Abstract only

Wheat crop is determined by the series of complex processes. Each component of these series has a specific influence on separate components of plant productivity. If we can specify a corresponding component of agrotechnology necessary for optimum development of these elements the yield of high quality wheat of 8.0-10.0 ton per hectare is highly plausible. One of the most important crop management measures is the optimization of plant stand density per unit area. The variability of this characteristic is quite high: from 150 to over 800 spike-bearing stems per 1 m2. The certain amount of soil and air per plant in crop is considered as the nutrition area, which is inversely proportional to the crop stand density. The smaller is the nutrition area the denser is the plant stand. From the agricultural point of view the optimum area of nutrition provides for maximum yield of high quality crop per ha with minimum input costs. Sowing rates for wheat decrease according to geographical zones from north to south and from west to east. Thus, they should be specified for each separate region and zone. Three different sowing rates: 150, 180 and 200 kg/ha in Shua Kartli region were analyzed for three varieties of wheat: Bezostaya 1, Copper and Vardzia. The experiments were carried out at Mukhrani plain. The fall plowing was followed by the sowing early in October. The treatments were applied to plots of 25m2 in 4 replications. Phenology resistance to diseases, resistance to lodging etc. were monitored and assessed. Bundles for analyses were gathered at the stage of complete maturity. Biometric analysis was carried out and the levels of each yield component were measured. It was ascertained that sowing rates do not have essential influence on plant wintering and its survival to the day of maturity. No significant variation in disease resistance to rust and powdery mildew has been registered. Certain correlation of sowing rate and productive tillering was ascertained. In the case of the low sowing rates the number of spikes was slightly increased compared to the high sowing rates. Namely, Bezostaya-1 sown at the rate of 150kg/ha and 200kg/ha and developed 5.1 and 4.1 spike-bearing stems at i.e. one additional stem per plant at the lower seeding rates. Cooper variety formed 6.7 and 5.1 stems respectively. 1.6 additional stems. Vardzia developed 5.7 and 4.9 stems, or 0.8 additional stems. The following yield was recorded for the varieties: Cooper yielded 2.9 t/ha and 3.4 t/ha while Vardzia yielded at the low and high seeding rates, respectively. The values demonstrate yield difference of 0.5 t/ha and 0.3 t/ha between the seeding rates, for the genotype respectively. The experiments showed that increase in the number of spikes at low sowing rate do not compensate the yield as compared to high sowing rate. 200 kg/ha should be considered the optimum sowing rate for cultivation of the above three varieties in Shua Kartli region.

English

0409|AGRIS 0401|AL-Wheat Program

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Publications Collection