Sci.Int.(Lahore),24(2),185-189,2010 ISSN 1013-5316; CODEN: SINTE 8 185 RESPONSE OF GROWTH AND YIELD OF WHEAT TO NPK FERTILIZER Abdul Latif Malghani a , Asmat Ullah Malik * a , A. Sattar b , Fiaz Hussain a , G. Abbas c and J. Hussain d a Agronomic Research Station, Karor-Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan b Agronomic Research Institute, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan c Adaptive Research Farm, Karor, Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan d Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad *E:mail: asmat_awan@hotmail.com +92 300 676 2658 Abstract: A field experiment was conducted to investigate the combined effect of NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash) on the growth and yield of wheat cultivars Sahar-2006. The objective of study was to determine optimum rate of NPK for wheat variety. The thrice replicated treatments F 0 : 0-0-0 (NPK), F 1 : 75-50-25(NPK), F 2 : 100-75-50 (NPK), F 3 : 125-100-75 (NPK), F 4 : 150-125-100 (NPK), F 5 : 175-150-125 (NPK) and F 6 : 200-150-125 (NPK) Kg ha -1 were tested in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The results revealed that maximum growth parameters responded significantly to NPK fertilizers. It is concluded that highest grain yield of 5168 Kg ha -1 was recorded with the application of 175-150-125 NPK Kg ha -1 . The increase in yield was 51.58% higher as compared to control (2502 Kg ha -1 ), where no fertilizer was used. Keywords: NPK; Response; Sahar-2006; Growth; Yield; ARS INTRODUCTION Wheat is most significant cereal food crop in the world. It is effectively cultivated in Pakistan on more than 9 million hectares with a production of 24 million tons. The average yield of wheat (Tritium aestivum L.) in Pakistan (2660 Kg ha -1 ) is low as compared to world average (3010 kg ha -1 ) or even to its adjoining countries like India (2910 Kg ha -1 ) and China (4710 Kg ha -1 ) [1]. The wheat prerequisite is gradually increasing every year due to population pressure but its yield per hectare is low. There are various reasons for low down yield in Pakistan. The yield gap in the country needs to be filled by increasing yield per unit area. To overcome the gap between realized and potential yield, collective use of suitable types of fertilizer is of key importance as proper combination of fertilizer can increase the yield by 50% [2]. The combined use of NPK fertilizers plays an important role in wheat production. Application of NPK in balanced share at proper time has great impact on wheat yield. Plant species, even varieties with in species vary in their behavior to obtain and utilize NPK for grain production [3,4] Increase in cropping intensity and introduction of high yielding varieties have caused substantial deplete of N and crop storage positive response to added N in the soil [5]. Nitrogen plays a vital role in growth processes as it is an integral part of chlorophyll, protein and nucleic acid [6,7]. It is viewed as the central element because of its role in substance synthesis [8]. It constitutes 1.5 to 5 percent of the dry weight of higher plant [9]. Phosphorous insufficiency is common in most of the soils of Pakistan and application of phosphatic fertilizer is considered crucial for crop production [10]. Phosphorus stimulates flourishing and seed formation. Its deficiency is directly related with 1000 grains weight [11]. Potassium (K + ) is of unusual significance because of its live role in biochemical functions of the plant like activating various enzymes, improvement of protein, carbohydrates and fat concentration, developing tolerance against drought and resistance to frost, lodging, pests and disease attack [6]. The increase in intensity of cropping and production of high yielding fertilizer responsive cultivars has resulted in a considerable deplete of soil K reserves and eventually limits efficiency of other nutrients. It is thus necessary to devise a fertilizer technology facilitating use of NPK in apt combination for enhancing wheat yield [7,12]. The present study was therefore, designed to determinate the quantitative response of wheat to NPK application under “Thal” (arid) irrigated conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS The experiment was conducted at Agronomic Research Station, Karor District Layyah during the year, 2007-09, where the region receives mean annual rainfall of less than 25 mm. Minimum/maximum temperature and rainfall observations during the study period is depicted in Table 4. The soil analysis showed that experimental field is sandy loam in texture with pH of 8.5, organic matter 0.41%, 6.25 ppm phosphorus and 175 ppm Potash. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The net plot size of was 4.00 m × 9.00 m. Six fertilizer levels with one control plot (no fertilizer) were included as factors under study. The treatments comprised of; F 0 : 0-0-0 (NPK), F 1 : 75-50-25(NPK), F 2 : 100-75-50 (NPK), F 3 : 125-100-75 (NPK), F 4 : 150-125-100 (NPK), F 5 : 175-150-125 (NPK) and F 6 : 200-150-125 (NPK) Kg ha -1 . The wheat crop (Sahar- 2006) was sown on a well prepared seed bed in second week of November in all seasons under investigation. All the phosphorus and potash was applied at the time of seed bed preparation along with ¼ dose of Nitrogen. The remaining equal splits of Nitrogen were top dressed with first three irrigations. The source of Nitrogen, phosphorous and potash was urea (46%N), Single Super Phosphate (P 2 O 5 18%) and Sulphate of potash (K 2 O 0%), respectively. The crop was sown with a single row hand drill maintaining line to line Table 1. Effect of NPK fertilizer on number of tillers & number of spike per m 2