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© 2019 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

EFFECT OF SEED RATE AND CULTIVAR ON PRODUCTIVITY OF WHEAT (Triticum 
aestivum L.) IN NEW HALFA LOCALITY, SUDAN   

 

 

E. M. Eldey1  
A. M. El Naim2+  
T. I. Ali3 

 

1Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Kassala, 
Sudan.  

 
2Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of 
Kordofan, Elobeid, Sudan. 

 
3New Halfa Agricultural Cooperatrion, New Halfa, Sudan. 
 

 
(+ Corresponding author) 

 ABSTRACT 
 
Article History 
Received: 19 March 2019 
Revised: 25 April 2019 
Accepted: 30 May 2019 
Published: 23 August 2019 
 
 

Keywords 
Population 
Seeding 
Variety 
Yield. 

 

 
An experiment was conducted for two winter seasons during 2016/017 - 2017/018 at 
the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kassala (New 
Halfa), Sudan to investigate the effect of seed rate and Variety of wheat (Triticum 
aestivum L.) on grain productivity under New Halfa environment. The treatments 
consisted of three seed rates (119kg/ ha, 143kg/ ha and 167kg/ ha) and two cultivars 
(Condor (early mature) and Bohin (medium mature). A complete randomized block 
design (CRBD) with four replications was used. The results revealed that the lesser 
seed rate (119 kg/ ha) had a lower grain yield compared with the mid seed rates (143kg 
ha-1) or highest seed rate (167kgha-1). Cultivars had significant differences in the total 
seed yield. Condor gave the highest seed yield. It could be concluded that the seed rate 
of 143 kg or 167 kg/ha recommended to improved seed yield in New Halfa area of 
Sudan. 
 

Contribution/Originality: This study is one of the very few studies which have investigated the effect of seed 

rate and Variety of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on seed yield under New Halfa environment, Sudan. 

 

1. INTRODUCTION 

Wheat crop (Triticum aestivum L.), is one of the most important cereal crops. Its stable food for one-third of the 

world's population [1]. Wheat is a member of the family Germaine [2]; [3]. It is grown almost in all countries [4] 

constituting 15.4% of the world‘s arable land. The main wheat regions of the world lie between latitude 30o to 55o in the 

northern temperate zone and 25o to 40o in the southern temperate zone [5].  

During the last three production seasons (2015-2018), the average world wheat areas were about 224.7 million 

hectares producing 689.1 million metric tons with an average yield estimated at 3.08 tons per hectare [6]. This explains 

the urgent need to raise yield by cultivation of high yielding and adapted varieties in low yielding wheat areas as well as 

improving cultural practices. 

Among the agricultural technique of wheat, plant density has been used successfully to increased grain yield 

and quality [7]. Efforts are now in Sudan to encourage the cultivation of bread wheat to meet the domestic need 

and export. Cultivars (yield stability) emerges as a serious threat to low productivity of wheat. It was imperative to 

conduct an experiment involving different wheat cultivars with regard to its response to low and high planting 

densities, to obtain the potential grain yield of these cultivars. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect 

of cultivar and seed rate on yield of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L). 

Current Research in Agricultural Sciences 
2019 Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 109-114 
ISSN(e): 2312-6418 
ISSN(p): 2313-3716 
DOI: 10.18488/journal.68.2019.62.109.114 
© 2019 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

 
 
 

 
 

 

 
 
 
 

https://www.doi.org/10.18488/journal.68.2019.62.109.114


Current Research in Agricultural Sciences, 2019, 8(2): 109-114 

 

 
110 

© 2019 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS  

The field experiment was conducted for two seasons (2016/017 - 2017/018), at Experimental Farm of the Faculty 

of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Halfa al gadidah , Sudan, Latitude 15o 19' N., Longitude 35o 36' E and Altitude 

450 m asl.  

