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World Journal of Agricultural Sciences 5 (2): 159-162, 2009ISSN 1817-3047© IDOSI Publications, 2009

Corresponding Author: Mujeeb ur Rahman, PCSIR Laboratories, P.O.Box 387, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan159

Effects of Sowing Method and Seed Rate on Growthand Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Umed Ali Soomro, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ejaz Ali Odhano, Shereen Gul, Abdul Qadir Tareen1 1 1 2 3

PCSIR Laboratories, P.O. Box 387, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan1

Department of Botany, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan2

Directorate of Agriculture Research, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan3

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted during winter season of 2004-2005. Three sowing methods andseed rate were evaluated in a four replicated RCBD method. Results revealed that all growth and yieldparameters were significantly affected by the sowing methods and seed rates. The interaction of sowingmethods and seed rates significantly effected on spikes per plant and grains per spike, while other charactersshowed non significant interactions. Wheat sown by drilling method at the seed rate of 150 kg/ha significantlyincreased the plant vigor and yield. This increase in yield was associated with the progressive increase in allgrowth components.

Key words: Wheat Sowing methods Seed rate Grain yield Growth interactions Crop vigor

INTRODUCTION and sowing at desired depth, which usually results in

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) belongs to family the highest wheat production is the understanding ofgramineae and is the major staple food crop of the world early crop establishment. Beside other agronomic[1]. It is believed that wheat originated in south western factors seed rate and sowing method are major factorsAsia from where it spread to other parts of Asia, Europe, which determines the crop vigor and ultimate yield [6].Africa and America [2]. Wheat crop is grown in the Keeping in view the importance of seed rate and sowingtemperate regions of the world, where the annual rain fall method this study was designed to determine the bestaverages between 10 to 70 inches. High rain fall sowing method and seed rate for ultimate wheataccompanied with high temperature is hostile for wheat, production.because these conditions favor the development ofdiseases [3]. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Wheat is one of the important staple cereal cropof Pakistan and has been cultivated since pre- historic The experiment was conducted at PCSIR laboratories,times. Charred grains of wheat have been recovered from Quetta during the winter season 2005-2006. In this regardthe excavation of Moen-jo-Daro and Harapa and the land was given three ploughs for the purpose of goodoccurrence of assumed wild parents of wheat seed bed preparation. The experiment was laid out inAegilops squarosa (n-7) and Triticum turgidum(n-14) in Randomized Complete Block Design having fourthe up lands of Balochistan for evidence to the fact [4]. replications with net plot size of 6×2 m [7]. Wheat varietyWheat is grown in Pakistan at more than 8 millions TJ-83 was used in the experiments.hactares (ha) [5] with an average yield 2500 kg/ha. Low Following two strategies were adopted forgrain yield could be occurred due to the inappropriate experiments.planting method, seed rate and crop management. InPakistan wheat is planted through broadcasting on a large Sowing Methodsarea after rice and cotton harvesting. Broadcasting notonly requires higher seed rate but also results in lower Drillingplant population, where as drill sowing method is Broad castingrecommended because of its uniform seed distribution Broad casting in standing water

higher germination and uniform stand. A key factor in

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Seed Rate All the collected data were subjected to analysis of

125 kg/ha150 kg/ha RESULTS AND DISCUSSION175 kg /ha

Crop Management All the required agronomic practices to the sowing methods and seed rates are depicted inwere followed uniformly in all the plots throughout the Table 1. The variations were highly significant andgrowing period. The plots were thoroughly irrigated their interactions were non significant. Wheat planted25 days interval. by drilling method resulted in taller plants up to

Data Recording: 100 plants were selected randomly from seed broadcasting in standing water 95.17 cm. It may beeach treatment and subjected for recording data using due to the plant competition as broad casting left unevenstandard methods [8]. space where as drilling provided uniform space.

