Effect of different sowing dates on growth and yield of wheat varieties

The present experiment was conducted at Shoolini University, Solan during rabi season of 2023-24 to study the effect of different sowing dates on growth and yield of wheat varieties. The soil of experimental field was sandy loam in texture, slightly alkaline in reaction with EC in safer range, medium in organic carbon, available nitrogen, potassium and higher in available phosphorus. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design assigning four varieties in main plot comprising of (V1) HPW-368, (V2) HPW-349, (V3) HPW-373 and (V4) HPW-360 and sowing dates in sub-plot viz. (D1) 5th November, (D2) 20th November and (D3) 5th December. Thus, a total of 12 treatment combinations were tested in the study and were replicated thrice. Recommended dose of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (120:60:30 Kg ha-1) were applied through urea, SSP and MOP, respectively. Full dose of phosphorus and potassium and half dose of nitrogen were applied at the time of sowing as basal and remaining dose of nitrogen was applied into two split doses at CRI and tillering stage. The total rainfall experienced during the crop growing season was 209 mm. Result indicated that variety (V2) HPW-349 sown on (D1) 5th November exerted significantly higher growth, yield attributes and yield of wheat under mid hills of Himachal Pradesh.