Abstract only

A major part of the grain crops cultivated in Azerbaijan are planted after cotton, corn, tobacco and vegetables. Theafore preparation of soil for the crop falls on November and December. Facultative varieties that are adapted to late planting dates are needed to obtain high and quality grain yield in cotton- based and similar farming systems in the republic. Among the cultural practices providing for yield increase, the most important are scientifically grounded seeding rates and planting dates that can create optimal areas for plant nutrition. For this purpose, we, under conditions of irrigation, for the first time had investigated the issues concerning the effect of sowing dates and seed ing rates on yield and grain quality of cereal crops. The objective of the work was to develop an optimal technology of cultivation including sowing dates and seeding rates for facultative varieties of cereal crops and multiplication of these varieties for seed. Planting was carried out at 3.04.0 and 5.0 million seeds/ha for variety Mirbashir-50 and 2.5,3.0 and 3.5 million seeds/ha for barley Garabaq. Three planting dates were used: the end of the second decade of November (autumn sowing), the end of the second decade of December (late autumn sowing) and the end of the second decade of February (winter- early spring sowing). Mineral fertilizers were applied at the rate of N90 P120 K60. Changes in soil fertility management practices require a constant revision of optimal seeding rates and techniques. The study results provide evidence that the sowing dates significantly affect the growth and development of plants, as well as grain yield. When planted on the second decade in November, full emergence was observed in 13-15 days after sowing. When planted on the second decade of December, emergence was observed in 17-20 days, while crop planted in February emerged after 18-20 days. The daily average air temperature of these periods made 9.5,5.8 and 3.4 Co, respectively. According to the study results, the highest grain yield ( averaged for three years) was obtained for the November planting date. Yield was inf1uenced by the seeding rate. For Mirbashir-50 and Garabag- 7 varieties grain yield varied from 48.1 to 51.3 and from 50.2 to 51.0 c/ha, respectively. The yield for the December planting date decreased as compared with the November planting by 6.4-6.7 and 4.3-6.9 c/ha for Mirbashir-50 and Garabag- 7, respectively. 25.5-25.8 and 22.6-28.3 c/ ha, respectively, were recorded for Mirbashir-50 and Garabag- 7, when planted at the February planting date. The study showed that the planting dates significantly affected grain quality as well. On the average for the three years, the highest quality grain in terms of thousand-kernel weight, test weight, virtuousness, germination energy, and laboratory germination was found forthe November planting date. The study ascertained that planting at the November date at the optimum seeding rates (4.0 and 3.0 million germinated seeds per ha) provides for the best yield, highest field germination rate and higher number of fertile tillers per unit area.

English

0408|AGRIS 0401|AL-Wheat Program

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Publications Collection