Effect of zero tillage system, seeding rate and row spacing on growth, yield and its components of bread wheat in moderate rainfall area in ninevah province.

Abstract

A RCBD factorial experiment with 3 factors in Split Split Plot design was conducted in 2011-2012 agricultural season at Telkief location in rainfed field (183.5 mm–very drought season) to evaluate the effect of tillage systems (Conventional Tillage and Zero-Tillage) with three row spacing level (14.7, 29.4 and 14.7 + 29.4 cm) and two seeding rate (80 and 100 kg/ hectare) on growth, yield and its components of Bread wheat (cv. Cham-6). ZT signifi-cantly decrease fuel consumption and weeds/m2 and significantly increase plant height, flag leaf area, No. of tillers and spikes /m2, grains and straw yield / m2 comparing with CT planting method. 100kg/ha seeding rate and 14.7cm row spacing factors increased significantly No. of plants, tillers and spikes/m2, grains and straw yield/m2 comparing with 80kg/ha and 29.4cm row spacing respectively. The highly significant value in grain and straw yields were in the triple interaction between ZT planting method, 100kg/ha seeding rate and 14.7 cm row spacing, this results due to the highly seeding rate in 14.7 row spacing in combined with the highly seeding rate.