Effect of Different Seed Sizes and Seed Rates on the Growth and Productivity of Wheat Grown Under Semi-Arid Conditions

Abstract

Optimum seeding density and seed size are imperious agronomic practices for improving wheat productivity. Therefore, this field study assessed the impact of diverse seeding rates and seed sizes on performance of wheat. The study was comprised of various seeding rates 100, 125 and 150 kg ha-1 and different seed sizes i.e., bold seed (more than 2.7 mm), medium seed (less than 2.7 mm) and small seed (less than 2.3 mm). The various seed sizes and rates significantly affected performance of wheat crop. For seed sizes maximum LAI, CGR, plant height (94.32 cm) productive tillers (PT) (364 m-2), thousand grain weight (TGW) (42.67 g), biological yield (BY) (10.61 t ha-1), grain yield (GY) (4.49 t ha-1) and harvest index (HI) (41.94%) was obtained with 150 kg ha-1 seeding rate and lowest LAI, CGR, height (88.65 cm) PT (283.11 m-2), TGW (38.30 g), BY (9.57 t ha-1), GY (3.66 t ha-1) and HI (38.66) was noted in seed rate of 100 kg ha-1. In case of seed size maximum LAI, CGR, plant height (99.67 cm), PT (348 m-2), TGW (42.67 g), BY (10.68 t ha-1), GY (4.53 t ha-1) and HI (42.68%) was recorded with bold seed (more than 2.7 mm) LAI, CGR, plant height (88.09 cm) PT (294 m-2), TGW (36.29 g), BY (9.62 t ha-1), GY (3.61 t ha-1) and HI (36.92%) was recorded with small seed size (less than 2.3 mm). In conclusion, 150 kg ha-1 of seed rate and bold seed size can be used under Faisalabad conditions to get the maximum wheat production