Effect of Hungarian vetch residues on initial establishment and ‎‎yield of wheat cultivars in field condition

To investigate the effect of different amounts of Hungarian vetch residues on growth and yield of wheat cultivars in cold regions, an experiment was conducted in a strip plot design based on randomized complete block design with three replications during the growing years of 2014-2017 at Dryland Research Institute of Iran, Maragheh Station. The amounts of vetch residues in three levels of 0, 1.5 and 3 ton/ha as horizontal factor and wheat cultivars including Homa, Azar2 and Baran as vertical factor were evaluated. The experiment was carried out on forage – wheat rotation farm, and the plant residues of the vetch were added to the experimental plots spread uniformly on the surface of the soil. Plant residues of 1.5 tons per hectare had a positive effect on early establishment of seedlings in the field, yield and yield components of wheat. Homa cultivar had the highest positive reaction to the addition of green vetch residues in the amount of 1.5 tons per hectare in terms of thousand kernel weight, grain yield, biomass yield, harvest index, productivity rate and recipitation efficiency index. Therefore, the maintenance of vetch residues of 1.5 tons per hectare can improve the yield of wheat.