EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER SOURCES AND RATES ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.)

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of two phosphorus fertilizer sources (diamonium phosphate and nitrophos) and four phosphorus rates (0, 60, 90 and 120 kg ha -1 ) on growth and yield of wheat cultivar Bhakar-2002 at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, during Rabi 2006-2007. Significant differences in plant height (cm), number of fertile tillers per unit area, number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per spike, 1000- grain weight (g), straw yield (t ha -1 ), grain yield (t ha -1 ) and fertilizer use efficiency (kg kg -1 ) were observed by the application of different rates of phosphorus fertilizers. However, only straw yield (t ha -1 ) and fertilizer use efficiency (kg kg -1 ) were significantly affected by different sources of phosphorus fertilizers. It is concluded that phosphorus application in the form of DAP at the rate of 90 kg ha -1 is more conducive for recommendation for the farmers, because it gave maximum benefit cost ratio (5.27) and value cost ratio (5.29). So, from this research, it is suggested that phosphorus source in the form of DAP at the rate of 90 kg ha -1 should be applied to get maximum benefit from wheat crop. It is, therefore, suggested that phosphorus source in the form of DAP at the rate of 90 kg ha -1 should be applied to get