Determining the optimization seeding rate for improved productivity of wheat under Southern Egypt conditions

Abstract Field experiments were conducted in two year to find out the optimum seeding rate (100, 200, 300 and 400 seeds m-2) for both bread wheat Giza 168 (Triticum aestivum L.) and durum wheat Sohag 3 (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum) cultivars grown on a sandy loam-soil at Qena in Upper Egypt. The experiment was laid out Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement keeping cultivars (C) in main plots and seeding rate (SR) in sub plots having three replications. Grain yield and its components and grain protein concentration were measured. Grain yield and its components exhibited a significant response to seeding rate and cultivar differences. Significant interaction effects between seeding rate and cultivar were detected in both seasons on yield, selected yield components, and harvest index. But, weight of kernels per spike was not affected by seeding rate or the seeding rate x cultivar interaction. The highest grain and straw yields as well as harvest index were recorded for C1SR3 (Giza 168 cv and seeding 300 seeds m-2), while the lowest values were found for C2SR1 (Sohag 3 cv and seeding 100 seeds m-2). There was no significant response to seeding rate in grain protein concentration. Grains of Sohag 3 (durum wheat) were significantly higher in their protein concentration than grains of Giza 168 (bread wheat). Crop production functions with respect to seeding rates, determined for grain yield and yield components enable the results of this study to be extrapolated to other agro-climatic conditions similar to those in Qena.