This study evaluated the effects of three sowing methods (drilling, broadcasting, and broadcasting in standing water) and three seed rates (125 kg/ha, 150 kg/ha, 175 kg/ha) on the growth and yield of wheat. The experiment was conducted during the 2004-2005 winter season in Quetta, Pakistan using a randomized complete block design with four replications. Results showed that drilling wheat at a seed rate of 150 kg/ha significantly increased various growth and yield parameters compared to other treatments. This treatment led to taller plants, more tillers per plant, more spikes per plant, more grains per spike, higher 1000-grain weight, and greater grain and straw yield per plot. Uniform seed distribution and proper

1. World Journal of Agricultural Sciences 5 (2): 159-162, 2009
ISSN 1817-3047
© IDOSI Publications, 2009
Corresponding Author: Mujeeb ur Rahman, PCSIR Laboratories, P.O.Box 387, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan
159
Effects of Sowing Method and Seed Rate on Growth
and Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Umed Ali Soomro, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ejaz Ali Odhano, Shereen Gul, Abdul Qadir Tareen1 1 1 2 3
PCSIR Laboratories, P.O. Box 387, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan1
Department of Botany, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan2
Directorate of Agriculture Research, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan3
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 the highest wheat production is the understanding of
gramineae and is the major staple food crop of the world early crop establishment. Beside other agronomic
[1]. It is believed that wheat originated in south western factors seed rate and sowing method are major factors
Asia from where it spread to other parts of Asia, Europe, which determines the crop vigor and ultimate yield [6].
Africa and America [2]. Wheat crop is grown in the Keeping in view the importance of seed rate and sowing
temperate regions of the world, where the annual rain fall method this study was designed to determine the best
averages between 10 to 70 inches. High rain fall sowing method and seed rate for ultimate wheat
accompanied with high temperature is hostile for wheat, production.
because these conditions favor the development of
diseases [3]. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Wheat is one of the important staple cereal crop
of Pakistan and has been cultivated since pre- historic The experiment was conducted at PCSIR laboratories,
times. Charred grains of wheat have been recovered from Quetta during the winter season 2005-2006. In this regard
the excavation of Moen-jo-Daro and Harapa and the land was given three ploughs for the purpose of good
occurrence of assumed wild parents of wheat seed bed preparation. The experiment was laid out in
Aegilops squarosa (n-7) and Triticum turgidum(n-14) in Randomized Complete Block Design having four
the up lands of Balochistan for evidence to the fact [4]. replications with net plot size of 6×2 m [7]. Wheat variety
Wheat is grown in Pakistan at more than 8 millions TJ-83 was used in the experiments.
hactares (ha) [5] with an average yield 2500 kg/ha. Low Following two strategies were adopted for
grain yield could be occurred due to the inappropriate experiments.
planting method, seed rate and crop management. In
Pakistan wheat is planted through broadcasting on a large Sowing Methods
area after rice and cotton harvesting. Broadcasting not
only requires higher seed rate but also results in lower Drilling
plant population, where as drill sowing method is Broad casting
recommended because of its uniform seed distribution Broad casting in standing water
higher germination and uniform stand. A key factor in

2. World J. Agric. Sci., 5 (2): 159-162, 2009
160
Seed Rate All the collected data were subjected to analysis of
125 kg/ha
150 kg/ha RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
175 kg /ha
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
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
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
variance test to discriminate the treatments mean LSD [9].
Plant Height: The variations in plant height in response
101.95 cm followed by seed broadcasting 97.49 cm and
followed by 150 kg/ha i.e., 99.09 cm and 125 kg/ha i.e.,
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 (M×S) 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 (M×S) 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 (M×S) 0.230

