Effect of FYM,potassium and zinc on phenology and grain yield of wheat in rainfed cropping systems

Little work has been done on potassium (k) and zinc (zn) in combination with farm yard manure (fym) under rainfed conditions of nwfp. this study was designed to examine the effects of un-irrigated cropping patterns and organic and inorganic fertilizers on wheat crop. field experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of cropping patterns and farm yard manure,potassium and zinc on phenology and grain yield of wheat under rainfed (barani or un-irrigated) conditions at agricultural research station,serai naurang bannu for two years during 2001-02 and 2002-03. the experiment was designed in rcb design with split arrangements. two factors were studied in the experiment. effects of five cropping patterns i.e.,fallow-wheat,groundnut-wheat,mungbean-wheat,sorghum-wheat & pigeon pea-wheat and three organic and in-organic fertilizers on subsequent wheat crop were observed. data revealed that both the cropping patterns and manures/fertilizers had non-significant effect on days to anthesis,seed fill duration and days to maturity of wheat. highest grain yield (3194 kg ha-1) was produced by wheat fallowing mungbean. based on two years average,it is concluded that wheat following mungbean produced more yield and wheat following groundnut produced less yield under dryland conditions. the present findings revealed that pigeon pea-wheat cropping pattern seems to be more sustainable in terms of yield under rainfed conditions and use of fym,k and zn should be included in integrated crop management approaches for sustainable crop production.