Quality and NUE of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under variable planting techniques and different nitrogen levels

A research experiment was conducted between Rabi 2022-23 and 2023-24 on the research farm of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara (Punjab). The experiment employed a split plot design to evaluate the effects of three planting methods (2 rows per bed, cross and flat technique) and 5 nitrogen level treatments (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg/ha nitrogen). Results indicated that 2 rows/bed and cross sowing technique significantly outperformed than flat sowing in terms of quality, uptake and nitrogen use efficiencies. Additionally, chlorophyll index, nitrogen content and uptake in grains and straw, total nitrogen uptake, protein content and nitrogen use efficiencies were more in 2 rows/bed and cross sowing technique as compared to flat sowing. Regarding nitrogen level treatments, 120 and 160 kg N/ ha resulted in significantly higher quality attributes than all other treatments. The planting methods of 2 rows per bed and cross technique total nitrogen uptake by the crop increased by19.64 % and 14.71 %, 20.23 % and 15.64 % respectively during 2022-23 and 2023-24 as compared to flat sowing. Application of 160, 120, 80 and 40 kg N/ha increased total nitrogen uptake by 285.1, 246.7, 117.1 and 20.8 % in 2022-23 and by 376.7, 322.8, 174.6 and 51.1 % in 2023-24, respectively, compared to 0 kg N/ha. Agronomic efficiency and recovery efficiency were significantly more in 2 rows per bed and cross sowing technique, but physiological efficiency was significantly higher in flat sowing. Among nitrogen level treatments, agronomic efficiency and recovery efficiency were significantly higher in 120 and 160 kg N/ha but physiological efficiency was significantly higher in 40 kg N/ha than all other N levels.