INFLUENCE OF DELAYED SEEDING ON YIELD, HECTOLITRE WEIGHT AND SEED SIZE OF STUBBLE-SEEDED WINTER WHEAT AND RYE GROWN IN SASKATCHEWAN

Abstract

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rye (Secale cereale L.) were seeded into stubble the first week of September and October on four different years at a total of 11 sites in the central, eastern and northern part of the agricultural region of Saskatchewan. The average response to delayed seeding was a reduction in yield and hectolitre weight for both species. In contrast, date of seeding did not have a large influence on kernel size. A significant environmental effect was observed for all characters measured. Productivity of both wheat and rye was high when moisture conditions were adequate. Average yield of rye was higher and 1000-kernel and hectolitre weight lower than for wheat. Significant first and second order interactions demonstrated that the effects of seeding date, species and environment were not independent. These interactions were of sufficient magnitude to introduce a risk factor which should be taken into consideration when conclusions are drawn on the influence of seeding date on yield and other agronomic characters of stubble-seeded winter cereals.Key words: Triticum aestivum L., Secale cereale L., yield, hectolitre weight, kernel size, seeding date