RESPONSE OF YIELD INDICATORS OF TWO WHEAT CULTIVARS TO WEED CONTROL TREATMENTS AND INTER-ROW SPACIN

• Anwar Akram Jassim Al-Rubaie and Rafid Ahmed Abbas Al-khaldy

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The study was conducted during the winter season of 2025–2026 in Jadidat Al-Shat District, Diyala Province, Iraq, to evaluate the effects of wheat cultivars and row spacing on weed dynamics, plant growth, and yield under different weed-control strategies. The experiment was arranged as a split-split plot within a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with three replications. Treatments included Boxer Cold applied pre-emergence, Timeline applied post-emergence, weed-free, and weedy checks, using the wheat cultivars Buhuth 22 and Sonbolatin at row spacing's of 10, 15, and 20 cm. Boxer Cold produced the highest values for tiller number (390.22 tillers 0.25 m^-2), plant height (75.51 cm), and flag leaf area (24.46 cm²). Sonbolatin produced the highest tiller number, whereas Buhuth 22 recorded the greatest plant height and flag leaf area. The 20-cm spacing produced the highest tiller number and flag leaf area, while the narrowest spacing (10 cm) increased plant height. The interaction Boxer Cold × Sonbolatin × 20 cm produced the highest tiller number (515 tillers 0.25 m^-2), whereas Boxer Cold × Buhuth 22 × 10 cm produced the greatest plant height (105 cm) and flag leaf area (35.00 cm²). For yield components, Boxer Cold resulted in the highest spike number (324.44 spikes 0.25 m^-2), grains spike^-1 (75.63), 1000-grain weight (41.41 g), grain yield (4.76 t.ha^-1), and biological yield (14.69 t.ha^-1). The 15-cm spacing produced the highest spike number, grains spike⁻¹, and grain yield. The three-way interaction Boxer Cold × Sonbolatin × 15 cm achieved the highest spike number (455), grains.spike^-1 (84.90), and grain yield (6.26 t.ha^-1). Overall, integrating Boxer Cold application with suitable cultivar and row spacing effectively reduced weed competition and enhanced wheat growth and yield.

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