Effect of different methods of sowing and row orientation on growth, yield and quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season of 2015-16 at the Students’ Research Farm, Khalsa College Amritsar, on sandy loam soil, low in organic carbon and available N, Medium in available P and high in available K. Field experiment was laid out in split plot design comprising four methods of sowing such as (Bed Planting, Zero tillage, Flat drilling,  Happy seeder) and two row orientation as (North-South and East-West) replicated four times. Bed planting method produced significantly higher growth characters (i.e. plant height, leaf area index and dry matter accumulation, yield contributing characters effective tillers, grains ear-1, grain and straw yield, harvest index and B C ratio) than happy seeder and zero tillage sowing Bed planting recorded 14% and 10.48% higher grain yield over happy seeder and zero tillage sowing, respectively. Between row orientations, north-south row orientation produced higher growth and yield attributes than east-west whereas grain yield and biological yield was 3.86% and 3.77% higher than east-west sowing direction respectively.