The effect of (2-chloroethyl) trimethylommonium chloride (CCC) on the growth and yield of wheat

Abstract

The effect of CCC on the growth of wheat in South Australia was assessed in three years, 1967 to 1969. A significant grain yield response was obtained only in the wet year, 1968, and was attributed to increased grain weight. It is suggested that the delay in heading and leaf senescence which occurred in CCC-treated plants allowed a greater assimilation of water and nutrients, thus producing the heavier grains. The lack of response in grain yield in 1967 and 1969 was probably due to moisture stress during gram filling. CCC reduced crop height significantly in 1968 and 1969, but not in the very dry year, 1967. There was evidence that split applications would be more useful than the single applications used in these experiments. Although CCC can give small increases in yield under some conditions, it is unlikely to be of commercial importance for wheat-growing in South Australia.