Performance of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop under different spacings of trees and fertility levels

A field experiment was laid out at Pantnagar (Uttarakhand, India) in Mollisols during rabi season (2009-10) to study effect of spacing and fertility levels on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under different tree species in Terai region. The experiment was conducted in split-split plot design comprising four tree species in main plots, four spacing treatments in sub plots and four fertility levels in sub-sub plot with three replications. The wheat crop var. PBW-502 was sown on November 29, 2009 and harvested on April 21, 2010. Significant higher grain yield was recorded under Poplar (44.60 qha-1); however, it was statistically at par with Melia (42.60 qha-1) interface at 180-60-40 kg NPK ha-1 fertility level. At 3 × 2.5 m, the wheat growth, yield attributes and yield (grain, straw and biological yield) under Poplar was significantly higher than closer spacing. Application of 180-60-40 kg NPK ha-1 had significant effect on crop growth and grain yield than other levels of fertility. The correlation coefficient (r) studies exhibited that wheat growth and yield attributing characteristics are significantly (p<0.05) and positively correlated with each other.   Key words: Tree species, spacing, fertility levels, wheat, growth, yield attributes, yield.