Elevated nitrogen rates and high plant populations are adopted with the purpose of achieving high wheat yields. However, these factors may promote the lodging of the plants, especially for the medium and tall height cultivars. The utilization of products which reduce plant height could minimize this problem. With the aim of evaluating the effects of a growth regulator on different plant populations and nitrogen rates for the wheat cultivar OR-1, an experiment was established at the UEPG "Capão da Onça" School Farm in Ponta Grossa, PR, in 1999. The experimental design was complete randomized blocks in a factorial design 2 x 3 x 4 with four replications. The twenty four treatments consisted in the application of 125g a.i./ha of trinexapac-ethyl and control; plant densities of 55, 75 and 112 plants/m in the row spacing of 0.17m and rates of 0, 45, 90, and 135kg/ha of surface broadcasted nitrogen. The application of trinexapac-ethyl resulted in short internodes of plants, increase of the number of spikes/m and of the productivity. As the nitrogen rate increased, it also happered to plant height, number of spikes/m and yield. With the increase of plant density the stem diameter, the dry matter of plants and the number of grains/spike decreased; however, the number of spikes/m and the weight of 1000 grains increased with no effect on productivity. No lodging was observed in any of the treatments.
Triticum aestivum L.; yield; trinexapac-ethyl
