WOLAITA SODO UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SCIENCES

A SENIOR SEMINAR PAPER

THE EFFECT OF POPULATION DENSITY ON

VEGETATIVE GROWTH AND YIELD COMPONENT OF
BREAD WHEAT (TRITICM AESTIVUM.L)

BY: Bizualem Wubalem Liyew ID NO: RU1382/12

ADVISOR: Brkti Ferede (PhD)

A Senior Seminar Paper Submitted to the Department of

plant Sciences, College of Agriculture, Wolaita Sodo
University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
the Degree of Bachelor of Science (BSc.)

May, 2023

WSU, ETHIOPIA
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and for most I would like to thanks for God for his immeasurable help and for giving

unity and peace. Secondly, I would to thank for my advisor, Dr. Brkti Ferede for her valuable
and constructive advice during preparing this senior seminar paper. Finally, I would like to
express my heartfelt thanks to my families and friends for their financial and material
support.

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ACRONOMYS

ANOVA Analysis of variance

DAP Di ammonium phosphate

Kg/ha Kilogram per hectare

Kg N Kilogram Nitrogen

P/ha Phosphorus per hectar

% percent

O
C Degree Celsius

LSD Least Significant Difference

RCBD Randomized Complete Block Design

Trt Treatment

SAS Statistical analysis of soft ware

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content Page

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.............................................................................................................................i
ACRONOMYS.............................................................................................................................................ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS.............................................................................................................................iii
ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................................iv
1. INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Back Ground Information....................................................................................................................1
1.2. Objectives of the senior seminar........................................................................................................2
2. LITERATURE REVIEW..........................................................................................................................2
2.1 Wheat Ecology (Environmental Requirements)..................................................................................2
2.2. Agronomy of Wheat...........................................................................................................................2
2.2.1 Seed Bed Preparation....................................................................................................................2
2.2.2 Planting date..................................................................................................................................3
2.2.3 Seeding rates.................................................................................................................................3
2.2.4 Fertilizer application.....................................................................................................................4
2.2.5. Weed Management and Plant Density................................................................................................4
2.2.6 Harvest..........................................................................................................................................4
2.3 Agronomic Parameters........................................................................................................................5
3. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION........................................................................................6
3.1. Conclusion..........................................................................................................................................6
3.2. Recommendation................................................................................................................................6
4. REFERENCE............................................................................................................................................7

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ABSTRACT

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important staple foods in the world. Bread wheat
(Triticum aestivum) is one of the most important cultivated crops, being grown in a wide range of
environments that affect overall performance, particularly grain yield and end-use quality. Wheat yield
and end-use quality depend upon the environment, genotype, and their interaction. Planting density is
important factor which influence yield and quality of wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) Optimum plant
densities vary greatly between areas, climatic conditions, soil, sowing time, and varieties. Management
practices play an important role in determining yield and end-use quality of wheat. Days to heading,
spike length and leaf number were affected significantly by the different rate of seed.The highest spike
length and leaf number were recorded at the rate of 60 and 80kg/ha respectively. At the rate of 80 and
100 kg/ha days to heading were late whereas at the rate of 120 and 140kg/ha the heading were early.
However, the parameter fresh weight, tiller number, plant height, and days to flowering were not
affected by different seed rate. Previous studies showed that both GPC and grain yield (GY) can be
increased by N fertilizer.

Keywords: population density, yield components, yield, wheat

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Back Ground Information

Wheat is one of the most important cereals and an important staple food crop of about one third of the
world's population (Muhammad et al 2011).It is number one cereals of the temperate regions of the world
which are climatically very suitable for its production. Wheat evolved from wild grasses and is thought to
have first been cultivated between 15,000 and 10,000 BC. It is an annual plant belonging to the genus
Triticum, which includes common bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) and durum (Triticum
turgidum) .Common bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the most important cultivated crops,
being grown in a wide range of environments that affect overall performance, particularly grain yield and
end-use quality (Veselinkaet al, 2011).Accordingly this authors, Wheat yield and end-use quality depend
upon the environment, genotype, and their interaction. Grain yield and quality of wheat are affected by
several factors, and crop management has a very important role among them. For achieving high yields
and grain quality of wheat it is important to apply all the cultural practices completely and on time and
adapt them to cultivars. The correct fertilizer application, particularly N is very important to achieve high
yields and good grain quality of wheat. Besides regular nutrition of plants for achieving high yields and
good quality, sowing time and planting density play an important role.

