Planting Date in Relation to Yield and Yield Components of Wheat in Al-Qassim Region PDF

Keywords

wheat, yield, planting

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out during the 1990/91 and 1991/92 seasons to determine the optimum planting date for maximizing wheat production under AI-Qassim conditions. The experiments were conducted at the Agricultural experimental Station, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, King Saud University, Al-Qassim Branch, Saudi Arabia. Two high - yielding spring wheat cultivars; Yecora Rojo and West Bread, were planted in six dates; November 16, December 1 and 16, January 1 and 16 and February 1. The experiments were set up in a split plot design with four replications. Results revealed that planting dates had significant effects on all studied traits. Significant cultivar x planting date, planting date x season and cultivar x planting date x season interactions existed for grain yield and its components, plant height and days to heading. The best planting date for Yecora Rojo cultivar was January 1st and for West Bread cultivar was December 16 in the first season while the first of December was the best planting date for both cultivars in the second season for maximizing grain yield. Spikes per square meter and kernels per spike significantly increased while kernel weight non-significantly decreased as planting date was delayed from November to December. It could be concluded that the optimum period for planting date in Al-Qassim region lies within the first two weeks of December. Expanding planting to January 1st could be possible, while planting after this period would result in yield reduction.