Wheat yield and water productivity affected by tillage methods and planting by a bent leg grain drill

Abstract

The factors influencing on seed germination and wheat yield are such as the optimum use of tillage and planting methods. This study was a randomized complete block experimental design with four treatments and four replications to determine the suitable tillage method for a grain drill with bent leg opener (bent leg grain drill) and also determine the effect of these implements on wheat yield and water productivity in dry soil conditions. Treatments were planting wheat by a bent leg grain drill in three tillage practices of no-tillage (NT), reduced tillage (RT), conventional tillage (CT) and also control (conventional tillage + planting wheat by conventional grain drill). Results indicated that tillage methods and planting wheat by the bent leg grain drill affected residue remained on the soil surface, soil bulk density, seedling emergence per cent, wheat yield and water productivity. Reduce tillage by the bent leg tillage implement and planting by the bent leg grain drill (RT) increased residue remained on the soil surface (45%), seedling emergence (13%), wheat yield (11%) and water productivity (11%) compared to the control. The bent leg tillage provides a proper seedbed for planting wheat with less passes of tractor in dry soil conditions. The findings show that the technology of bent leg tillage and bent leg grain drill has the potential to increase wheat yield and water productivity.