Effect of sowing dates on different wheat varieties at Tikapur, Kailali, Nepal

Abstract

Growth and yield of wheat are affected by variety and sowing dates. Hence a field experiment was carried out at Agronomy Farm, Far Western University in Tikapur, Kailali, Nepal during 2023/24 to study the effect of sowing time and varieties on yield and yield attributing traits of wheat. The experiment was laid out in split plot design comprising four sowing dates viz. 17^th November, 27^th November, 7^th December and 17^th December as main plot and three varieties of wheat viz. Vijay, Gautam and Aaditya as sub plot, with three replications. Plant height, spike length, peduncle length, grain per spike, seed length, grain yield and straw yield were significantly higher when sown on 7^th December for all the varieties. However, the highest number of effective tillers along with delayed heading, anthesis, maturity and lower grain filling period was observed on 17^th November. Aaditya and Vijay produced higher grain yield on 7^th December i.e. 4.93 t/ha and 4.25 t/ha, whereas Gautam yielded highest on 17^th November with 4.45 t/ha. The last date of sowing produced the lowest grain yield across all the varieties. Similarly, the highest quantity of straw (6.72 t/ha) was observed in Gautam which was statistically at par with Aaditya, followed by Vijay on 7^th December. Hence, 7^th December for sowing Aaditya and Vijay under Tikapur condition owing to higher yields of both grain and straw whereas 17^th November could be suggested for Gautam.