Systematic mixed versus pure stands of wheat genotypes

Abstract

SummaryA field experiment was made in the wheat growing season (November–April) of 1973–4 at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, to compare pure and systematic mixed stands of three wheat genotypes differing in plant height. The systematic mixed stands were made to give prismatic and columnar canopy patterns. Grain yield of wheat was significantly greater in the mixed stands than the mean yield in the pure stands; the two mixed stands did not differ significantly. The grain yield in the mixed stands was almost the same or slightly more than that of the largest yielding genotype in its pure stand. When grown in the mixed stand the tall genotype yielded more than in a pure stand but the dwarf genotype yielded less.