Agronomic Performance of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as Influenced by Moisture Stress at Various Growth Stages and Seeding Rate

A field experiment was conducted at Samaru, Nigeria during the 1981–82 dry season to determine the yield and growth responses of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) to moisture stress imposed at various growth stages and to seeding rate. It was also to identify wheat growth stages that are most sensitive to soil moisture stress. Treatments tested include three seeding rates, namely, 75, 100 and 150 kg per ha, and seven drought treatments, effected by missing one or two consecutive irrigations at different growth stages.
Withholding irrigation at any growth stage prior to anthesis had detrimental effects on most of the growth characters and stress during crown root initiation (CRI) and jointing reduced most of the yield characters. Missing two consecutive irrigations at any given growth stage reduced grain yield more than did missing one irrigation; the greatest reductions in grain yield were 13 and 65% when one irrigation was missed at CRI and two consecutive irrigations were missed at jointing (the most sensitive growth stage) respectively. Moisture stress was also detrimental to number of grains, spike number, spike length, leaf area and number of tillers. A seeding rate of 100 kg per ha produced the best wheat performance in the present study.