Ear populations and wheat production

Abstract

A survey of 45 wheat crops in Canterbury in the 1978–79 season, and data from 51 crops and trials in Canterbury and the Manawatu in the 1979–80 season, showed that ear population at harvest was significantly correlated with grain yield. Crops which yielded 6 t ha −1 or more had ear populations of 600–800 per m 2 at harvest. Yields from the semi‐dwarf wheats ‘Karamu’ and ‘Rongotea’ were greater than those from the standard cultivars ‘Arawa’ and ‘Kopara’, because of greater numbers of ears per m 2 The data suggest that the semi‐dwarf wheats can support more ears through to harvest. Wheat yields in New Zealand could be increased by establishing optimum plant and ear numbers for each district and soil type; methods for achieving this are discussed.