The influence of spatial arrangement on grain yield of wheat

Abstract

In four experiments, conducted over three contrasting seasons on the central western slopes of New South Wales, the grain yields of three wheat cultivars (Condor, Durati and Phoenix) sown in rhomboidal, square and rectangular patterns were compared with yields from traditionally sown (Poisson distribution along rows 180 mm apart) and broadcast arrangements. Square sowing resulted in significant (P < 0.05) yield increases (due to an increase in ear number) over rectangular arrangements in one experiment at three sowing densities 75,150 and 200 plants m-2. In two drier years there was no significant effect of arrangement at any density (40-400 plants m-2) in any one experiment. There was, however, a consistent significant (P < 0.05) trend over all experiments over 3 years, described by a response surface, of decreasing yield with increasing rectangularity as density was decreased. It is postulated that this was due to reduced ability of the plants to utilize available space. Traditional (sown in three seasons) and broadcast (sown in one season) arrangements produced yields which were not significantly (P > 0.05) different from the highest yielding treatments. It was concluded that there is no advantage in changing from the traditional sowing pattern to any precise geometric pattern. However, in precision sowing, rectangular patterns will result in lower yields than square patterns as density decreases from 200 plants m-2.