The soil of the experimental site belongs to khashm ElGirba Series, classified as sodic Haplusters, very fine 

smectitic, isohyperthermic with a clay percentage around 60 % and pH in the range of 4.8 to 8.8 [8]. The climate of the 

locality is semi-arid (rainy season from June to September) with mean day temperature around 23oC and 15.7oC during 

summer and winter, respectively. The experimental site was ploughed in July and September using wide level disc, 

harrowed and ridged. The cultivars were sown on ridges with 80cm apart. Seeds were sown manually at a rate of 119, 

143, and 167 kg/ ha. The aim of this experiment is to study the effect of seed rate on yield of two wheat cultivars 

namely Condor and Bohin. The experiment arranged in a complete randomized block design (CRBD) with four 

replications. The treatments were: Two varieties Condor, bohin were grown at three planting densities, (119kg/ ha, 

143kg /ha and 167kg .ha) designated as SR1, SR2 and SR3, respectively. The gross plot size was 6 x 6.5 m2 and sowing 

date was 15 November. Two to three times hand weeding was used by traditional tools as Torya and hand picking, 

plant was irrigated every 14 days. Nitrogen fertilizer (46% nitrogen) applied at a rate of 84 kg per hectare. Harvesting 

was carried out when the ears became yellow in color. 

The following data were obtained from 10 plants, randomly selected from one meter square of the inner two 

rows of each plot: the number of spikes per panicle, main stem, length of spike (cm), number of seeds per spike, 

1000-grain weight (g) and grain yield (kg/ha). 

 

2.1. Statistical Analysis  

Data statistically analyzed according to the Gomez and Gomez [9]. Using Mstat-C computer software package 

[10]. Analysis of variance of all studied traits was determined. For mean comparison, Duncan's Multiple Range 

Test (DMRT) at 5% probability level was used.  

 

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION  

Spike length significant differences were reported among the seed rates and interaction, no significant differences 

among the cultivars in the two seasons Table 1. 

 

Table-1. Mean spike length in cm for the two wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars grown at three seed rates, in faculty of Agriculture 
Farm, New Halfa in winter season 2015/2016 and 2016/2017. 

Season 2015/2016 

Seed Rate Cultivar SR1 SR2 SR3 Means 

Condor 12.48 11.98 11.99 12.15 
Bohin 12.48 11.78 11.80 12.02 
Means 12.48a 11.88b 11.90b  

LSD 0.05 SR 0.53    
LSD 0.05 C 0.43    

LSD 0.05 C × SR 0.74    
Season 22016/2017 

Condor 11.13a 10.45b 10.55b 10.71 
Bohin 10.68ab 11.15a 10.48b 10.77 
Means 10.90 10.80 10.51  

LSD 0.05 SR 0.38    
LSD 0.05 C 0.31    

LSD 0.05 C × SR 0.54    
Values within the row having different letters are significantly different. Bold, italic and normal letters denote for seed rates cultivars and interaction, 
respectively using DMRT at 0.05 level of probability. 

 



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111 

© 2019 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

Significant differences in spike length, which were observed in seed rate in season one and in interaction in 

season two, while the two varieties insignificant effect on spike length. However, longer spike length recorded in 

the low seed rate (SR1) and the shorter length in high density. This is in-line with the findings of Abbas, et al. [11] 

and Suleiman [12]. They find a decreasing trend in spike length in both increasing and decreasing direction. 

Nizamani, et al. [13] and Ozturk, et al. [14] reported that spike production per plant increased with reducing the 

pattern of seed rate. 

 Differences in the number of grains per spike varied from 26.80 to 32.13 and 36.38 to 37.00 in season one and 

two, respectively Table 2. The significant differences among seed rate, cultivars and their interaction in season one 

were recorded. The SR1 (119kg) recorded the highest grains per spike in the two-season while the SR3 recorded the 

lowest number in both seasons. Also condor variety recorded the lowest number of grain compare with bohin 

variety. In contrast, there was no significant differences in the second season. 

 
Table-2. Means number of grain/spike for the two wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L) grown at three seed rates in faculty of 
Agriculture Farm, New Halfa in season 2015/2016 and 2016/2017. 

Season 2015/2016 

Seed Rate Cultivar SR1 SR2 SR3 Means 

Condor 32.13a 29.93b 26.80c 29.62b 
Bohin 31.32a 29.00b 31.30a 30.54a 

Means 31.73a 29.46b 29.05b  

LSD 0.05 SR 0.94    
LSD 0.05 C 0.77    

LSD 0.05 C × SR 1.34    
Season 22016/2017 

Condor 37.00 36.38 36.73 36.70 
Bohin 37.38 37.15 36.73 37.08 
Means 37.19 36.76 36.73  

LSD 0.05 SR 1.32    
LSD 0.05 C 1.08    

LSD 0.05 C × SR 1.87    
Values within the row having different letters are significantly different. Bold, italic and normal letters denote for seed rates cultivars and 
interaction, respectively using DMRT at 0.05 level of probability. 

