Morphological and physiological responses of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to spatial arrangements
Date
2008-12
Authors
Tolmay, John Peter Cleggenett
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
The adoption of the no-till planting method brought about changes to the way the wheat crop is
established in the Mediterranean climate of the Western Cape. Row widths have to increase
from the normal narrow rows (170-180 mm) to at least 250 mm to allow for sufficient stubble
handling. Furthermore, planters are designed to place seed accurately in the soil at uniform
depth, which may increase seedling survival rates. The main objective of this study was to
determine the influence of the use of wide row widths on yield, the components of yield and
grain quality parameters and to revisit planting density recommendations to be used with the notill
planting method.
On-farm, producer managed trials which included cultivars, row widths and planting density
treatments were planted at Riversdale, Swellendam and Caledon in the Southern Cape region
and at Moorreesburg and Hopefield in the Swartland during the 2004 to 2006 production
seasons. All trials were factorial RCB designs with split-split plot arrangements. Grain yield,
grain protein, hectolitre mass (HLM) and the yield components, seedlings m-2, seedling survival
(%), number of heads m-2, number of heads plant-1, number of kernels head-1 and thousand
kernel mass (TKM) were determined at all sites in 2005 and 2006.
Seedling survival rates of 80% were easily achieved in all trials with the exception of Caledon and Swellendam in 2005. The no-till planting method may be efficient to improve on survival rates of 50-70% found with the conventional planting methods. The yield component response that raised the most concern was the clear trend of the reduction in the number of heads m-2 as row widths increased, which was significant in eight out of the nine experiments. The number of heads plant-1 decreased significantly as planting density increased in all experiments. Cultivars
differed in the grain quality parameters grain protein (%) and HLM but were influenced minimally
by the other treatments. Reductions in grain yield occurred in three out of eight trials in the
Southern Cape and in three out of six trials in the Swartland, with reductions of between 6.8%
and 33% in some seasons. The risk of yield loss due to wide row widths could not be excluded
by this study and therefore the row widths used by producers should remain as narrow as
practically possible. Grain yield response to increasing planting density differed between the two regions. No significant yield benefits were found in any of these trials if planting densities were increased above 175 target plants m-2. Planting densities may be reduced to between 70 and 87.5 kg seed ha-1 to achieve this target if the crop is planted in time and seedling survival rates of at least 80% can be achieved.
Description
Thesis (PhD(Agric) (Agronomy))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
Keywords
Wheat -- Morphology, Row width, Planting density, Wheat -- Physiology, Wheat -- Yields -- South Africa -- Western Cape, Conservation tillage -- South Africa -- Western Cape, Dissertations -- Agronomy, Theses -- Agronomy, Dissertations -- Agriculture, Theses -- Agriculture