World Journal of Agricultural Sciences 5 (2): 159-162, 2009

ISSN 1817-3047
IDOSI Publications, 2009

Effects of Sowing Method and Seed Rate on Growth

and Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
1
Umed Ali Soomro, 1Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 1Ejaz Ali Odhano, 2Shereen Gul, 3Abdul Qadir Tareen

1
PCSIR Laboratories, P.O. Box 387, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan
2
Department of Botany, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan
3
Directorate of Agriculture Research, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted during winter season of 2004-2005. Three sowing methods and
seed rate were evaluated in a four replicated RCBD method. Results revealed that all growth and yield
parameters were significantly affected by the sowing methods and seed rates. The interaction of sowing
methods and seed rates significantly effected on spikes per plant and grains per spike, while other characters
showed non significant interactions. Wheat sown by drilling method at the seed rate of 150 kg/ha significantly
increased the plant vigor and yield. This increase in yield was associated with the progressive increase in all
growth components.

Key words: Wheat Sowing methods Seed rate Grain yield Growth interactions Crop vigor

INTRODUCTION and sowing at desired depth, which usually results in

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) belongs to family
gramineae and is the major staple food crop of the world
[1]. It is believed that wheat originated in south western
Asia from where it spread to other parts of Asia, Europe,
Africa and America [2]. Wheat crop is grown in the
temperate regions of the world, where the annual rain fall
averages between 10 to 70 inches. High rain fall
accompanied with high temperature is hostile for wheat,
because these conditions favor the development of
diseases [3].
Wheat is one of the important staple cereal crop
of Pakistan and has been cultivated since pre- historic
times. Charred grains of wheat have been recovered from
the excavation of Moen-jo-Daro and Harapa and the
occurrence of assumed wild parents of wheat
Aegilops squarosa (n-7) and Triticum turgidum(n-14) in
the up lands of Balochistan for evidence to the fact [4].
Wheat is grown in Pakistan at more than 8 millions
hactares (ha) [5] with an average yield 2500 kg/ha. Low
grain yield could be occurred due to the inappropriate
planting method, seed rate and crop management. In
Pakistan wheat is planted through broadcasting on a large
area after rice and cotton harvesting. Broadcasting not
only requires higher seed rate but also results in lower
plant population, where as drill sowing method is
recommended because of its uniform seed distribution
higher germination and uniform stand. A key factor in
the highest wheat production is the understanding of
early crop establishment. Beside other agronomic
factors seed rate and sowing method are major factors
which determines the crop vigor and ultimate yield [6].
Keeping in view the importance of seed rate and sowing
method this study was designed to determine the best
sowing method and seed rate for ultimate wheat
production.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The experiment was conducted at PCSIR laboratories,
Quetta during the winter season 2005-2006. In this regard
land was given three ploughs for the purpose of good
seed bed preparation. The experiment was laid out in
Randomized Complete Block Design having four
replications with net plot size of 62 m [7]. Wheat variety
TJ-83 was used in the experiments.
Following two strategies were adopted for
experiments.
Sowing Methods
Drilling
Broad casting
Broad casting in standing water

Corresponding Author: Mujeeb ur Rahman, PCSIR Laboratories, P.O.Box 387, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan
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 World J. Agric. Sci., 5 (2): 159-162, 2009

Seed Rate All the collected data were subjected to analysis of

variance test to discriminate the treatments mean LSD [9].
125 kg/ha
150 kg/ha RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
175 kg /ha
Plant Height: The variations in plant height in response
Crop Management All the required agronomic practices to the sowing methods and seed rates are depicted in
were followed uniformly in all the plots throughout the Table 1. The variations were highly significant and
growing period. The plots were thoroughly irrigated their interactions were non significant. Wheat planted
25 days interval. by drilling method resulted in taller plants up to
101.95 cm followed by seed broadcasting 97.49 cm and
Data Recording: 100 plants were selected randomly from seed broadcasting in standing water 95.17 cm. It may be
each treatment and subjected for recording data using due to the plant competition as broad casting left uneven
standard methods [8]. space where as drilling provided uniform space.
Following growth and yield parameters were Furthermore, wheat sown at higher seed rate i.e.,
recorded: 175 kg/ha produced greater plant height i.e., 101.25 cm
followed by 150 kg/ha i.e., 99.09 cm and 125 kg/ha i.e.,
Plant height (cm) 94.27 cm these results are in agreemented with the results
Numbers of tillers per plant reported by Hattab [10].
Numbers of spikes per plant
Numbers of grains per spike Number of Tillers per Plant: The data showed significant
1000- grain weight effects of seed rate and sowing method on number of
Grain and straw weight per plot tillers per plant. The maximum number of average tillers

Table 1: Effects of sowing method and seed rate on plant height (cm) of wheat
Sowing Methods (M)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seed Rate (S) Kg/ha Drilling Broadcasting Broadcasting in standing water Mean for seed rate
125 96.45 94.25 92.10 94.27 c
150 103.55 98.58 95.15 99.09 b
175 105.85 99.65 98.15 101.25 a
Mean for sowing methods 101.95 a 97.49 b 95.17 c
CV% (0.5) 1.70 Interaction (MS) 1.179

Table 2: Effects of sowing method and seed rate on number of tillers per plant of wheat
Sowing Methods (M)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seed Rate (S) Kg/ha Drilling Broadcasting Broadcasting in standing water Mean for seed rate
125 11.00 10.65 9.58 10.41 a
150 10.30 9.25 7.85 9.13 b
175 9.95 8.55 7.30 8.50 c
Mean for methods 10.32 a 9.24 b 8.24 c
CV% (0.5) 5.80 Interaction (MS) 0.335

