Growth and Yield of Short Strawed Wheats under Commercial Planting Densities

The effect of small variations in commercial planting densities (viz. 200 (D₁) 250 (D₂) and 300 (D₃) plants/m²) of six Mexican short strawed wheat cultivars on their growth and yield, was studied under field conditions favourable for high levels of production. Under lower plant densities both the main shoot and the tillers showed better growth. The area and duration of the main shoot leaves and the per plant production of dry matter, grain number and grain weight were higher under the lower planting densities. Such plant characters as HI, 1000 grain weight and specific leaf weight remained unaffected by reduction in plant population.

The improvement in plant performance under the lowest density could not compensate for the decreased plant numbers in case of semi-dwarfs and therefore cultivar differences in respect of grain yield were absent under D₁. It was suggested that cultivars which have high yield potentials need to be grown at certain optimal planting densities for better grain yields.