Effect of sowing dates on growth and yield performance of Different Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties

Abstract:

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate effect of sowing dates on growth and yield performance of different wheat varieties during the Rabi season of 2025–26 at the Research Farm, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, Rajasthan. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design with three replications comprising three dates of sowing viz., 05 November, 20 November and 05 December as main plot treatments and four wheat varieties namely Raj 4079, Raj 4120, HD 2967 and Raj 4037 as sub-plot treatments. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of sowing dates and varieties on yield attributes and productivity of wheat under semi-arid conditions of Rajasthan.

The results revealed that yield attributes such as number of effective tillers, ear length, grains ear⁻¹ and test weight were significantly improved under timely sowing and superior varieties. The highest number of effective tillers (318.6 m⁻²), ear length (11.4 cm), grains ear⁻¹ (48.8) and test weight (42.6 g) were recorded under 05 November sowing. Similarly, variety Raj 4079 produced maximum effective tillers (312.8 m⁻²), ear length (11.2 cm), grains ear⁻¹ (47.6) and test weight (43.4 g). Timely sowing on 05 November also produced the highest grain yield (54.8 q ha⁻¹), straw yield (71.6 q ha⁻¹), biological yield (126.4 q ha⁻¹) and harvest index (43.4%). Among the varieties, Raj 4079 recorded the highest grain yield (53.6 q ha⁻¹), straw yield (70.2 q ha⁻¹), biological yield (123.8 q ha⁻¹) and harvest index (43.3%).

Based on the findings of the present investigation, it may be concluded that timely sowing on 05 November significantly enhanced, yield, and quality of wheat compared to delay sowing dates. Among the varieties, Raj 4079 proved superior for growth and yield performance, while HD 2967 excelled in quality traits such as nitrogen uptake and protein content. Therefore, sowing wheat on 05 November with Raj 4079 is recommended for maximizing productivity, whereas HD 2967 may be preferred when grain quality is the primary objective.