Effect of Sowing Date and Irrigation Frequency on Wheat (Triticum aestivium L) Production in Southern Niger Republic

The objective of this study was to find out the optimum sowing date and irrigation frequency for better performance of the wheat variety ‘’NORMAN’’ in Niger.

The study was carried out at Djirataoua (13°25’59’’N, 7°8’12’’E) in the southern part of Niger republic during the dry season 2015-2016.

Three sowing dates (15-Nov, 30-Nov and 15-Dec) and three irrigation frequencies (5, 10 and 15 days) were tested in a Split Plot Design with 3 replications. The wheat variety used in this study was “Norman”. Data were recorded on yield and yield components as well as on some growth and phenological parameters.

Results showed that sowing date on 15-Nov and 30-Nov took respectively 78 and 75 days to heading while the late planting (15-Dec) achieved heading in 71 days. The irrigation interval of 5 days gave the highest number days to heading (78 days). Physiological maturity was achieved at 109 and 102 days for 15-Nov and 30-Nov and decreased to 96 days when sowing was on 15-Dec. At 5 days interval of irrigation the number of days to maturity was 107 days and dropped to 101 and 99 days for 10 and 15 days interval of irrigation. Plant height was greatest (98 and 96 cm) for planting at 15-Nov and 30-Nov respectively, and became lower (90 cm) with 15-Dec. The highest plant height (103 cm) was achieved with 5 days interval of irrigation. Also the highest yield (5545 kg/ha) was achieved at 5 days interval of irrigation while the planting date on 15-Nov gave 4395 kg/ha. The thousand kernel weight was greatest (38.68 g and 39.02 g) with sowing date on 15-Nov and 30-Nov respectively and was lowest (31.43 g) when planting was delayed to 15-Dec. But the weight of thousand grains was statistically similar (39.12 g; 36.53 g and 33.48 g) for the three irrigation intervals. The interaction between the two factors was not significant for all parameters.

This study was relevant for the determination of the right planting window and irrigation interval for best performance of wheat in the study area. However further studies with more options of irrigation regime are needed to evaluate the irrigation water cost in order to achieve an optimum and economic yield.