Response of wheat cultivars to dates of sowing under dryland conditions

Abstract

SUMMARYField experiments made for 4 years between 1976–7 and 1979–80 in a semi-arid environment of north-west India showed that the productivity of dryland unirrigated wheat can be increased considerably by adjusting the date of sowing to conducive atmospheric temperatures. Sowing in the middle of November when daily mean temperatures ranged between 19 and 21 °C produced yields ranging between 2·6and 3·5t/ha (averaged over the 4 years) compared with 1·4–3·3 t/ha obtained from the crop sown by mid-October when the daily mean temperature ranged between 24 and 26 °C. The tall cultivar C 306, a derivative of winter x spring wheat cross, could withstand sowing at higher temperatures (mid-October) more than the spring wheats. High temperatures prevailing during the seedling stage of spring wheats shortened their vegetative growth and initiated early differentiation. Night temperatures above 13 °C coupled with day temperatures of 33–35 °C in the last fortnight of October adversely affected the tillering of spring wheats sown on 15 October and produced smaller spikes with few fertile spikelets.

Effect of sowing date on yield and yield components of bread wheat cultivars under environmental conditions of Sohag region

“…There are several studies that documented the effects of planting date on wheat. De et al (1983) found that wheat yield production increased considerably by adjusting the sowing date to the best atmospheric temperature. Ansari et al(1989) reported that delay sowing suppressed the yield caused by reduction in the yield contributing traits like number of tillers, number of grains per spike and grain yield.…”

Time of application of farmyard manure and fertilizer nitrogen on the growth, yield and nutrient uptake of dryland wheat

“…Although deep-rooted crops like mustard are considered to be more productive than wheat (Bains, Chowdhury & Turkhede, 1971) for drylands, social compulsions make the peasant farmers continue with wheat growing to meet their food needs. Earlier work at this Institute has shown that by modifying crop management practices like time of sowing (De et al 1983), use of organic mulches (De & Giri, 1978) and application of transpiration suppressants (Singh et al 1981) an increase in the productivity of dryland wheat is possible.…”

Effects of mulch practices on fresh ear yield and yield components of sweet corn

“…Maize seeds are to be sowed when the soil temperatures are around 10 °C (Cohn and Obendorf 1978). De et al (1983) stated that the yield increased considerably when the sowing date was adjusted to the best atmospheric temperature (10-12 °C). The development of corn becomes faster at temperatures above 25-32 °C, whereas temperatures below 18 °C slow down corn growth.…”