Table 3:Effects of sowing method and seed rate on number of spikes per plant of wheat
Sowing Methods (M)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seed Rate (S) Kg/ha Drilling Broadcasting Broadcasting in standing water Mean for seed rate
125 10.55 9.80 8.50 9.00 a
150 9.55 9.00 7.25 8.60 b
175 8.40 8.00 7.08 7.84 c
Mean for methods 9.50a 8.95b 7.61c
CV% (0.5)2.96 Interaction (MS) 0.230

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 World J. Agric. Sci., 5 (2): 159-162, 2009

Table 4:Effects of sowing method and seed rate on number of grains per spike of wheat
Sowing Methods (M)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seed Rate (S) Kg/ha Drilling Broadcasting Broadcasting in standing water Mean for seed rate
125 60.60 58.80 57.10 58.83 a
150 58.80 56.50 53.50 56.27 b
175 56.50 55.10 52.00 54.53 c
Mean for methods 58.63a 56.80b 54.20c
CV% (0.5)2.87 Interaction (MS)1.149

Table 5: Effected of sowing method and seed rate on grains weight (g) of wheat
Sowing Methods (M)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seed Rate (S) Kg/ha Drilling Broadcasting Broadcasting in standing water Mean for seed rate
125 41.63 40.58 38.38 40.19 a
150 40.78 39.05 35.93 38.58 b
175 38.60 36.20 34.13 36.31 c
Mean for methods 40.33a 38.60b 36.14c
CV% (0.5)2.40 Interaction (MS)0.652

Table 6: Effects of sowing method and seed rate on grain and straw weight per plot (Kg) of wheat
Sowing Methods (M)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seed Rate (S) Kg/ha Drilling Broadcasting Broadcasting in standing water Mean for seed rate
125 17.76 14.97 13.25 15.33 a
150 16.28 13.58 13.29 14.38 b
175 11.66 11.34 10.30 11.10 c
Mean for methods 15.23a 13.29b 12.28c
CV% (0.5)10.80 Interaction (MS) 0.394

were observed with seed rate 125 kg/ha (10.41/Plant)
followed by sowing method drilling (10.32/Plant) and seed
broadcasting (9.58/Plant), while minimum number of mean
tillers with seed rate (175 kg/ha) i.e., 8.50/Plant (Table 2).
Hattab et al., [10] have also reported similar results.
Number of Spikes per Plant: It was observed that greater
number of spikes per plant were produced at seed rate 125
kg/ha by drilling method of sowing (10.55/Plant) followed
by same seed rate with sowing method broadcasting
(9.80//Plant) and broadcasting in standing water
(8.50/Plant). While the lowest number of spikes per plant
was recorded with seed rate 175 kg/ha by sowing method
broadcasting in standing water i.e., 7.08/plant (Table 3).
Number of Grains per Spike: Higher mean number of
grains per spike was achieved in plants sown at seed rate
125 kg/ha through sowing method drilling (60.60/spike).
While the lowest number of grains/spike was recorded in
plants through broadcasting in standing water sowing
method at seed rate 175 kg/ha (Table 4).
The greatest number of grains/spike in seed
rate 125 kg/ha through seeding method drilling is
due to less plant competition and proper seed
placement. While the lowest number of grains in seed
rate 175 kg/ha through sowing method broadcasting in
standing water cause by more plant competition.
On the other hand, standing water provided the
conditions more susceptible to disease attack and low
osmotic pressure [11].
1000-Grain Weight: The plants sown at seed rate
125 kg/ha through drilling sowing method had
significant effect on grains weight (41.63 gm/1000 grains)
followed by plants sown at seed rate 150 kg/ha
through drilling method (40.78/1000 grains) While the
minimum grains weight was recorded in plants sown
through broad casting in standing water with seed
rate175 kg/ha (34.13 gm/1000 grains) (Table 5). These
results confirm that proper seed sowing rate and
sowing method is responsible for quality of grains and
their weight.

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 World J. Agric. Sci., 5 (2): 159-162, 2009
Grain and Straw Weight per Plot: Total plant weight was
also increased in plants sown at seed rate 125 kg/ha
through drilling sowing method (17.76 Kg/plant) followed
by at seed rate 150 kg/ha (16.28 Kg/plant) and at seed rate
175 kg/ha (11.66 Kg/plant). While the minimum plant
material weight were recorded in plots where seed sown
at the rate of 175 kg/ha through broadcasting in standing
water (10.30 gm) (Table 6).
The results indicate that proper seed rate and sowing
method increased plant vitality and yield. It encourages
nutrient availability, proper sun light penetration for
photosynthesis [12], good soil environment for up take
soil nutrients and water use efficiency [13], all necessary
for crop vigor and yield. Broadcasting method of sowing
is considered inferior than others [14].
CONCLUSIONS
In the light of aforementioned results it can be safely
concluded that drilling method of sowing at seed rate
125 kg/ha is optimal for yield and quality of wheat grains,
because the said sowing method and seed rate distribute
seed uniformly and desired depth which provide
appropriate depth for seed germination and crop
establishment. Furthermore, It provide proper distance for
optimum sun light penetration for photosynthesis and
proper depth to roots for up take of water and soil
nutrients resulted in good water use efficiency.
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