Estimating growth and yield related traits of wheat genotypes under variable nitrogen application in semi-arid conditions

The current study was conducted at agronomic research area of the university of agriculture,faisalabad during 2008-09 and 2009-10 growing seasons,to investigate the grain yield and yield components of ten new wheat cultivars under variable nitrogen (n) levels. each year,the crop was sown on 12th november with four n levels (n1= 0 kg ha-1,n2= 55 kg ha-1,n3=110 kg ha-1,n4= 220 kg ha-1) and ten cultivars (faisalabad-2008,lasani-2008,miraj-2008,sahar-2006,shafaq-2006,ga-2002,bakkhar-2001,inqlab-91,chakwal-50 and chakwal-97). split plot design was used keeping n levels in main plots and cultivars in subplots with three replications. the results showed that increasing levels of n significantly increased plant height,total dry matter,number of productive tillers,number of grains per spike,1000-grain weight,grain yield and harvest index. grain yield was 2670,3140,3480 and 4370 kg ha-1 in the respective nitrogen treatments. the application of n 220 kg ha-1 in cultivar faisalabad-2008 resulted in higher yield under irrigated semiarid conditions of the punjab.