New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts
Effects of wheat seed rate and fertiliser nitrogen application practices
on populations, grain yield components and grain yields of wheat (Triticum
aestivum)
R. C. Stephen
Bluff Road, Annat
Rural Delivery
Sheffield 8173, New Zealand
D. J. Saville
AgResearch Limited
P.O. Box 60
Lincoln 8152, New Zealand
E. G. Drewitt
28 Queens Drive
Ashburton 8300, New Zealand
Abstract Wheat (Triticum aestivum) plant and
crop responses to seeding rates and fertiliser nitrogen (N) application practices
were measured in 19 field experiments undertaken in three successive cropping
years. Increasing the number of wheat seeds sown produced more dense wheat
populations, reduced both plant grain yield components and plant grain yield,
boosted some crop grain yield components but generally failed to improve crop
grain yield. Mostly, wheat population was not significantly affected by fertiliser
N which enhanced all plant grain yield components (except mean grain weight),
plant grain yield, crop grain yield components, and crop grain yield. The
high rate of fertiliser N (either 120 or 140 kg N ha-1) had greater
effects (including reduction of mean grain weight) than the low rate (either
60 or 70 kg N ha-1). However, the additional positive effects
caused by the extra fertiliser N supplied in the high rate were much smaller
than those produced by the initial increment. Fertiliser N effects on wheat
crop grain yield did not vary significantly with wheat population. Variation
of either fertiliser N application time or fertiliser N application mode
had little effect on wheat crop grain yield. The negative responses by plant
grain yield components and plant grain yield to increases in wheat seed rate
and wheat population, and by mean grain weight to applied fertiliser N were
the result of self-thinning. It was concluded a low rate of wheat seed (165
seeds m-2) and a single application of a moderate rate of fertiliser
N (not exceeding 90-100 kg N ha-1) are sufficient for the successful
cultivation of autumn-sown wheat in Canterbury, New Zealand.
Keywords wheat; Triticum aestivum; wheat seed
rate; fertiliser nitrogen; fertiliser nitrogen application rate; fertiliser
nitrogen application time; fertiliser nitrogen application mode; wheat population;
plant grain yield components; plant grain yield; crop grain yield components;
crop grain yield; self-thinning
H03117; Online publication date 13 May 2005 Received 24 December 2003;
accepted 21 February 2005
New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 2005, Vol. 33:
125-138
0014-0671/05/3302-0125 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2005
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