EFFECT OF IRRIGATION METHODS, TILLAGE SYSTEMS AND SEEDING RATE ON WATER CONSUMPTION, BIOLOGICAL YIELD AND HARVEST INDEX OF WHEAT (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.)

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of different irrigation and tillage methods and seed rates on the water consumption of the wheat crop and some of its characteristics for two seasons. Different irrigation methods were taken, which are sprinkler irrigation, surface irrigation, three tillage methods (zero tillage, medium tillage, deep tillage), and four seeding rates are (180, 240, 300, 360) kg. h(-1). It was found that the water consumption of the sprinkler irrigation method was less than that of the surface irrigation by (460.9, 557.5) mm for the first season and (442.6, 535.9) mm for the second season. Also, deep tillage increased water consumption. As for the characteristics of the plant, it was found that the best treatment is the treatment of sprinkler irrigation and medium tillage with a seed rate of (300) kg. h(-1) for the two seasons. As the values were (1.24, 11.44, 42.55) for the first season, (1.22,10.97, 43.46) for the second season for efficiency of field water consumption, biological yield and harvest index for the two seasons respectively. Thus, it appears that the method of irrigation, the rate of seeding, and the choice of the appropriate tillage methods are important in obtaining the highest productivity.