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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 12 No. sp4 (2025): Recent Advances in Agriculture by Young Minds - III

Performance of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as influenced by phosphorus levels and drip irrigation regimes

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.10390
Submitted
1 July 2025
Published
17-11-2025

Abstract

The strategic integration of phosphorus (P) fertilization with drip irrigation regimes is critical for mitigating water stress, enhancing wheat growth, yield and improving water productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the interactive effects of deficit drip irrigation and P application on wheat performance. A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2023-24 at the experimental farm of Lovely Professional University, Punjab, in a split-plot design with 3 replications. The main plot treatments comprised 3 irrigation regimes based on crop evapotranspiration (ETc): 1.0, 0.85 and 0.70 ETc. The subplot treatments included 4 P levels: 0, 45, 60 and 75 kg ha-1. Drip irrigation at 1.0 ETc combined with 75 kg ha-1 P recorded the maximum growth attributes, including plant height (95.63 cm), tillers (393.84 m-2) and dry matter (965.60 g), which were 10.06 %, 3.67 % and 1.71 % higher respectively, than at 0.70 ETc. Similarly, P application at 75 kg ha-1 enhanced plant height (93.85 cm), tillers (391.39 m-2) and dry matter (962.94 g) compared to the control. Chlorophyll index increased by 6.7 % and 29.7 % under 1.0 ETc with 75 kg ha-1 P compared to 0.85 and 0.70 ETc  respectively. Grain and straw yields under 1.0 ETc with 75 kg ha-1 P improved by 17.5 % and 13.4 % over 0.70 ETc, while yields under 0.85 ETc with 75 kg ha-1 P were statistically comparable to full irrigation. Optimizing P at 75 kg ha-1 in combination with deficit drip irrigation at 0.85 ETc effectively improves root architecture, enhances growth, yield and increases water productivity in wheat.

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