Effect of row spacing and seed/fertilizer placement on agronomic performance of wheat and canola in zero tillage systems

Abstract

Field experiments were carried out in Manitoba to investigate the agronomic response of zero till-grown spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and canola (Brassica napus L.) to different row spacing and seed/fertilizer placement treatments. Wheat yield was very poor at 51-cm row spacing in comparison with those at 25- and 38-cm row spacings. Wheat performance between the row spacings of 25- and 38-cm was generally similar, especially coupled with paired-row seed/fertilizer placement; and canola performance tended to be better at 38-cm row spacing relative to 25-cm row spacing. Among three types of seed/fertilizer placement examined, paired-row placement resulted in the best performance in both wheat and canola, whereas crop response to narrow-row and wide-row seed/fertilizer placement varied with year. Therefore, with intensive crop management in zero tillage (ZT) system under the Manitoba conditions, the best crop performance in wheat and canola could be achieved with paired-row seed/fertilizer placement coupled with 25- to 38-cm row spacings. Key words: Yield, yield component, row spacing, seed/fertilizer placement, zero tillage