Journal of Experimental Agriculture International

The field experiment was carried out during the rabi season of 2021–22 at the College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, Anand Agricultural University, Godhra. to evaluate the effect of pulse drip irrigation and different lateral spacing on the growth, yield, and water productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). A split-plot design was adopted with four pulse irrigation levels—continuous flow (P₁), two pulses (P₂), three pulses (P₃), and four pulses (P₄)—and three lateral spacings: 0.6 m (S₁), 0.8 m (S₂), and 1.0 m (S₃), replicated three times. The experiment used 16 mm laterals with 0.4 m emitter spacing and a discharge rate of 4 lph. Irrigation was scheduled at an IW/CPE ratio of 0.8 at four-day intervals. The high-yielding wheat variety GW 496 was selected, sown on November 28, 2021, at a seed rate of 120 kg ha^-1 using a seed-cum-fertilizer drill. The recommended fertilizer dose of 120:60:60 kg N: P: K per hectare was applied, with half the nitrogen and the full phosphorus and potash given as a basal dose. The results revealed that both pulse frequency and lateral spacing significantly influenced wheat growth and yield parameters. The highest plant height (70.5 cm), number of effective tillers (62.5 m^-1), grains per spike (51.2), and grain yield (4228 kg ha^-1) were recorded under P₄, while P₁ recorded the lowest. Among lateral spacings, S₁ produced the highest grain yield (3913 kg/ha) and water productivity. The combined treatment P₄S₁ (four pulses with 0.6 m spacing) achieved the best overall performance, with a grain yield of 4854 kg ha^-1, straw yield of 5163 kg ha^-1 and a maximum benefit-cost ratio of 2.84. hence offering a sustainable and economically viable practice for enhancing wheat productivity in the water-scarce regions of Gujarat.