Wheat Farmers Boost Yields by Optimizing Sowing Dates and Planting Densities
In the winter wheat study, the best sowing date and planting density for high grain yield in Xinong9871 were investigated. The results indicated that the ideal sowing time is between October 8 to 20 with a density of 181-248 thousand plants per hectare to achieve a yield between 7500-9750 kg per hectare. Later sowing decreases grain and yield quality, while higher plant density can boost grain and yield quality. Lower density with early sowing can encourage more tillers to become spikes. As sowing is delayed, increasing the main stem number can enhance the yield. Furthermore, increasing grains per spike and grain weight can also improve wheat yield when the effective spike number is maintained.