PHYSIOLOGICAL AND QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.) CULTIVARS IN RESPONSE TO SOIL AND FOLIAR FERTILIZATION OF NITROGEN AND SULFUR

Nitrogen and sulfur supplies have a strong influence on the physiological and phenological characteristics of crop as well as on the quality of wheat seed, which have the capacity to enhanced yield and production of wheat. In order to evaluate the physiological and quality assessment of wheat in response to soil and foliar fertilization of nitrogen and sulfur, a field trail was carried out having randomized complete block design with four replications and eight different treatments of nitrogen and sulfur combinations allotted to plots at different growth stages. Results indicated that highest emergence m -2 (136), maximum leaf area (37 cm 2 ) and maximum seedling dry weight (0.041 g) was recorded when the crop was fertilized with soil and foliar applied nitrogen and soil and foliar applied sulfur. Likewise maximum leaf area index (5.016 %) was observed with the fertilization of soil applied sulfur (treatment number-5), while maximum field emergence was recorded with fertilization of soil applied nitrogen (treatment number-3). Minimum number of unproductive tillers was obtained with the application of soil applied nitrogen (treatment number-3). Control practice resulted low emergence m -2 and maximum number of unproductive tillers. In all the recorded observations concerning the experiment wheat cultivar Pirsabaq-2005 showed appreciable response as compared with other variety (Khyber-87). Thus it is possible to obtain maximum physiological traits as well as vigorous seed of wheat through soil and foliar application of nitrogen and sulfur.