EVALUATION OF GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSE OF WHEAT TO FOLIAR APPLICATION OF RICE WATER EXTRACT

Abstract

A field study was conducted to evaluate the growth and yield response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to foliar application of rice water extract at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, during the growing season 2011-2012. Experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with eleven treatments that were replicated four times. The gross plot size was 7 m 2.2 m. Foliar sprays of rice water extract (2.5%, 5% and 7.5%) were applied at two critical growth stages (tillering and earing) of wheat. Two treatments (No spray and pure water spray) were kept for comparison with rice water extract treatments. All other agronomic practices were kept uniform and according to the recommendation. All the treatments significantly increased the grain yield of wheat as compared to control. Highest grain yield (27% more than control) was recorded in plots treated with rice water extract (5.0%) two sprays at tillering + earing and it was statistically at par with rice water extract (2.5%) 2 sprays at tillering + earing which produced 24% more grain yield as compared to control. One spray of rice water extract (5.0%) at tillering also significantly affected the wheat yield over the control, but it was less effective as compared to treatment in which two foliar sprays of rice water extract was applied at tillering + earing. Two sprays of rice water extract (5.0%) at tillering + earing significantly affected the leaf area index, productive tillers, more plant and spike length, more number of grains per spike, grain weight which ultimately result in better grain yield of wheat. These results were possibly due to promotive effect of rice water extract which contain indole acetic acid and lower concentration of allelochemicals. Thus it could be suggested that foliar application of rice water extract at low concentration can be used as growth promoter and yield enhancer.