Analysis of Multiangle Wheat Density Effects Based on Drill Single-Seed Seeding

Abstract

Explaining the physiological and ecological effects of wheat population density can provide new research methods for field crop production. A three-year field trial under drill single-seed seeding was conducted, which used three different intra-row seed-seedling spacings to quantitatively analyze the density effect from three perspectives—population, individual plant, and single-stem panicle—at the winter wheat harvest. The results showed that year and density had significant effects on both the population and individual plant yield (p < 0.05), as well as on some yield components and biomass indicators. The interaction between planting density and annual climate was found only in the number of grains for both the entire population and individual plants. With the increase in planting density, the CI gradually increased, inhibiting the growth of individual plants and leading to a negative impact on monoculture wheat yield. The drill single-seed seeding method can provide a basic experiment condition for analyzing the density effect. The density effect of wheat populations originates from intraspecific competition, which mainly affects the growth of individual plants. Research based on the analysis of density effects from the perspectives of population, individual plants, and single-stem panicles can provide a methodological reference for precision agriculture.