yields. The lowest grain (3.23 t ha-1) and straw (5.52 t ha-1) yields were observed with the application of 45 kg N ha-1. The highest grain (4.95 t ha-1)and straw (7.38 t ha 1)yields were produced With 3 kg B ha -1. The minimum grain (3.59 t ha-1)and straw (6.14 t ha-1)yields were found in the control treatment. Highest plant height (103.23cm) and grains spike-1 (62.53) of was observed due to interaction 110 kg N ha-l and 3 kg B ha-1. •

Keywords: Nitrogen, Boron, Kanchan variety, Wheat yield Introduction

Scarcity of food has become a chronic problem of Bangladesh. To mitigate the food Shortages, measures should be taken to increase total food production. Since the area is fixed, the scope of horizontal expansion of cropping is limited. The shortage of food grains can not be easily met by growing rice alone. To solve the food problem more attention should be given to cultivate rice along with supplementary grain crops like wheat, maize and other cereals.

The use of fertilizers as a means of supplementing the natural food 'supplies in the soil is very important among the various factors involved in the crop production as well as in proper maintenance of soil fertility. Essential nutrients, which are deficient in soil, must the be added in form of fertilizers in order to obtain optimum production. Rate of N application has a great influence on growth, development and yield of wheat. Grain yield . of wheat increases with increasing nitrogen level up to 120 kg ha (Malik et Very -1 al., 1987). low levels of N fertilizer do not supply proper nutrient to plants while the higher levels encourage over growth of the crop, which eventually reduces the yield. Application of nitrogen above the optimum dose decreases seed and straw yields (Gehi et a/., 1990). Boron, an essential micronutrient, plays a vital role in the physiological process of wheat Plant such as cell elongation, cell maturation, translocation, - sugar meristematic tissue development, protein synthesis and ribosome formation (Mengel to and Kirkby, 1982). It helps develop root system, fruit setting and grain formation. The deficiency and toxicity level of boron is 15ppm and above 200ppm, respectively (Stevenson, 1985). 216 Nitrogen and boron effect on wheat yield

Boron deficiency causes grain yield reduction through impaired development of anthers and pollen grains, and ultimately failure of seed setting. The soils of Bangladesh in some areas are deficient of some microelements and boron is one of them. However, there are a few reports of the effects of boron in wheat in Bangladesh (BINA, 1993; BAR I, 1978).

Hence, the present experiment was undertaken to study the effect of nitrogen and boron using the cultivar "Kanchan" to find out the effect of rate of nitrogen and boron on the yield and yield components of wheat as well as to determine the optimum rate of nitrogen and boron for better wheat production.

Materials and Methods

The experiment was carried out at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from January to April 2004. The experimental soil belongs to Sonatola series of dark-grey floodplain soil type (AEZ-9). The texture is silt loam having non-calcareous soil with pH 6.7. The soil is low in organic matter content and its general fertility level is also low (UNDP and FAO, 1988). The experiment consisted of the following factors (a) levels of nitrogen viz., 45, 60, 85, 110 kg N ha-1 and (b) levels of boron viz., 0, 1, 2, 3 kg B ha-1. `Kanchan', a wheat variety used as the test crop. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. There were altogether 48 plots each of which measuring 4.0m x 2.5m. Nitrogen and boron were applied through urea and boric acid. The land was fertilized with 80 kg TSP, 60 kg MP,60 kg gypsum and 10 kg Zn ha-1. Boron, TSP, MP, gypsum, Zn and one-third of urea were applied as basal dose. The rest of nitrogen was top dressed in two equal splits on 20 and 55 days after sowing (DAS). Seeds were sown continuously by hand in 20cm apart rows on 2 January 2004 at the rate of 120 kg ha-1. Weeding and irrigation were done twice before urea application. The crop was harvested at 5 April, 2004 when the crop attained full maturity. Five hills excluding border rows and central 1m2 area were randomly selected and uprooted from each unit plot prior to harvest for recording the data on yield and yield contributing characters. Grains were threshed, cleaned and sun dried and the grain yield p1011 was recorded at 14% moisture content. Straw was also dried at same moisture content to record the straw yield p1011. Data were collected on the yield and yield components and analyzed statistically and mean differences were adjudged by DMRT (Gomez and Gomez, 1984).

