Seeding Rate and Genotype Effect on Agronomic Performance and End‐Use Quality of Winter Wheat

Abstract

Few experiments have studied how seeding rates affect agronomic performance and end‐use quality of modern wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes in the Great Plains. Higher grain yield and better quality grain production requires the use of appropriate seeding rates. During the 1997 and 1998 crop seasons, 20 winter wheat genotypes and experimental lines were evaluated at two locations (four environments) to assess seeding rate and genotype effects on agronomic performance and end‐use quality of wheat. Significant differences among environments, seeding rates, and genotypes, and some of their interactions were identified. Lower seeding rates decreased plant population (by 62.3%), grain yield (by 0.8 Mg ha−1), kernel weight (by 1.3 mg kernel−1), flour yield (by 0.8 g/100 g grain), mixing time (by 0.7 min), caused later flowering (by 2 d), and increased flour protein content (by 15 mg g−1) and mixing tolerance (1 unit). Environment × genotype interactions were significant for all the traits except plant population and mixing tolerance. On the basis of the four environments, the seeding rate × genotype interactions were nonsignificant for all traits except plant height. These results provide evidence that agronomic performance and end‐use quality traits are greatly influenced by the environmental conditions and less so by seeding rates. Seeding rate affected plant population, days to flowering, plant height, grain yield, kernel weight, flour yield, flour protein, and mixing time and tolerance of wheat; therefore, seeding rate should be considered as a factor in obtaining higher grain yields with good end‐use quality.