Bed and flat planted dryland winter wheat as influenced by row configuration

Two experiments were conducted in 2003 – 2005 at Hennessey and Lake Carl Blackwell, Oklahoma, to determine the effect of row configuration in bed and flat planting systems in dryland winter wheat. In the bed and flat systems, 8 and 12 treatments were evaluated that included a factorial combination of 2-varieties (“Jagalene” and “2174”), 2-N rates (0 and 100 kg ha−1) and row configurations. The row configurations were 2- and 3-row on a 75 cm bed. With 2- and 3-row per bed, 30 and 15 cm row spacing were used, respectively. In addition the traditional configuration of a solid stand with 15 cm row spacing was evaluated in the flat system. In four of six site years, bed wheat (either 2- or 3-row per bed) resulted in yields equal to flat planted wheat (15 cm row spacing). No differences in wheat grain yield were found when planting either 2- or 3-row per bed, or on the flat. However, both 2- and 3-row per bed resulted in increased yields when compared to 2- and 3-row configurations without beds. This suggests that bed planting with correct row configuration can help maintain high level of yield through its direct and indirect effect on crop growth characteristics.