The effect of tillage and planting methods in raised bed planting system on irrigated wheat yield

The effective parameters on wheat yield, are optimum use of tillage and planting methods. Therefore, the effect of planting and tillage methods on raised bed planting systems should be evaluated for irrigated wheat. This study was performed in the form of a split-block experimental design with six treatments and five replications. Three levels of tillage operations including (1) conventional tillage using mouldboard plough and disc harrow (P), (2) cultivating top of the beds and reshaping (C1), (3) cultivating in furrows and the top of beds and reshaping (C2) were considered as main plots. The number of rows on a bed involving (1) two rows (R2), and (2) three rows (R3) were considered as sub-plots. Parameters such as soil cone index, weight of thousand kernels and wheat yield were measured. Results indicated that between tillage treatments were not difference for soil cone index. On the other hand, the average wheat yield in the tillage treatments was about 5.4 t/ha and yield for three planting rows on each bed was 2.5% more than two rows planting on each bed. Using cultivator for tillage operation reduced the number of operations and also reduced the tillage operating cost of 80% compared to using mouldboard ploughing. Therefore, using cultivator and planting three rows on each bed (C1R3) is recommended for planting irrigated wheat.