Studies on Pure and Mixed Stands of Wheat and Barley Under Dryland Agriculture Conditions

Grain yield and yield components were studied in wheat and barley grown in pure and 2:1,1 : 1 and 1 : 2 mixed stands (Wheat : barley row ratio) as well as a 1 : 1 seed blend mixture under dryland agriculture conditions of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Wheat as well as barley produced significantly longer and more ears/m and higher grain yield in mixed stands than in their pure stands. The 2 : 1 wheat : barley mixed stand gave the highest grain yield; 35 % relative yield advantage over mid-monoculture yield. The 1 : 1 seed blend mixture was inferior to 1 : 1 (Wheat : barley row ratio) mixed stand.