EFFECT OF SOWING DEPTH AND ROW SPACING ON GERMINATION STAND ESTABLISHMENT AND YIELD OF WHEAT

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the agronomy field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during November, 2013 to March, 2014 to evaluate the influence of sowing depth and row spacing on germination, stand establishment and yield of wheat cv. BARI Gom-27. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) design with three replications having three sowing depths ( 2, 4 and 8 cm) and four row spacings (15, 20, 25 and 30 cm). Results showed that sowing depths had significant influence on emerged seedling m -2 , seedling length, root length seedling , number of roots plant 1 , number of tillers plant -1 , total dry matter plant , 1000 grain weight, grain yield and straw yield while length of spike, number of spikelet spike -1 , number of grains spike -1 were non significant. Row spacing showed significant effect on emerged seedling m -2 , seedling length, root length of seedling, number of roots plant -1 ,

number of tillers plant -1 , total dry matter plant -1 , length of spike, number of spikelet spikes -1 -1 , number of grains spike and grain yield. The result from 4 cm sowing depth showed best performances in the case of grain and straw yield. The highest grain yield (3.98 t ha ) and straw yield (5.09 t ha -1 ) were obtained from 4 cm sowing depth. Similarly the highest grain yield (3.81 t ha -1 ) was also produced from 20 cm row spacing, whereas, 15 cm row spacing

produced the lowest grain yield (3.23 t ha ). The highest straw yield was observed with 4 cm sowing depth and the lowest with 8 cm sowing depth. As an interaction effect of treatments, 4 cm sowing depth and 20 cm row spacing produced the highest grain yield (4.53 t ha

-1 -1 -1 ) of wheat. -1 -1