Yield responses of winter wheat to plant removal and to wheelings.

Abstract

In winter wheat cv. Arminda the removal of plants from 2 adjacent rows increased grain yields in 2 rows on either side of the path thus created. This yield compensation was achieved by an increase in ear number/plant, grain number/ear and 1000-grain weight. Yield compensation exceeded 80% if the plants had been removed at an early growth stage (GS); the yield compensation was smaller the later the plants were removed, being 14% after plants had been removed at Zadoks GS 71. The contribution of grain number/ear to yield compensation followed a similar trend to ear number with hardly any effect when plants were removed after GS 51 and GS 32, resp. Frequent passes through the crop with a tractor led to almost total failure of grain production in the wheelings created, but this yield loss was partly compensated for by the increased yields of the rows next to the tracks. When tramlines were used for carrying out the cultural operations, the yield compensation by plants in bordering rows was greater, and consequently the yield loss was smaller. It is estimated that in commercial wheat production the yield losses resulting from cultural operations will be small, usually less than 150 kg grain/ha. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)