Tillering of wheat as influenced by nitrogen and seed rate in the Sudan

Abstract

SUMMAYThe pattern, production and survival of tillers was studied in two spring wheat varieties in field and pot experiments for two seasons.The time-trend of tillering was such that tiller production reached a peak well before ear emergence, then death reduced the number of vegetative shoots to a level determined by seed rate (in the field) and nitrogen level (in field and pot experiments), and thereafter the number of live shoots remained more or less constant. In field experiments plants grown at high seed rates and low rates of N application attained their maximum numbers of shoots at an earlier date. Number of shoots perm2 increased with an increase in seed rate and N level. However, the number of fertile shoots per plant at harvest decreased with an increase in seed rate and were composed mostly of main shoots. The high mortality rate of shoots was attributed to the high temperatures prevailing in this country during the growth period. Mortality of shoots started earlier at high seed rates and low rates of N application.In pot experiments, giving the N fertilizer in doses throughout the growth period reduced the rate of mortality of tillers rather than increasing their rate of initiation. A lower dose of N, given in portions over a long period, resulted in a higher number of live tillers than a dose double this amount given once at sowing. Numbers of spikelets and grains increased to a greater extent as a result of split application of N than did grain weight per ear of main shoots and of primary + secondary tillers. Mexipak had fewer spikelets per ear than Giza 155 and yet its number of grains was greater, particularly in ears of primary and secondary tillers.