EFFECT OF SOWING DATE AND METHOD ON PERFORMANCE OF BUCKWHEAT

Abstract

The study was conducted at the research field and laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology Department, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, during the November 2011 to April, 2012 to evaluate the effect of sowing date and method on yield performance of buckwheat. Three sowing time (15 November, 15 December and 15 January) and three sowing method (Broadcasting, closer line spacing and wider line spacing) were included as experimental treatments. The experiment was laid out in a two factors Randomized Complete block Design (RCBD) with three replications. With delay in sowing buckwheat took longer time to emerge in all sowing method. The 15 January sowing required the longest time and 15 November sowing required the shortest time to branch and flower. Among the sowing methods, broadcasting required the shortest time to branch and to flower compared to closer and wider line spacing. Delay in sowing time significantly reduced the plant height, leaf number, dry matter production plant’ spikes plant’, grains plant’ compared to 15 November sowing in all sowing methods. Due to delay sowing (15 December and 15 January) grain yicld and straw yield were also reduced compared to 15 November sowing in all the sowing methods. Among the sowing methods, broadcasting on 15 November sowing showed better yield but wider line spacing on late sowing showed better yield performance. The interaction between sowing time and sowing method showed a significant variation among the growth, yield and yield attributes of buckwheat. These results suggested that buckwheat broadcasted at 15 November showed the best performance in respect of growth, yield attributes and yield.