Evaluation of wheat verities (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under different seeding rates and ethephon in desert conditions, south of Basrah, Iraq

Abstract

Due to climate change in recent years, there has been an increasing water deficit during the winter wheat growing period due to reduce rivers water and low precipitation. Consequently, there is increasing thoughts to grow crops depending on well water under desert conditions were crops management completely different. Field experiment was conducted in winter session of 2021-2022. The aim was to evaluate the production of wheat cultivars grown under desert condition at Alahais south of Basrah, Iraq (30°46'89.07"N 46°99'36.77"E). Moreover, two seeding rate and two levels of ethephon have been applied. The experiment include three factors, eleven wheat cultivars, two rate of seeding (140 and 200 kg ha-1) and two concentration of ethephon (0 and 2.25 ml l-1). Factorial experiment was applied (11x2x2) according to randomized complete block design with three replicates. The area of experimental unit was 4x3 m2. The results revealed that, wheat varieties differed significantly in all most traits measured. Alrasheed variety produced higher grain yield, higher grains spike-1 and 1000 grain weight by 4.077 t ha-1, 56.18 grains spikes-1, and 43.17 g respectively. Moreover, increased seeding rate from 100 to 200 kg ha-1 lead to increase spike m-2 and grain yield by 12.53% and 11.59% respectively. In addition foliar application of ethephon lead to enhance spike m-2, grains spike-1 and grain yield by 5.31%, 6.81% and 11.15% respectively. For the interaction effect, the results revealed that, the increased of seeding rate improved grain yield for all wheat varieties. Moreover, the application of ethephon improved grain yield for all wheat varieties. Alrasheed variety under 140 and 200 kg ha-1 seeding rate with foliar application of 2.25 ml l-1 ethephon gave highest grain yield by 4.321 and 4.235 t ha-1 respectively. In addition Alrasheed under seeding rate of 200 kg ha-1 and ethephon foliar application produced highest biological yield by 14.261 t ha-1. The results showed that foliar application of ethephon compensate the increase of seeding rate from 140 to 200 kg ha-1 for grain yield of some wheat varieties. Keyword: Wheat verities, desert agriculture, ethephon, grain yield, seeding rate.