Exploring the role of row spacing in yield improvement of wheat cultivars

Growth and development of individual plant is generally modified with space available to it. The performance of divergent wheat cultivars sown under different row spacing was evaluated in a field experiment performed at the Agronomic Research Area, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan during rabi season 2011-2012. The experimental setup was randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement replicated thrice. The main plots comprised of broadcast along with row spacing 10, 20 and 30 cm while five wheat cultivars i.e., Bhakar 2002, Seher 2006, Shafaq 2006, Faisalabad 2008 and Lasani 2008 were allocated in sub plots. The row spacing exhibited substantial effects on growth, yield and yield related attributes of wheat cultivars under study. The significant increase in LAI, LAD, CGR, number of fertile tillers per m2, spikelets per spike and number of grains per spike led to the highest grain yield in the cultivar Lasani 2008 at 20 cm row spacing. Nevertheless, the largest plant height and 1000-grain weight was obtained in Bhakar 2002 under 30 cm row spacing but it could not reimburse the severe decline in fertile tillers per m2 resulting in reduced grain yield. The minimum grain yield was recorded for broadcast method in all cultivars, as unevenly distributed plants were unable to utilize land, light and other inputs efficiently. Thus, it may be concluded that wheat could be sown at 20 cm row spacing irrespective of cultivar to exploit its maximum growth and yield potential.