Results and Discussion

Effect of nitrogen

Nitrogen levels showed significant variation in respect of all the characters of wheat (Table 1). Plant height increased with the increasing levels of nitrogen. The maximum plant height (97.11cm) was found by applying 110 kg N ha-1 and the lowest one (82.02cm) was obtained by applying 45 kg N had. Nitrogen induced exuberant vegetative growth and for this reason higher rates of nitrogen resulted increase in plant height in this experiment. Similar effect of nitrogen on plant height has also been expressed by Awasthi and Bhan (1993), Patel et al. (1995) and Kumar et al. (1999). These authors observed that plant height increased as the higher doses of nitrogen applied. The maximum number (6.23) of effective tillers hill-1 was found at 110 kg N ha-1 and 45 kg N ha-1 produced the lowest number (3.65). Spike length increased with the increasing rates of N up to 110 kg N ha-1. The longest spike (12.87cm) was recorded from the plots when N was applied at 110 kg N ha andthe shortest spike Khan et 217

(9.58cm) was obtained at 45 kg N ha-1. Nitrogen takes part in spike formation as well as spike elongation and for this reason spike length increased with the increase of N fertilizer. Similar • result was found by Kumar et al. (1999). Number of grains spike- increased with the increase of N up to 110 kg N ha-1, the highest number of grains spike-1 (53.02) was recorded by nitrogen applied at 110 kg N ha-land the lowest number (39.02) was found at 45 kg N Similar effect of nitrogen in wheat was also recorded by Bellido et a/. (2000), who expressed that number of grains spike-1 increased significantly with increase of the nitrogen rate. The highest number of Spikelet spike-1 (23.10) was produced when the crop was fertilized with 110 kg N ha-land the lowest number (17.98) was produced at 45 kg N ha-1 which was statistically identical with 60 kg N ha-1. Similar trend was expressed by Dhuka et al. (1991). Nitrogen probably encouraged Spikelet production and for that reason number of spikelets spike-1 increased with the increase of N fertilization. The maximum 1000-grain weight (37.62g) was found from 110 kg N ha-land the lowest weight (22.40g) was at 45 kg N ha-1. Nitrogen produced heavy and plum grains, thus 1000-grain weight was increased. Similar result was also observed by Kumar et aL (1999). Grain yield is generally the produced of five components, namely number of effective tillers hill-1, number of spikes plant-1, number of spikelets spike-1, number of grains spike-1 and individual grain weight. Different levels of nitrogen treatment had a significant influence on grain yield of wheat. The highest grain yield (5.54 t ha-1)was observed when the crop was fertilized with 110 kg N ha-1. The lowest grain yield (3.23 t ha-1) was found at 45 kg N ha-1. A similar result was reported by Bellido et al. (2000) who got better grain yield by increased amount of N fertilizer over the declined rates of N fertilizer. The highest straw yield (8.21 t ha-1) was produced by the application of 110 kg N ha-land the lowest straw yield (5.52 t ha-1) found at 45 kg N ha-1, which was statistically identical with 60 kg N had. The findings of the present study were similar with those of Patel et al. (1991) and Kumar et al. (1999) who reported that straw yield increased with the increasing level of nitrogen. More harvest index indicates more mobilization of assimilates to sink. The maximum harvest index (40.23%) was obtained with the application of 110 kg N ha-1 and The lowest value of harvest index (36.95%) was found at 45 kg N ha-1 which was statistically identical with 60 kg N ha-1. Awasthi and Bhan (1993) also expressed similar result. Effect of Boron Application of different levels of boron also responded significantly in respect of all the characters of wheat (Table 2). The highest plant height (93.48cm) was obtained from 3 kg B ha and that of lowest (84.10cm) was recorded in control. The maximum number of effective tillers hill-1(6.07) was recorded at 3 kg B ha-land the minimum number (4.10) was found from control treatment. The longest spike (12.66cm) was observed at 3 kg B ha-1 and the shortest one (10.05cm) was observed in control treatment. The highest number of grains spike-1 (54.46) was observed at 3 kg B ha-1. The lowest number of grains spike-1 (39.10) was Observed in control treatment. The higher number of grains spike-1 was probably attributed by reduction of sterility of wheat as boron reduces male sterility of wheat. The highest number of Spikelet spike-1 (21.78) was obtained at 3 kg B ha-1 which was statistically identical with 2 kg B ha-l and the lowest number (19.01) was obtained at control which was statistically identical with 1 kg B ha-1. The 1000-grain weight was highest (31.36g) noted at 3 kg B ha-land the lowest one (27.02g) was found at control which was statistically identical with 1 kg B ha-1. Grain yield was influenced significantly due to the different levels of boron application. The highest grain yield (4.95 t ha-1)was obtained with the application of 3 kg B ha-land the lowest one (3.59 t ha-1) was obtained from control treatment. The increment of yield was mainly attributed probably due to production of more number of grains spike-1 having 1000-grain weight. The highest straw yield (7.38 t ha-1) was observed at 3 kg B ha-1 that was statistically identical with 2 kg B ha andthe lowest yield (6.14 t ha-1)at 0 kg B ha-1 which was statistically identical with 1 kg B had. Harvest index also showed a significant variation due to the application of different levels of boron fertilizer. Table 1. Effect of nitrogen levels on the yield and yield components of wheat cv. Kanchan CO Nitrogen level Plant height Effective tillers Spike length Grains spike-1 Spikelets 1000-grain Grain yield Straw yield Harvest index hill-1 (cm) (no.) spike (no.) weight (g) (cm) (no.) (t ha-1) (t ha-1) (%) - - _ N1(45 kg N had) 82.02d*, .. 3.65d 9.58d 39.10d 17.98c 22.40d 3.23d . 5.52c 36.95c N2(60 kg N ha-1) 84.62c 4.49c 11.17c 42.42c 19.16c 25.26c . 3.47c _ 5.84c 37.23c N3(85 kg N ha-1) 93.94b 5.75b 12.03b 48.95b 20.92b 30.75b 4.67b ._ 7.47b 38.50b N4(110 kg N ha-1) 97.11a 6.23a 12.87a 54.46a , 23.10a 37.62a 5.54a 8.21a 40.23a SR- 0.75 0.14 0.24 0.35 0.45 0.38 0.06 0.17 0.59 Level of significance 0.01 0.01 0.01 .0.01 • 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 "In a column figurers with same letter or without letters do not differ significantly

