Effect of the sowing date on bread wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) productivity under mediterranean conditions

Abstract

The sowing date of bread wheat has a great influence on the growth and development of the crop and its productivity, especially under Mediterranean conditions.

This paper presents the results of trials conducted in the Alentejo region that studied the performance of fifteen wheat genotypes sown at different dates, repeated over 5 years (1994/95 to 1999/00).

Despite a great variability between years, the results indicate that a satisfactory wheat productivity in the Alentejo can be obtained with sowing dates ranging from end of October until the end of November. Nonetheless, sowing dates in the first half of November tend to provide higher grain yields. Moving the sowing date into December results in reduced grain yields, thus compromising the economic viability of wheat growing.