Effect of different tillage practices and nitrogen level on wheat production under inner terai of Nepal

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the plant height, yield and yield attributes of wheat under different tillage practices and nitrogen level at Dang, Nepal during winter season 2018-19. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with two tillage practices viz. zero tillage and conventional tillage as main plot factor and four level of N viz. 50 kg ha^-1, 75 kg ha^-1, 100 kg ha^-1and 125 kg ha^-1 as sub plot factor and each replicated thrice.  The result revealed that there is no significant relation between tillage practice and plant height of wheat while N level significantly affect the plant height. 125 kg N ha^-1 recorded the highest plant height (110.7 cm). Zero tillage recorded the highest effective tiller m^-2 (254) and grain yield (3.3 t ha^-1) whereas spike length, grain spike^-1, biological yield and harvest index were not significant with tillage practices. Regarding the N level, 125 kg N ha^-1 recorded the highest effective spike m^-2 (279), spike length (10.6 cm), grain spike^-1 (48), thousand grain weight (46.3 g), grain yield (3.6 t ha^-1) and biological yield (9.4 t ha^-1). 50 kg N ha^-1 recorded the highest harvest index (42.9%). The interaction between the tillage practice and nitrogen level showed the significant effect on grain yield and harvest index where as other parameters showed non-significant relation. The zero tillage with 125 kg N ha^-1 recorded the highest grain yield (3.9 t ha^-1).