Optimum sowing time ensures adequate plant population and produces good quality seed. Late sowing of
wheat is the major reason of low yield. In late planted wheat, low temperature prevailing during crop
establishment substantially affects the germination and seedling emergence (Iqbalet al, 2013). Late
planting results in poor tillering, reduces tillering period and more chances of winter injury (Byerlee et al.,
1984; Joshi et al., 1992). The correct fertilizer application, particularly N is very important to achieve
high yields and good grain quality of wheat. Besides regular nutrition of plants for achieving high yields
and good quality, sowing time and planting density play an important role. Planting density is important
factor which influence yield and quality of wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) Optimum plant densities vary
greatly between areas, climatic conditions, soil, sowing time, and varieties (Veselinka et al, 2011).Since
cultivars genetically differ for yield components, individual cultivars need to be tested at a wide range of
seeding rates to determine their optimum seeding rate (Wiersma, 2002). Management practices play an
important role in determining yield and end-use quality of wheat.

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1.2. Objectives of the senior seminar

To investigate the optimum planting density that can increase on vegetative growth and yield component
of bread wheat.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Wheat Ecology (Environmental Requirements)

Wheat is grown both in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Increasing wheat production under a
biotic stress conditions has become important in recent years, since wheat production in areas with
optimum growing conditions does not meet the needs of the increasing population (Waqas, 2006).
Drought resistance is general term and could refer to any of several types of drought resistance such as
drought escape, dehydration avoidance or dehydration tolerance. Wheat is a grain crop that grows in
many temperate climates. If an area either has adequate water or can be irrigated, has proper
temperatures, good sun and either low humidity or facilities for quick grain drying, wheat is a potential
crop. In general, wheat takes about 120 days to mature, meaning that it can be planted twice a year. Soil
moisture influences the speed of germination. Germination is rapid if the soil is moist. When the soil
dries to near the permanent wilting point, the speed of germination slows. Instead of 5 days at7 oC when
there is adequate moisture, germination will take 10 days at 7 oC when soil reaches the permanent wilting
point (Julie White & Jan Edwards, 2007). The germination process in a seed may stop and start in
response to available moisture. So seeds that have taken up water and entered Phase 2, but not reached
Phase 3, remain viable if the soil dries out. This can happen when dry sowing is followed by a small fall
of rain that keeps the soil moist for a few days before drying out. When the next fall of rain comes, the
seed resumes germinating, taking up water and moving quickly through Phase 2 so that germination is
rapid. Soil moisture also affects emergence. Sowing into hard setting or crusting soils that dry out after
sowing may result in poor emergence. The hard soil makes it difficult for the coleoptiles to push through
to the surface.

2.2. Agronomy of Wheat

2.2.1 Seed Bed Preparation

Selecting a tillage or land-preparation method can have significant effects on a producer’s wheat yields
and returns. The precision land leveling is one of the important agronomic practices to remove ups and
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downs of the soil and to achieve better seed bed conditions for the uniform distribution of irrigation water
and better supply of other inputs to the growing wheat crop (Shamsuddin, 2001).From his point of view,
wheat requires fertile loam to clay loam soils with good drainage for better yields. The crop growing
areas should be divided into small plots of half an acre along with channels in the middle to separate each
plot and to make proper use of irrigation water according to crop needs. While conventional tillage can
prepare a seedbed for accurate placement of wheat seed and bury crop residue, thus reducing diseases and
other pests, it can also destroy organic matter and may cause a grower to become noncompliant with
USDA conservation programs(Brenda et al,2013).According to these authors, Conservation tillage
production methods can contribute to increased soil moisture, organic matter, and tilth while reducing
soil erosion and nutrient losses and may lead to increased incentives from government programs. Also
decreases in equipment, labor, and fuel costs have all been documented with conservation tillage;
however, growers need to balance these savings with potential loss of grain yields or select a system that
optimizes returns.

2.2.2 Planting date

Climatic conditions vary greatly across the country causing the recommended planting dates to vary for
different areas. Producer try to plant wheat at a time so seedlings have well established crown roots and
three to five tillers before winter dormancy, thereby enabling the plants to minimize winterkill damage.
Planting within a week of the Hessian fly-free date for an area will usually allow enough time for
adequate fall growth. Planting too early increases the hazards of insects and diseases, such as Hessian fly,
leaf rust and wheat streak mosaic virus.

But in areas where wheat is grazed, producers will plant 2 to 3 weeks earlier than they would if the wheat
is to be used for grain to ensure fall growth for grazing. Planting date is a key factor in producing high-
yielding small-grain cereals, including wheat. In most cases, the reduction of yield potential and the
increase of pest and disease pressure are associated with the planting date. The root system and shoot
development have a differential contribution to final yield; however, both are highly influenced by
planting date. For example, winter wheat will emerge sooner and the shoot develop faster if the soil is
warm (75 to 80 degrees F). In contrast, the root system develops much faster and more extensively if the
soil is cool (55 to 60 degrees F) (Brenda et al, 2013).

2.2.3 Seeding rates

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Although growers traditionally use seeding rates based on the volume or weight of the seeds (bushels per
acre), the number of winter wheat seeds in 1 pound can range from 10,000 to 18,000, depending on the
seed size of the variety and the year it was produced. Therefore, seeding rates should be based on the
number of seeds per acre rather than the volume or weight of the seeds per acre (Brenda et al, 2013).
Seeding rates may vary for different planting methods. Low seeding rates can result in excessive tillering.

2.2.4 Fertilizer application

Fertilizer Application has its own effect on the plant population density that more application of fertilizer
result in more growth which interns result in more dense population of wheat crops. Wheat crop needs
balanced use of chemical fertilizer, which is applied at the time of sowing and it must be completed up to
first and/or second irrigation (Shamsuddin, 2001). Full dose of phosphorous should be given at the time
of sowing and nitrogen should be applied in split doses i.e. half at the time of sowing and half at first or
second irrigation. But, the fertilizer dose must be selected after soil test with regard to its quality and crop
needs. Wheat, like corn grain, requires about 1 to 1.5 pounds total N per bushel of anticipated yield.
Because of its transient nature in the environment, N fertilization of wheat is the most difficult nutrient to
manage but is also one of the most critical because it is an essential component of protein. N produces
green, leafy growth. (Brenda et al, 2013).Lack of adequate P can be devastating to wheat yields.
However, this is totally avoidable by soil testing.(Brenda et al,2013).According to their research, Once
soil test P reaches a high level, additional P will not increase yield or quality regardless of the yield
potential of the field.

2.2.5. Weed Management and Plant Density

Preparing the seedbed before planting is extremely important with any crop, especially regarding weed
control. Any emerged weeds present when wheat is planted will have a distinct advantage over the crop
and will be much harder or impossible to control after wheat emerges (Brenda et al, 2013. Therefore,
make sure that all emerged weeds are destroyed before planting wheat, using a tillage method such as
double disking or chisel ploughing- followed by disking. Burn down herbicides such as glyphosate
(Roundup, Touchdown) or paraquat (Gramoxone) can also be used; however, paraquat only provides
burn down of the tops of most perennial weeds, while glyphosate will translocated and provide control of
some perennial species.

2.2.6 Harvest
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Ideally, wheat should be harvested when the grain moisture is between 20 and 25 percent, and then dried
to the desired market moisture. Crop harvest, its time and method are important features to reduce yield
losses in cereal grain crops. The wheat crop must be harvested after maturity, keeping in view the golden
color of ears and straw and also solid condition of the grain. Threshing of wheat must be done by a
machine such as wheat thresher, which reduces grain losses from 5 to 10 percent as compared to
threshing of wheat by the use of bullocks. Seed cleaning and grading is limiting factor for quality
maintenance in wheat. On the other side planting density significantly affect harvesting rate.
(ShamsMuddin, 2001).

2.3 Agronomic Parameters

There are many agronomic parameters to use in the evaluation of agronomic characters of one crop.
Among these: Tiller number, leaf number and plant height at vegetative stage; dry weight per plant at
vegetative, reproductive and maturity stages; and yield components of main spike and total grain yield at
maturity can be determined. Ear size is considered a key factor contributing towards the yield of wheat.

All the agronomic characters of wheat are significantly affected by planting density on the field.
(Muhammad et al, 2011). Larger the length of the ear more would be the grains produced ear-1 and
ultimately yield will be more and vice versa.

3. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

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3.1. CONCLUSION

In the present study, wheat produced higher number of leaf and longer spike length when 80 kg/ ha seed
rate is used. Therefore, with the optimal application of all the recommended agronomic practices for the
same crop, 80 kg/ ha seed rate can be suggested to achieve better crop performance and higher grain
yield of wheat in the study area. However, definite recommendation may not be drawn from this
research result. Since it was not recorded yield due to the time scarcity.

3.2. RECOMMENDATION

The decrement in GPC by the combination of reduced N rate and increased plant density was mainly
ascribed to the variations. Nitrogen uptake and productivity of cereal crops could be enhanced by
increasing plant density. Therefore, the experiment has to be conducted over season and location on
yield and yield related attributes by conducting economic analysis to make a conclusive
recommendation.

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4. REFERENCE

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Yield Contributing parameters. J. Anim. Plant Sci. 19(1):30-33.

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Dera Ismail Khan – Pakistan.

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