Effects of different chemical materials and cultural methods on growth and yield of winter wheat

Abstract

To determine the effects of different chemical and cultural methods on the growth of winter wheat, six treatments were carried out: Conservational irrigation, non-irrigation, water absorbent polymers (WAP), liquid mulching film (LMF), water-saving irrigation (WSI) and subsoiling tillage (SST). The results show that winter wheat could use more water from soil profile though WAP, LMF and SST treatments; only LMF could use extra water for yield while both WAP and SST could not increase yield. SST could not increase yield of winter wheat. Both LMF and WAP treatments could help in maintaining leaf chlorophyll content and leaf water content which may help in maintaining photosynthetic ability in late growing periods. Furthermore, more dry matter partitioning to reproductive organs is observed in LMF and WAP treatments. LMF might be favorable for yield when grown under lower soil moisture conditions, while the application of WAP might not help in yield producing in field both in high or low soil moisture conditions. A reasonable irrigation quantity may be needed when applying WAP, while LMF could be used in any meteorological and/or soil water conditions.

Keywords: Winter wheat, water absorbent polymers, liquid mulching film, subsoiling tillage

African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(36), pp. 5522-5528