Following growth and yield parameters were Furthermore, wheat sown at higher seed rate i.e.,recorded: 175 kg/ha produced greater plant height i.e., 101.25 cm

Plant height (cm) 94.27 cm these results are in agreemented with the resultsNumbers of tillers per plant reported by Hattab [10]. Numbers of spikes per plantNumbers of grains per spike Number of Tillers per Plant: The data showed significant1000- grain weight effects of seed rate and sowing method on number ofGrain and straw weight per plot tillers per plant. The maximum number of average tillers

variance test to discriminate the treatments mean LSD [9].

Plant Height: The variations in plant height in response

101.95 cm followed by seed broadcasting 97.49 cm and

followed by 150 kg/ha i.e., 99.09 cm and 125 kg/ha i.e.,

Table 1: Effects of sowing method and seed rate on plant height (cm) of wheat Sowing Methods (M)-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Seed Rate (S) Kg/ha Drilling Broadcasting Broadcasting in standing water Mean for seed rate125 96.45 94.25 92.10 94.27 c150 103.55 98.58 95.15 99.09 b175 105.85 99.65 98.15 101.25 aMean for sowing methods 101.95 a 97.49 b 95.17 cCV% (0.5) 1.70 Interaction (M×S) 1.179

Table 2: Effects of sowing method and seed rate on number of tillers per plant of wheat Sowing Methods (M)-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Seed Rate (S) Kg/ha Drilling Broadcasting Broadcasting in standing water Mean for seed rate125 11.00 10.65 9.58 10.41 a150 10.30 9.25 7.85 9.13 b175 9.95 8.55 7.30 8.50 cMean for methods 10.32 a 9.24 b 8.24 cCV% (0.5) 5.80 Interaction (M×S) 0.335

Table 3:Effects of sowing method and seed rate on number of spikes per plant of wheat Sowing Methods (M)-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Seed Rate (S) Kg/ha Drilling Broadcasting Broadcasting in standing water Mean for seed rate125 10.55 9.80 8.50 9.00 a150 9.55 9.00 7.25 8.60 b175 8.40 8.00 7.08 7.84 cMean for methods 9.50a 8.95b 7.61cCV% (0.5)2.96 Interaction (M×S) 0.230

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Table 4:Effects of sowing method and seed rate on number of grains per spike of wheat

Sowing Methods (M)-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Seed Rate (S) Kg/ha Drilling Broadcasting Broadcasting in standing water Mean for seed rate

125 60.60 58.80 57.10 58.83 a150 58.80 56.50 53.50 56.27 b175 56.50 55.10 52.00 54.53 cMean for methods 58.63a 56.80b 54.20c

CV% (0.5)2.87 Interaction (M×S)1.149

Table 5: Effected of sowing method and seed rate on grains weight (g) of wheat

Sowing Methods (M)-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



CV% (0.5)2.40 Interaction (M×S)0.652

Table 6: Effects of sowing method and seed rate on grain and straw weight per plot (Kg) of wheat

Sowing Methods (M)-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



CV% (0.5)10.80 Interaction (M×S) 0.394

were observed with seed rate 125 kg/ha (10.41/Plant) The greatest number of grains/spike in seedfollowed by sowing method drilling (10.32/Plant) and seed rate 125 kg/ha through seeding method drilling isbroadcasting (9.58/Plant), while minimum number of mean due to less plant competition and proper seedtillers with seed rate (175 kg/ha) i.e., 8.50/Plant (Table 2). placement. While the lowest number of grains in seedHattab et al., [10] have also reported similar results. rate 175 kg/ha through sowing method broadcasting in

Number of Spikes per Plant: It was observed that greater On the other hand, standing water provided thenumber of spikes per plant were produced at seed rate 125 conditions more susceptible to disease attack and lowkg/ha by drilling method of sowing (10.55/Plant) followed osmotic pressure [11]. by same seed rate with sowing method broadcasting(9.80//Plant) and broadcasting in standing water 1000-Grain Weight: The plants sown at seed rate(8.50/Plant). While the lowest number of spikes per plant 125 kg/ha through drilling sowing method hadwas recorded with seed rate 175 kg/ha by sowing method significant effect on grains weight (41.63 gm/1000 grains)broadcasting in standing water i.e., 7.08/plant (Table 3). followed by plants sown at seed rate 150 kg/ha

