Effects of sowing dates and planting densities on grain yield and quality of wheat cultivar Zhenmai 168

Sowing date and planting density are key management factors for winter wheat( Tritucum aestivum L.) production. In order to figure out the appropriate sowing date and planting density for high yield and better quality in the southern part of Jiangsu,the winter wheat cultivar,Zhenmai 168 with red seed coat and strong gluten was used as experiment material. Three sowing dates( October 20,October 30 and November 15) and four planting densities( 1. 80×106,2.25×106,2.70×106and 3. 30×106seedlings per hm2) were set. The results revealed that the yield reached the greatest at the normal sowing date( October 30),which was 8. 51% and 14. 40% higher than those of early( October 20) and late( November 15) sowing date,respectively. The plant density giving the highest grain yield was 2. 70×106seedings per hm2. The number of spikes decreased with the delay in sowing date and increased with the increase of planting density. Both grains per spike and 1 000-grain weight were the highest at the normal sowing date,but declined with the increase of planting density. Late sowing significantly increased grain protein and wet gluten content,and improved the dough rheological properties. Grain protein and wet gluten content decreased first and then increased with the increase of planting density. Increasing planting density brought down the dough water absorption and raised softening degree. In this study,as far as the grain yield and quality factors were concerned,the appropriate sowing date and planting density for Zhenmai 168 were October 30 and 2. 70×106seedlings per hm2,respectively.