Table 2. Effect of boron on the on the yield and yield components of wheat cv. Kanchan Boron level Plant height Effective tillers Spike length Grains Spikelets 1000-grain Grain yield Straw yield Harvest index (cm) hill-1 (no.) spike-1 (no.) spike-1 (no.) weight (g) (cm.) (t ha-1) (t he) , (%) Nitrogen B1(0 kg B ha-1) 84.10c" 4.10d 10.05c 39.92d 19.01c 27.02c 3.59d 6.14c 36.66c B2(1 kg B ha-1) 87.72b 4.68c 11.12b 43.21c i_ 19.84bc 28.04c 4.00c 6.52bc 37.97b B3(2 kg B ha-1) 92.11a

5.31b 11.74b 48.78b , 20.51ab 29.61b 4.35b 6.99ab 38.14b and and B4(3 kg B ha-1) 93.78a 6.07a 12.66a 53.02a 21.78a , 31.36a 4.95a 7.38a 40.17a

0.75 0.0.14 boron SK 0.24 0.36 0.45 0.38 0.59 0.17 0.59 ., Level of significance 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01

"In a column figurers with same letter or without letters do not differ significantly effect

on on

wheat wheat yiel yiel Table 3. Interaction effect of nitrogen and boron on the yield and yield components of wheat cv. Kanchan Interaction Plant height Effective tillers Spike length Grain spike'. Spikelets 1000-grain Grain yield (nitrogen Straw yield Harvest index level (cm) hill'. (no.) (cm) spike'. (no.) weight (g) x boron level) (no.) • (t ha-1) (t he) (%) Ni xBi 77.15h* , 3.30 ,. 9.09 1 • 33.97k 16 16 21.39 2.63 4.80 35.35 N1 xB2 81.06fgh 3.40 9.43 37.41ij 17.40 22.20 3.07 5.27 36.84 NI xB3 84.53efg 3.70 9.39 40.33gh 18.52 22.48 3.23 5.45 , 37.74 N1 xai 85.33cdef 4.20 10.40 _ 44.67f 19.85 23.54 3.97 6.57 37.88 N2 xBi 80.10gh 3.60 9.46 37.10j 17.15 22.20 2.91 5.80 . 33.52 N2 XB2 84.37efg 4.30 10.95 39.25hi 17.69 ' 23.26 . 3.37 5.40 38.37 N2xB3 88.93cde 4.70 11.70 44.71f 20.30 26.28 _ 3.47 6.47 34.94 N2 xa4 85.07def 5.37 12.55 _ 48.65de 21.51 ' 29.29 4.13 5.67 . 42.21 N3 xBi 89.53cd 4.60 10.55 41.95g 20.58 ' 28.78 i 4.07 6.50 38.74 N3 XB2 90.10c 5.37 11.61 45.58f 20.91 , 30.47 4.38 7.23 37.74 N3 XB3 94.67b 6.10 12.64 52.02c 20.44 30.82 4.92 7.97 38.15 N3 XB4 101.47a 6.93 13.32 56.24b , 21.75 32.93 _ 5.30 8.17 39.38 N4 xBi 89.57cd , 4.90 11.10 46.66ef 22.15 35.69 4.77 7.47 .. 39.03 N4 XB2 95.33h , 5.67 12.77 50.61cd 23.36 _ 36.21 5.20 8.17 38.91 N4 x83 100.30a 6.73 13.23 58.04b 22.78 38.87 , 5.80 8.10 41.73 N4 XB4 103.23a 7.77 14.37 62.53a 24.02 , 39.69 6.40 , 9.10 41.27 1.50 SK 0.28 0.47 0.70 0.89 0.76 0.12 0.35 1.18 _. Level of 0.05 NS NS 0.01 NS NS NS NS • NS significance Ni = 45 kg,N ha-1 N2= 60 kg N ha-1 N3= 85 kg iN ha-1 N4= 110 kg N ha-1 Bi= 0 kg B ha-1 B2= 1 kg B ha-1 B3= 2 kg B ha- B4= 3 kg B ha- *In a column figurers with same letter or without letters do not differ significantly 220 Nitrogen and boron effect on wheat yield

