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PRIMING AND PHOSPHORUS APPLICATION ENHANCE PHENOLOGY AND DRY MATTER PRODUCTION OF WHEAT

SHAD K. KHALIL^1*, SHITAB KHAN¹, ABDUR RAHMAN¹, AMIR ZAMAN KHAN¹, I.H. KHALIL¹, AMANULLAH¹, SAID WAHAB¹, FIDA MOHAMMAD¹, SHAHEEN NIGAR¹ , MUHAMMAD ZUBAIR¹ , SAJIDA PARVEEN¹AND AHMAD KHAN¹

Abstract: Phenology and dry matter are important traits being affected by seed priming and soil phosphorus (P₂O₅) application. Wheat variety Saleem-2000 was primed in 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% P₂O₅ solutions and water for 10 hours. Unprimed treatment was included as control. Four levels of P₂O₅ (0, 25, 50 and 75 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1) were applied to soil. Priming enhanced days to emergence, anthesis and increased dry matter (DM) production compared with non primed (control). Seed primed with 0.3% P₂O₅ solution took less time to anthesis (110 days). DM yield increased with each increment of priming and maximum DM yield (6051 kg ha^-1) was obtained from seeds primed in 0.2% P₂O₅ solution. Priming had non significant effect on spike length, spike m^-2 and days to maturity. Water primed seed took less time to emergence (16 days). Soil P₂O₅ application enhanced days to heading, anthesis, maturity and increased DM yield, while days to emergence, spike m^-2 and spike length were not affected. Earlier heading, anthesis, maturity and highest DM yield was recorded at 75 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1. Priming with 0.2% P₂O₅ solution and 50 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 soil application are the best for obtaining maximum DM and enhancement of phenology.
 

¹NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan