Influence of Seed Rate and Row Spacing on Growth and Yield of Bread Wheat in Chelia District of West Showa Zone, Ethiopia

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most staple food crops for most of population in Ethiopia. Currently, a number of improved wheat varieties have been released by breeders in Agricultural Research Institutions. The farmers have been produced wheat with traditional agronomic practices which do not improve the wheat yield in country. This experiment was conducted for three cropping season to determine the influence of seed rate and row spacing on growth and yield of bread wheat in Cheliya district on Nitisols of west Shewa Zone. Improved wheat variety (Denda’a) was used and planted with seed rate of 125,150 and 175 kg ha-1 and in row spacing of 15, 20 and 25cm. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement with three replications. Main effects seed rate and row spacing were significantly affected mean grain yield and yield components of wheat in the area. Wheat planting with 20cm row spacing was significantly produced higher mean grain (5092 kg ha-1), dry biomass (12142 kg ha-1), harvest index (42.93), plant height (99.48 cm) and thousands grain weight (52.04 g) in three consecutive years. Significantly higher mean tillers number plant-1 was recorded from wider row spacing (25cm). Seeding rates of wheat was significantly affected mean grain yield, biomass, harvest index, plant height, tiller number per plant and thousand grain of wheat. Significant higher mean grain yields of 4814 kg ha−1 was obtained from 150 kg ha−1 seed rate of wheat. Use of 150 kg ha-1 gave yield advantage of 34.37 and 15.13 % over 125 and 175 kg ha−1 seed rate of wheat planted with seed rate of 150 kg ha-1 and 20cm row spacing gave higher net benefit of (33,620 and 37,200 EB) for wheat producer in the area. Therefore, seed rate of 150 kg ha-1 and 20cm row spacing was recommended for sustainable wheat production in Chelia district and similar agro ecologies. Keywords: wheat, Nitisols seeding rates, row spacing, grain yield DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-5-09 Publication date:March 31st 201