Variability of number of spikes per unit area and grain yield effected by different sowing densities of winter wheat (triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

The sowing density of wheat is important for expression of number of spikes per unit area, grain yield as well as other yield components. The aim of this work is investigation of variability of grain yield and number of spikes per unit area influenced by different sowing densities under different environmental conditions. Three wheat genotypes NS 40, Prima and Nova Bosanka were studied at seven different sowing densities (384, 424, 451, 504, 544, 588 and 604 seeds m-2) with four replications on experimental plot of one m 2 on field experiment in agro-ecological conditions of Banja Luka during two successive growing seasons. In all studied wheat cultivars, the lowest number of spikes m-2 and the lowest grain yield were found on variant of lowest sowing density (384 seeds m-2), while the highest number of spikes m-2 and the highest grain yield were found on variant of 588 seeds m-2 in both years. The wheat genotype NS 40S had the highest number of spikes m-2 , while Nova Bosanka had the lowest at all variants of sowing densities in both years. Mainly, at all variants of sowing densities, the highest values of analyzed traits were expressed in first year of experimental investigation. Depending of year and variant of sowing density the highest grain yield were found in NS 40 and Prima, while the lowest grain yield had Nova Bosanka in both years of experiment. In general, the recommended wheat sowing rates should be confirmed in the specific area of production and for the specific genotype.

Keywords

• genotype
• sowing rate
• yield
• number of spikes m -2
• environment