Evaluation of Growth and Yield Attributes of Different Wheat Genotypes Sown under Various Planting Times

Abstract

Late planting time caused drastic reduction in crop development, growth and yield attributes. Three-year field experiments were conducted at the Field Area of Agronomic Research Station Bahawalpur, Pakistan, to evaluate the performance of six wheat genotypes under different sowing dates starting form 1^st Nov. to 21^st Dec. with 10 days of intervals in each experimental year. Growth and yield components were determined at the time of physiological maturity. Late sowing of wheat crop drastically decreased the crop development attributes (days taken to booting, heading, anthesis, physiological maturity), growth attributes (germination count m^-2, No. of tillers m^-2 and plant height) and yield attribute (number of grains spike^-1, 1000 grains weight, grain yield). Wheat sown at 11^th Nov. followed by 1^st Nov. and 21^st Nov. reported maximum growth and yield attributes. Maximum reduction in growth and yield of wheat was observed by sowing on 21^st Dec. and 11^th Dec. Variations among genotypes were also observed. Genotype Aas-11 and Punjab-11 performed better in all the sowing dates while genotype Sehar-06 showed poor growth and yield attributes. Among the years, experimental season of 2012-13 and 2010-11 reported better growth and yield attributes. On overall basis, it may be concluded that wheat sown at 1^st Nov. to 21^st Nov. appeared to be most desirable sowing time to harvest maximum yield in all tested genotypes. However early as well as late planting of wheat favors for genotypes Aas-11 and Punjab-11.

Keywords: Sowing dates, wheat genotypes, late planting, crop development, germination count, anthesis, yield attributes