RESPONSE OF WHEAT CROP TO PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZERS AND APPLICATION METHODS GROWN UNDER AGRO-CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF SOUTHERN PUNJAB

Fertilizer, particularly phosphatic is a costly input which requires appropriate management to acquire economic and sustainable crop yield. A field experiment was conducted to explore the role of different phosphorus sources and methods of application on growth and yield of wheat crop at Multan, Pakistan during winter 2007-08. The experiment was conducted using randomized complete block design with split plot arrangements with three replications. Wheat variety, Inqlab-91 was used in the experimental trial. The experiment was comprised of two fertilizer sources (DAP NP) and four application methods: Control (M0), Broad cast (M1), Side dressing at planting (M2), broadcast at planting + at 1st irrigation (M3) and Broadcast at 1st irrigation (M4). The application of phosphorus with side dressing at planting increased fertile tillers, spikelets per spike, 1000-grain weight and recorded significantly higher wheat grain yield (5.68 t ha-1) as compared to other methods of application. Among sources, DAP recorded significantly higher wheat grain yield than when NP was used as phosphorus source