Water harvesting through micro-watershed for improved production of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in semiarid region of Northwest, Pakistan

• Low biomass wheat production is a world wide problem under rainfed conditions.
• Micro-watershed is an effective approach in increasing wheat biomass.
• Wheat biomass and other parameters were affected by micro-watershed types.
• Micro-watershed covered with stones had higher biomass and grain yields.

Poor biomass production in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under rainfed condition is a serious concern world-wide. Micro-watershed could be an effective approach in increasing wheat biomass production in rainfed conditions. Bread wheat (cv. Haider-2000) was field tested in five micro-watersheds, established under rainfed conditions at the Cereal Crops Research Institute Pirsabaq, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with six replicates during 2003–04 and 2004–05. Five micro-watersheds about 0.45–0.5 m above ground level were: (i) transparent plastic sheets, (ii) stones, (iii) compacted soil, (iv) loose soil, and (v) control (no micro-watershed). Micro-watershed and year significantly affected tillers m−2, days to maturity, leaf area tiller−1 (LA), leaf area index (LAI), and biomass production whereas 1000 grain weight was significantly affected by only micro-watershed. Maximum tillers m−2 (249.8), LA plant−1 (18.48 cm2), LAI (0.153), thousand grain weight (37.2 g) and biomass yield (8105 kg ha−1) were recorded from micro-watershed covered with stones. Micro-watershed covered with stones had increased biomass and grain weight by 9 and 11% respectively over control. Micro-watershed significantly reduced days to maturity. Adequate as well as appropriately distributed rainfall in the second year caused to produce more tillers m−2 (8.5%), LA (13.2%), LAI (22.9%), biomass (7.4%) and delayed maturity by 8.5 days over first year. It can be concluded that micro-watershed covered with stones was better than other treatments.