Grain yield of four durum wheat cultivars in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, Mexico, during the 2023-2024 crop season

This study evaluated the grain yield potential of cultivars CENEB Oro C2017, Don Lupe Oro C2020, Noroeste C2021, and CIRNO C2008, during the 2023-2024 crop season. Sowing was carried out on December 13, 2023, at the Norman E. Borlaug Experimental Station in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, Mexico. Experimental plots consisted of two beds measuring 3 m in length with two rows each, spaced 0.80 m apart, with three replications. The seeding rate was 100 kg ha⁻¹. Fertilization included the application of 150 kg ha⁻¹ of urea before sowing, followed by irrigation for seed germination and three complementary irrigations during the crop season. The parameters evaluated were a thousand kernel weight (TKW, g) and grain yield (t ha⁻¹). CIRNO C2008 outperformed the other cultivars with an average of 53.4 g for TKW, while Noroeste C2021 showed the lowest avg TKW with 46.1 g. Grain yield analysis revealed significant differences among cultivars, with an overall mean of 5.74 t ha⁻¹ and a range of 5.44 to 6.08 t ha⁻¹. CIRNO C2008 recorded the highest yield with 6.08 t ha⁻¹, outperforming Don Lupe Oro C2020 by 160 kg ha⁻¹, CENEB Oro C2017 by 580 kg ha⁻¹, and Noroeste C2021 by 640 kg ha⁻¹. The average temperature was 18.0 °C with a maximum of 35.8 °C and a minimum of 1.6 °C; the average relative humidity was 61.0 %; there were 8 mm of precipitation, and the number of heat and cold units was 240 and 507, respectively.