 

Significant differences among treatments in the number of grains per spike were observed. The low seed rate 

recorded the highest number of grains, while the high seed rate recorded the lowest number of grains. Iqbal, et al. 

[15] reported that the highest grains per spike resulted in the low density. However, Muhammad, et al. [16] and 

Malik, et al. [17] found that the seed rate had no effect the grains number per spike. 

Cultivar Bohin recorded the highest grains per spike. Similar findings observed by Mali and Choudhary [18]. 

In contrast, Saeed, et al. [19] finding that insignificant effect between varieties on number of grains per spike. Also 

Pandey, et al. [20] recorded that population non-significant effects on number of grains per spike, kernel weight, 

spike weight, and 1000-seed weight of wheat.  

The seed rates significantly affect 1000-grain weight Table 3. The maximum 1000-grain weight was obtained 

under the highest seed rate (167kg). Between cultivar condor recorded the highest weight of 1000 seed weight 

compare with Bohin cultivar. The results showed that 1000-grain weight reduced with increasing seed rate. This 

might be due to plant competition. These in agree with Shahzad, et al. [21] and Baloch, et al. [22]. 

The treatment statistically significant difference in grain yield Table 4. The seed rate 167 kg/ ha produced the 

highest grain yield. The lesser grain yield was obtained from 119 kg/ha. This finding is in line with the finding of  

Baloch, et al. [22] decreased the yield of wheat with increasing seed rate. Similar finding stated by Hayatullah, et al. 

[23] increased yield of wheat with increasing seed rate. Tompkins, et al. [24] mentioned that the increase in seed 

rate increased grain yield. Naseem, et al. [25] and Thakur, et al. [26] found that wheat was quite responsive to 



Current Research in Agricultural Sciences, 2019, 8(2): 109-114 

 

 
112 

© 2019 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

increased seed rate, the highest seed rate produced greater plant population m-2. Also Hameed, et al. [27] stated 

that grain yield increased as seed rate increased. 

 
Table-3. Means 1000-seed weight (g) for the two wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L) grown at three seed rates in 
faculty of Agriculture Farm, New Halfa in season 2015/2016 and 2016/2017. 

Season 2015/2016 

Seed Rate Cultivar SR1 SR2 SR3 Means 

Condor 37.04ab 38.29a 35.35c 36.89a 
Bohin 36.02bc 35.67c 35.27c 35.65b 

Means 35.53a 36.98a 35.31b  

LSD 0.05 SR 0.90    
LSD 0.05 C 0.74    

LSD 0.05 C × SR 1.28    
Season 22016/2017 

Condor 34.38b 35.43a 36.10a 35.30a 
Bohin 35.98a 35.93a 33.80b 35.23a 
Means 35.18a 35.68a 34.95a  

LSD 0.05 SR 0.73    
LSD 0.05 C 0.59    

LSD 0.05 C × SR 1.03    
Values within the row having different letters are significantly different. Bold, italic and normal letters denote for seed rates cultivars and 
interaction, respectively using DMRT at 0.05 level of probability. 

 
Table-4. Means of  Yield (kg/ha) for the two wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L) grown at three seed rates in 
faculty of Agriculture Farm, New Halfa in season 2015/2016 and 2016/2017. 

Season 2015/2016 

Seed Rate Cultivar SR1 SR2 SR3 Means 

Condor 3700ab 3800a 3600Ab 3700a 

Bohin 2825d 3300c 3575b 3233b 
Means 3262b 3550a 3587a  

LSD 0.05 SR 146.9    
LSD 0.05 C 119.9    

LSD 0.05 C × SR 207.7    
Season 22016/2017 

Condor 2189b 2094b 3041a 2523a 
Bohin 2229b 2299b 2222b 2194b 

Means 2196b 2209b 2671a  

LSD 0.05 SR 136    
LSD 0.05 C 111    

LSD 0.05 C × SR 192    
Values within the row having different letters are significantly different. Bold, italic and normal letters denote for seed rates cultivars and 
interaction, respectively using DMRT at 0.05 level of probability. 

 

4. CONCLUSION   

From the results obtained, it can be concluded that the Sowing wheat cultivar, Condor or Bohin on seed rates 

of 143 kg or 167 kg/ ha improved the wheat productivity in New Halfa locality of Eastern Sudan. 

 

Funding: This study received no specific financial support.    
Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.  
Acknowledgement: All authors contributed equally to the conception and design of the study. 

 

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