Number of Grains per Spike: Higher mean number of minimum grains weight was recorded in plants sowngrains per spike was achieved in plants sown at seed rate through broad casting in standing water with seed125 kg/ha through sowing method drilling (60.60/spike). rate175 kg/ha (34.13 gm/1000 grains) (Table 5). TheseWhile the lowest number of grains/spike was recorded in results confirm that proper seed sowing rate andplants through broadcasting in standing water sowing sowing method is responsible for quality of grains andmethod at seed rate 175 kg/ha (Table 4). their weight.

standing water cause by more plant competition.

through drilling method (40.78/1000 grains) While the

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Grain and Straw Weight per Plot: Total plant weight was 4. Ginai, M.A, 1981. Field crops. Agriculture researchalso increased in plants sown at seed rate 125 kg/ha institute Faisalabad, pp: 188.through drilling sowing method (17.76 Kg/plant) followed 5. Shah, S.J. Ahmad, F. Azam, I. Ali and T. Muhammad,by at seed rate 150 kg/ha (16.28 Kg/plant) and at seed rate 2005. Occurrence of Fusarium head scab in175 kg/ha (11.66 Kg/plant). While the minimum plant International and National wheat breeding materials,material weight were recorded in plots where seed sown Pak. J. Sci. Ind. Res., 48(3): 220.at the rate of 175 kg/ha through broadcasting in standing 6. Korres, N.E and R.J. Froud-Williams, 2002. Effect ofwater (10.30 gm) (Table 6). winter wheat cultivars and seed rate on the biological

The results indicate that proper seed rate and sowing characteristics of naturally occurring weed flora.method increased plant vitality and yield. It encourages Weed Res., 42(6): 417. nutrient availability, proper sun light penetration for 7. Amanullah, C. and I. Hussain, 2001. Influence of seedphotosynthesis [12], good soil environment for up take size and seed rate on phenology, yield and quality ofsoil nutrients and water use efficiency [13], all necessary wheat. Pak. J. Bio. Sci., 4(4): 414.for crop vigor and yield. Broadcasting method of sowing 8. Patra, A.K., P.K. Chhonkar and M.A. Khan, 2004.is considered inferior than others [14]. Nitrogen loss and wheat yield in response to

CONCLUSIONS environment, J. Agro. Crop Sci., 190(50): 325.

In the light of aforementioned results it can be safely Procedures for Agriculture Research (2 Edn.) Johnconcluded that drilling method of sowing at seed rate Willy and Sons New York, pp: 200-205.125 kg/ha is optimal for yield and quality of wheat grains, 10. Hattab, E.H.S., M.S. Kamal and A.A. Galil, 1970. Thebecause the said sowing method and seed rate distribute effects of the rate of seeding and the number ofseed uniformly and desired depth which provide irrigation on the wheat yield and its components,appropriate depth for seed germination and crop Field Crop Abst., 26(4): 474.establishment. Furthermore, It provide proper distance for 11. Blankkenau and H.W. Olfs, 2001. Effect of differentoptimum sun light penetration for photosynthesis and crop densities of wheat on recovery of Nitrogen inproper depth to roots for up take of water and soil crop and soil within the growth period, J. Agron.nutrients resulted in good water use efficiency. Crop Sci., 186(3): 151.

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1. Yongqing, M.A., 2005. Allelopathic studies of attached to combine in paddy soil. Research reportcommon wheat (Triticum aestivum) Weed Biol. of the Rural Development Administration, UplandManag., 5(3): 93. and industrial Crops, Korea., 33: 16-21.

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3. Lehone, J.J. and W.J. Staple, 1962. Effects of soil 14. Collins, B.A. and D.B. Fowler, 1992. A comparison ofmoisture tension on growth of wheat, Can. J. Soil broadcast and drill methods for no-till seeding winterSci., 42(1): 180-188. wheat. Canda. J. Plant Sci., 72: 1001-1008.

zero-tillage and sowing time in semi-arid tropical

9. Gomez, K.A. and A.A. Gomez, 1984. Statisticalnd

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simultaneously with rice harvest by drill seeder

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