Effects of Seeding Rates and Sowing Times on Grain Yield and Yield Components in Rye (Scale cereale L.) Under Dry Condition

Rye is one of the most important cereals for marginal land and cold climates in Turkey. A 2 year experiment was conducted in Kırşehir, Turkey, to determine the impact of seeding rates and sowing times on rye (Secale cereale L. ‘Aslım 95). Rye seed was sown in different sowing times (1th October, 15th October, 1th November, 15th November and 1th December) at four seeding rates (300, 400, 500 and 600 seeds m−2). A split-plot design was used, with sowing times as main plots and seeding rates randomized as subplots. Grain yield tended to increase with earlier sowing dates and higher seeding rates, based on two-year means. Seeding rates and sowing dates interaction effects on grain yield were significant. Therefore, the highest grain yield with 397.7 kg da-1 was obtained from the highest seeding rate (600 seeds m−2) at the second sowing date (15th October). In contrast, the lowest grain yield (92.8 kg da-1) was obtained from the lowest seeding rate with the delayed sowing dates. It is concluded that the present study showed that the reduction in grain yield depended on sowing time and seeding rates, which led to a significant reduction of number of fertile spike per unit area.