Effects of Using Furrowers and Raised Bed Planting Systems
on Wheat Grain Yield in North of Khouzistan

M.A. Asoodar¹ and M.R. Rahdar²

¹ Agricultural Machinery Department, Ramin Agricultural and Natural Resources University, Ahwaz, Iran,
e-mail: asoodar@yahoo.com; asoodaramin@cua.ac.ir

² Agronomy Department, Ramin Agricultural and Natural Resources University, Ahwaz, Iran
 

Abstract

Crop producers in Southwest regions of Iran are traditionally using conventional tillage (moldboard plowing followed by two disc harrows) to grow various crops. Most of the farmers use grain drills for sowing wheat. This field study was conducted on a silty clay loam soil (Carbonatic Typic Torrifluvent) followed a rotation of wheat, wheat and corn at Ramin Agricultural and Natural Resources University, Ahwaz, Iran. The aims of the study were to determine whether different methods of sowing, such as grain drills (followed by flooding irrigation), row crop planting, and combination of furrowers (75 and 60 cm) and seeders (11.9 cm of sowing space) plus different methods of irrigation alter the agronomic performance of winter wheat. Tillage consisted of conventional tillage (CT) including moldboard plow with 25 cm depth followed by twice 10 cm depth disc harrowing. The experiment was conducted as completely randomized block design with four replications. 140 kg/ha of wheat (Triticum aestivum L), Chenab variety was sown at 50 mm depth for all treatments. The experimental treatments were as follows: planter (P) which was just a simple grain drill with 11.9 cm line spacing, combination of planter-furrower (PF60 and PF75) with 60 and 75 cm furrow spaces, also furrower-planters (FP60 and FP75 cm) and furrower –planter with 3 rows planting on top of the beds (FP3_60 and FP3_75cm). Wheat grain yield obtained in all treatments was different, however, harvested grain after FP_75 was the highest compared to others. The highest amount of yield was 5966.7 kg/ha for the first year and 5070 kg/ha for the second year compared to simple planting (P) which was the lowest (4883 and 4271 kg/ha respectively for 2 interval years). The use of furrowers showed significant effects on wheat grain yield. However, grain yield for furrow spaces from 60 to 75 cm was not significantly different. Crop yield and biomass were shown to be different where the furrow was made before sowing. The use of grain drills without furrowers had a great negative effect on crop biomass and grain yield.

Keywords: Furrowers, Wheat, Furrow planting, Raised bed planting