Enhancing the production and productivity of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through agronomic managements in North-Western Ethiopia

Abstract Objective Bread wheat (Ttriticum aestivum L.) is the most important crop in North-Western Ethiopia. However, its productivity is very low as compared to its potential due to poor agronomic practices like inappropriate seeding rate, improper row adjustment, and other factors. Material and Methods: A Field experiment was conducted at Debere-Elias in East Gojjam Zone, at Wonberema and at Adet in West Gojjam Zones during 2018 and 2019 main cropping season to assess the effect of seeding rate and row spacing on yield and yield component of bread wheat. Eight seeding rates (75,100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, and 250 kg ha − 1 ) and two row spacing (20 and 30 cm) were tested in a factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Results: The combined results showed that agronomic parameters like total tiller, effective tiller, and grain yield were significantly affected by the main effect of seeding rate in all locations. The grain yield highly significantly affected by interaction, hence, at Adet 150 kg ha − 1 seeding rate with 20 cm row spacing gave the highest (4540 kg ha − 1 ) grain yield whereas at Wonberema 175 kg ha − 1 seed rate with 30 cm row spacing gave better grain yield (3409.0 kg ha − 1 ) and at Deber-Elias seed rate of 150 kg ha − 1 with 30 cm row spacing gave better grain yield (3375 kg ha − 1 . Conclusions: Therefor 150 kg ha − 1 with 20 cm recommended for Adet and Debre-Elias and similar agro ecologies whereas 175 kg ha − 1 with 30 cm recommended for Wonberema and similar areas.