Effect of Seeding Rate and Sowing Method on Grain Yield of Mexican Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Grown in the Libyan Desert

Abstract

Grain yield and grain size of the dwarf Mexican wheat as affected by seeding rate and sowing method were studied under the arid conditions and the sandy soils of Al-Kufra desert. Drilled wheat seed yielded more than broadcast seed in Al-Kufra oasis. Using the same rate (80 kg/ha) drilling increased the yield by 19.6 %. The seeding rate of 80 kg/ha drilled produced the highest grain yield (5.336 tons/ha), whereas the 80 kg/ha broadcast produced the lowest yield (4.460 tons/ha).
However, seed rates of 160 and 240 kg/ha broadcast reduced the weight of 1,000 grains by 9 and 2%, respectively.