Efficacy of Seed Size to Improve Field Performance of Wheat under Late Sowing Conditions

Abstract

W heat is a major grain crop and primary staple food of Pakistan and it is a major source of carbohydrates and energy (Chattha et al., 2017a(Chattha et al., , 2018. The seed of wheat contains 2.11% minerals, 68% carbohydrate, 2.9% fat, 15.4% proteins and an important source of calories and micro-nutrients Abstract | Delayed wheat sowing is the main factor responsible for the lower yield of wheat owing to low temperature during emergence and early growth. Seed size has an appreciable potential to improve stand establishment, growth, and yield under late sowing conditions. Therefore, the present study was performed to assess the impact of diverse seed sizes (SS) on the growth and yield of wheat crop under late sowing conditions. The study was comprised of different sowing dates (SD), SD 1 : 15 th December, SD 2 : and 30 th December and different seed size classes i.e. bold (having a diameter of > 2.7 mm), medium (having a diameter of > 2.3 mm to 2.7 mm), small (having a diameter of ≤ 2.3 mm) and mixed seeds. The results indicated that different sowing dates and seed size classes had a significant effect on germination, growth, and yield of wheat crop. The crop sown on 15 th December took less time to start emergence (7.8 days) and resulted in maximum plant height (81 cm), grains per spike (44.5), productive tillers (321.5), spike length (10.2 cm), 1000 grain weight (37.2 g), and grain yield (3.83 t ha -1 ) and maximum time to start emergence (11 days) and minimum plant height (60 cm), grains per spike (35.7), productive tillers (273), spike length (8.6 cm), 1000 grain weight (32 g), and grain yield (2.7 t ha -1 ) was recorded in the crop sown on 30 th December. In the case of seed size classes, bold seed performed appreciably well and took less time to start emergence (8.5 days) and had more plant height (74.7 cm), productive tillers (326), spike length (10.1 cm), grains per spike (45), 1000 grain weight (37 g), and grain yield (3.67 t ha -1 ) compared to other seed size classes. In conclusion, bold seed size can significantly improve the wheat production under late sown conditions due to better stand establishment, vigorous germination, and increase in yield related traits.

Effect of Different Organic Mulches and Nitrogen Sources on the Productivity of Wheat Crop Grown in Semi-Arid Area

“…Wheat is an important source of calories, proteins, minerals and carbohydrates for human being (Chattha et al, 2017a(Chattha et al, , b, 2018Hassan et al, 2019aHassan et al, , 2021. However, many issues including inappropriate fertilizers, lack of irrigation water, un-availability of certified seeds, prolonged drought and heat stress and weeds infestation are continuously decreasing production of wheat and other crops across the globe (Zain et al, 2017;Hassan et al, 2020a, b;Muhsin et al, 2021). The major reason for the substantial reduction in wheat production is the use of inappropriate fertilizers.…”

Effect of Genotypes and Planting Dates on Yield and Fibre Quality Parameters of Cotton

“…Muhammad Jamil 1 *, Muhammad Ihsan Ullah 2 , Taj Muhammad 2 , Syed Waqar Hussain Shah 3 , Khezir Hayat 4 , Muhammad Zahid Aslam 5 and Abdul Sattar 6 a particular area is important to get bumper crop yield (Kakar et al, 2012). Length of growing season adjustment through the date of sowing is very crucial for optimum yield (Muhsin et al, 2021). Sowing of cotton at the optimum date yielded a positive impact on lint quality and oil contents (Iqbal and Khan, 2011).…”

Performance of Early and Late Planting Cotton Genotypes under Agro-Ecological Conditions of Multan, Punjab, Pakistan

“…Sowing time is an imperative management option to reduce the impact of abiotic factors like drought and heat stress (Hassan et al, 2020a). Deciding the growing season length through sowing date is of remarkable importance (Huang, 2016;Muhsin et al, 2021) owing to fact it has significant impact on crop vegetative and reproductive growth (Hallikeri et al, 2009). The cotton sown in early season faces the hottest period during their reproduction phase which cause a significant reduction in yield (Rahman et al, 2007).…”