The ideal spacing for wheat is 10 -25cm intra-plant spacing and 10-30cm inter-row spacing.
Wheat spacing is the gap or distance between your wheat plants. The spacing of your wheat plants can affect the yield, disease infestation, growth and weight of the harvested wheat grains.
The use of inappropriate spacing can negatively impact your wheat plants.
The type or variety of wheat can also impact the spacing requirement. For example, some wheat varieties can tolerate tight spacing while some others cannot tolerate tight spacing.
The wider the spacing, the lesser the risk of your wheat plants getting infected with diseases.
Factors to consider before choosing your wheat spacing
The following factors should be considered before choosing your wheat spacing:
The Variety of Wheat
Some varieties of wheat require larger spacing than some other varieties. Wheat varieties with big leaves and grains usually need more spacing than those with smaller grains.
The Agro-Climatic Zone of your Area
The climatic nature of an area can determine the spacing requirement for wheat plants. In forested and humid areas like Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers states, you will need a wider space to grow wheat.
In dry and savannah areas like Yobe and Adamawa, the space required for planting wheat may be tighter. It should be noted that wheat can only be grown in the dry and cold harmattan months in the northern part of Nigeria.
The Type of Irrigation System you Use
The use of drip irrigation can make you reduce the spacing of your wheat plants. Drip irrigation encourages the increase in plant population.
Wider spacing will need to be used if you want to use rains for providing water for your wheat plants.
Advantages of using the right spacing for growing wheat
The following are the advantages of using the right spacing for growing wheat:
High Crop Yield
Using the right wheat spacing can improve the yield of your wheat crop. If you use the wrong spacing, you may harvest lesser pods of wheat.
Lesser Incidences of Pests and Diseases
Using the right planting spaces can lead to a reduction in the incidences of pests and diseases. Good spacing improves aeration on the farm and reduces the risk of fungal diseases.
Using a very tight spacing can increase the risk of pests and diseases in your wheat farm.
Ease of Harvest
If your wheat plants are well spaced, it will be easier for the wheat farmer to harvest his wheat grains.
Inter-Cropping
Good spacing can allow for the planting of other types of crops with your wheat crop. Intercropping can be beneficial to the soil and reduce the incidences of some pests and diseases.
About Wheat Farming in Nigeria
Wheat farming is the growing of wheat. Wheat farming involves all the processes associated with the cultivation of wheat. These processes include getting the seeds, land preparation, planting, maintenance of the wheat plants, harvesting and marketing of the produce.
Wheat is a cereal grain and one of the most common staple foods in Nigeria and other countries of the world. Wheat is usually grown in areas with a temperate climatic condition.
Do you have problems with your wheat spacing requirement? If yes, kindly contact us on 08025141924.