Influence of seed rate and row spacing on seed multiplication factor and yield of durum wheat in Ethiopia

Optimum seeding rate and row spacing are important for uniform crop establishment and harvest of quality seed. Field experiment was conducted at three locations in 2014 and 2015 to study the influence of seed rate and row spacing on seed multiplication factor and yield of durum wheat. Triplicate split plot design was used. The highest seed yield was found at a seed rate of 125 kg ha−1 with a row spacing of 10 cm in 2014 but not significant with the seed rates of 100 kg ha−1 at 10 cm spacing, 75 kg ha−1 at 20 cm row spacing in 2014, and 150 kg ha−1 at 10 cm row spacing in 2015 at Debre Zeit. At Chefe Donsa, the highest seed yield (4.75 ton) was harvested at a seed rate of 100 kg ha−1. At Minjar, seed yield was not affected by seeding rate. Seed multiplication factor was higher at a seed rate of 50 kg ha−1 and spacing of 20 cm at Debre Zeit. At Chefe Donsa, the highest seed multiplication ratio (97.3) was observed in 2015 at a seed rate of 50 kg ha−1 with row spacing of 30 cm. Seed multiplication factor decreased with increasing seed rate at all testing locations. Sowing of 100 kg seeds per hectare with 20 cm spacing gave optimum seed yield over the testing locations. With limited seed availability of nucleus seed, 50 and 75 kg ha−1 with a spacing of 20 cm is appropriate to upsurge seed multiplication ratio. Core Ideas Seed yield and multiplication factor of durum wheat are determined by the seed rate and row spacing. Sowing of 100 kg seeds per hectare and 20 cm spacing appear to be better than other seeding rates and spacing at all locations. Effect of seeding rate on durum wheat seed yield vary across the locations. With shortage of nucleus seed, 50 and 75 kg ha−1 rate and row spacing of 20 cm upsurge seed multiplication ratio. The number of seed per spike was high at lower seed rate than at higher seed rate.