Effect of interaction between nitrogen and boron

Plant height (103.33cm) and grains spike-1(62.53) showed significant influence with the interaction effect of nitrogen and boron levels at the rate of 110kg N ha-1 and 3 Kg B had. Other parameters did not show significant influence with the interaction effect of nitrogen and boron levels (Table 3).

The highest plant height (103.23cm), number of effective tillers plant-1 (7.77), spike length (14.37cm), number of grains spike-1 (62.53), spikelets spike-1(24.02), 1000-grain weight 1 (39.69 g), grain yield (6.40 t ha-1), straw yield (9.10 t ha )and harvest index (42.21%) were observed at a combination of 110 kg N had. x 3 kg B ha-1. Correspondingly the lowest values of these parameters were observed at the combination of 45 kg N ha-1 x 0 kg B ha-1. From the results of the present study, it may be inferred that wheat cultivar `Kanchan' grown successfully for obtaining maximum yield with the application of 110 kg N ha-1 and 3 kg B ha-1 at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University. However, further trails are necessary to confirm the results of the present study arid draw a definite conclusion. References

Awasthi, U.D. and Bhan, S. 1993. Performance of wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties with different levels of nitrogen in moisture scarce condition. Indian J. Agron. 38 (2): 200-203. BARI (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute). 1978. Response of micronutrients on wheat. Ann. Rep. (1977- 78). Bangladesh Agril. Res. Inst. Joydebpur, Gazipur. p. 78. BARI (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute). 1990. Means of profitable wheat cultivation (A booklet in Bangali). Wheat Res. Centre. Bangladesh Agril. Res. Inst. Nashipur, Dinajpur. pp. 1-11. E3ellido, L.L., Be!lido, R.J.L., Castillo, J.F. and Be!lido, F.J.L. 2000. Effect of tillage, crop rotation and nitrogen fertilization on wheat under rainfed Mediterranean conditions. Agron. J. 92 (2): 1056-1066. BINA (Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture). 1993. Effect of different levels of boron application on the growth and yield of wheat. Ann. Rep. 1991-92. Bangladesh Inst. Nuclear Agric., Mymensingh. p. 159. Dhuka, A.K., Sadaria, S.G., Patel, J.C. and Vyas, M.N. 1991. Response of irrigated late sown wheat to nitrogen application. Indian J. Agron. 36 (2): 276-277. Gehi, D.T., Bailey, L.D., Grant, C.A. and Sadler, J.M. 1990. Effects of incremental N fertilization on seed yield and dry matter accumulation of six wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivers in Southern Manitoba. Canadian J. Plant Sci. 70: 51-60. Gomez, K.A. and Gomez, A.A. 1984. Statistical Procedures for Agricultural Research, 2nd Edn. John Willy and Sons, New York. pp. 411. Kumar, S., Badityala, D., Singh, C.M. and Saroch, K. 1999. Nitrogen and cutting management in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) under dry temperate high hills. Indian J. Agron. 44 (1): 112-113. Malik, B.S., Batra, M.L. and Singh, J. 1987. Nitrogen and irrigation needs of wheat under shallow and ground water table condition, Haryana Agril. Univ. Indian J. Agril. Res. 16 (1): 25-29. Mengel, K. and Kirkby, E.A. 1982. Principles of Plant Nutrition 3rd Edn. pub. Inter. Potash Inst., Switzerland. p. 129. Patel, N.M., Sadara, S.G., Kanoria, B.B. and Khanpara, V.D. 1995. Effect of nitrogen, potassium and zinc on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum). Indian J. Agron. 40 (2): 290-292. Stevenson, F.J. 1985. Cycles of soil: Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulpur, Micronutrient. John Wiley and sone, Ins., New York. p. 333. UNDP and FAO. 1988. Land Resources Appraisal of Bangladesh for Agricultural Development. Report 2 agro- ecological regions of Bangladesh. BARC/UNDP. New Airport Road, Farmgatc. Dhaka-1207.pp-212-221.