Evaluation of the presowing drought hardening of wheat

Abstract

Pre-sowing drought hardening of wheat seed by soaking in tap water for 24 h followed by drying in sunlight had little effect on grain yield in environments where the yield exceeded 2 t/ha. In environments where there was more severe stress and the control yield was less that 17 quintals/ha the plants from drought hardened seed had a mean yield increase of 12% over the control in spite of only 60% of the trials in this yield zone showing any response