3. World J. Agric. Sci., 5 (2): 159-162, 2009
161
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 (M×S)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 (M×S)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 (M×S) 0.394
were observed with seed rate 125 kg/ha (10.41/Plant) The greatest number of grains/spike in seed
followed by sowing method drilling (10.32/Plant) and seed rate 125 kg/ha through seeding method drilling is
broadcasting (9.58/Plant), while minimum number of mean due to less plant competition and proper seed
tillers with seed rate (175 kg/ha) i.e., 8.50/Plant (Table 2). placement. While the lowest number of grains in seed
Hattab et al., [10] have also reported similar results. rate 175 kg/ha through sowing method broadcasting in
Number of Spikes per Plant: It was observed that greater On the other hand, standing water provided the
number of spikes per plant were produced at seed rate 125 conditions more susceptible to disease attack and low
kg/ha by drilling method of sowing (10.55/Plant) followed osmotic pressure [11].
by same seed rate with sowing method broadcasting
(9.80//Plant) and broadcasting in standing water 1000-Grain Weight: The plants sown at seed rate
(8.50/Plant). While the lowest number of spikes per plant 125 kg/ha through drilling sowing method had
was recorded with seed rate 175 kg/ha by sowing method significant effect on grains weight (41.63 gm/1000 grains)
broadcasting in standing water i.e., 7.08/plant (Table 3). followed by plants sown at seed rate 150 kg/ha
Number of Grains per Spike: Higher mean number of minimum grains weight was recorded in plants sown
grains per spike was achieved in plants sown at seed rate through broad casting in standing water with seed
125 kg/ha through sowing method drilling (60.60/spike). rate175 kg/ha (34.13 gm/1000 grains) (Table 5). These
While the lowest number of grains/spike was recorded in results confirm that proper seed sowing rate and
plants through broadcasting in standing water sowing sowing method is responsible for quality of grains and
method at seed rate 175 kg/ha (Table 4). their weight.
standing water cause by more plant competition.
through drilling method (40.78/1000 grains) While the

4. World J. Agric. Sci., 5 (2): 159-162, 2009
162
Grain and Straw Weight per Plot: Total plant weight was 4. Ginai, M.A, 1981. Field crops. Agriculture research
also increased in plants sown at seed rate 125 kg/ha institute Faisalabad, pp: 188.
through drilling sowing method (17.76 Kg/plant) followed 5. Shah, S.J. Ahmad, F. Azam, I. Ali and T. Muhammad,
by at seed rate 150 kg/ha (16.28 Kg/plant) and at seed rate 2005. Occurrence of Fusarium head scab in
175 kg/ha (11.66 Kg/plant). While the minimum plant International and National wheat breeding materials,
material weight were recorded in plots where seed sown Pak. J. Sci. Ind. Res., 48(3): 220.
at the rate of 175 kg/ha through broadcasting in standing 6. Korres, N.E and R.J. Froud-Williams, 2002. Effect of
water (10.30 gm) (Table 6). winter wheat cultivars and seed rate on the biological
The results indicate that proper seed rate and sowing characteristics of naturally occurring weed flora.
method increased plant vitality and yield. It encourages Weed Res., 42(6): 417.
nutrient availability, proper sun light penetration for 7. Amanullah, C. and I. Hussain, 2001. Influence of seed
photosynthesis [12], good soil environment for up take size and seed rate on phenology, yield and quality of
soil nutrients and water use efficiency [13], all necessary wheat. Pak. J. Bio. Sci., 4(4): 414.
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CONCLUSIONS environment, J. Agro. Crop Sci., 190(50): 325.
In the light of aforementioned results it can be safely Procedures for Agriculture Research (2 Edn.) John
concluded that drilling method of sowing at seed rate Willy and Sons New York, pp: 200-205.
125 kg/ha is optimal for yield and quality of wheat grains, 10. Hattab, E.H.S., M.S. Kamal and A.A. Galil, 1970. The
because the said sowing method and seed rate distribute effects of the rate of seeding and the number of
seed uniformly and desired depth which provide irrigation on the wheat yield and its components,
appropriate depth for seed germination and crop Field Crop Abst., 26(4): 474.
establishment. Furthermore, It provide proper distance for 11. Blankkenau and H.W. Olfs, 2001. Effect of different
optimum sun light penetration for photosynthesis and crop densities of wheat on recovery of Nitrogen in
proper depth to roots for up take of water and soil crop and soil within the growth period, J. Agron.
nutrients resulted in good water use efficiency. Crop Sci., 186(3): 151.
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