Delay in Planting Decreases Wheat Productivity

This study was conducted to evaluate the growth and yield response of different wheat varieties sown on different dates. Five wheat varieties viz. Sahar-2006 (SH-06), Faisalabad-2008 (FSD-08), Lassani-2008 (LS-08), Abdul Staar-2002 (AS-02) and Triple Dwarf-1 (TD-1) were sown, at fortnightly interval, on 25^th Oct, 10 and 25^th Nov, and 10^th and 25^th Dec. Delayed wheat planting after 10^th Nov decreased the grain yield by 60 kg ha_-1 for each day; however, varietal response was significantly variable. Although, more productive tillers were noted in 25^th Oct sown wheat; howeever wheat productivity was maximum from wheat sown on 10^th Nov owing to significant increase in spike llength, spikelets per spike and grain weight. Among wheat varieties, maximum grain yield was harvested in LS-08 followed by AS-02; whereas minimum grain yield was noted in wheat variety TD-1. Regarding crop allometry, higher leaf area index (LAI) and crop growth rate (CGR) were noted from early sown crop, whereas among varieties, LS-08 and AS-02 had higher LAI and CGR than other varieties. Interaction of sowing dates and wheat varieties indicated that LS-08 and AS-02 planted on 10^th Noov outperformed with maximum grain yield. In conclusion, wheat varieties LS-08 and AS-02 may be planted on 10^th Nov to fetch maximum wheat productivity.