Surface/relay planting: An option for planting wheat on time in the lower wetlands of the Tarai, Nepal
1998
Giri, G.S. (Rice-wheat coordinator, Bhairahawa (Nepal))
Late planting of wheat (Triticum aestivum), caused either by an excess or lack of soil moisture or a long turnaround time between wheat and the previous crop, is the number one constraint to wheat productivity in the rice-wheat cropping system. Late-planted wheat suffers from moisture and heat stresses after anthesis, causing a yield reduction of 30-50 kg/ha/day. Covering relay-planted wheat seed with harvested rice bundles for 3-9 days significantly increased grain yield. Surface/relay seeding of wheat is a useful technology for timely planting of wheat in non-traditional wheat areas (rice-fallow) under the rice-wheat system. The surface/relay seeding of wheat could reduce production costs while improving the quality and productivity of the wheat crop. Grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) were improved when N was applied at 20 and 30 days after sowing (DAS) in equal splits. The wheat crop relayed into standing rice produced the highest yield, followed by surface seeding and farmers' practice, irrespective of wheat genotype. Genotypes Bhrikuti, BL-1135, and Achyuta did fairly well under relay and surface seeding. Bhrikuti and BL-1473 did comparatively better under the farmers' practice under late planting. Higher yields and higher rice stubble were positively correlated. Wheat planted with the Chinese seed drill and surface seeding produced significantly higher yields than farmers' practice. Yields from no-till (surface-seeding) were unstable over the years, indicating sensitivity to management practices.
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