Effect of Physical Treatments on Stand Establishment, Phenology and Yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum var. Alvand)) under different sowing dates

To investigate the effect of physical treatments on stand establishment, phenology and yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum var. Alvand)) under different sowing dates an experiment was conducted in Tabriz, Iran. The wheat seeds were treated by ultrasonic, laser, magnetic field, gamma and beta irradiations for 3.5 and 5 min. and were sown on dates of 27th September and 17th October. All the seed priming treatments improved the coefficient of uniformity of emergence compared with non-primed seeds. Seedling vigor index responded positively and significantly to seed priming agents. There was no significant difference among laser, gamma and beta irradiations with a view to time from sowing to harvesting. Wheat seeds primed by magnetic fields, ultrasonic waves and lower exposure time of gamma irradiation had high chlorophyll in leaves. There is no significant difference between seed yields from sowing dates of 27th September and 17th October, and the yield ranged from 334 g.m-2 in average of control; laser and beta irradiations and higher exposure time of gamma up to 480.1 g.m-2 in other treatments. It is concluded from the study that wheat seed priming by magnetic fields, ultrasonic waves and lower exposure time of gamma irradiation can be effectively used to improve the crop performance and yield especially in late sown plants.