Effect of irrigation schedules on plant — Water relations, root, grain yield and water productivity of wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Flori & Paol] under various crop establishment techniques

Field experiment was conducted during the rabi (winter) seasons of 2012–2013 and 2013–2014, to evaluate the outcome of irrigation schedules and crop establishment techniques on physiological parameters, root parameters and water productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Flori & Paol) on sandy loam soils at CCS Haryana Agricultural University Hisar under four crop establishment techniques with three irrigation schedules allotted in strip plot design and replicated thrice. Zero tillage (ZT) and irrigation applied at CRI + IW:CPE = 0.90 registered significantly highest relative water content (RWC) of wheat leaves during 2012–2013 (83.6%) and during 2013–2014 (80.9%) as compared to conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT). Wheat planted on bed (FIRBS) and irrigation applied at CRI + IW:CPE = 0.90 evidenced significantly higher grain yield by 12–19% and took more days from spike initiation to anthesis, anthesis to milk stage and milk to maturity during 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 crop seasons. WUE (144.6 and 155.4 kg ha-cm⁻¹) and IWP (4.3 and 4.5 kg m⁻³) perceived highest under bed planting by using lower total consumptive use of water (35.71 and 35.45 cm) during the respective crop seasons. Thus the CU was around 6–12%, lower under FIRBS as compared to other crop establishment techniques. Application of irrigation at CRI + IW:CPE = 0.75 resulted in highest WUE (129.0 and 140.0 kg ha-cm⁻¹) and IWP (4.2 and 4.4 kg m⁻³) with minimum water used (37.41 and 36.22 cm) during 2012–2013 and 2013–2014, respectively in contrast to other two moisture regimes