Effects of Cycocel Rates and Seed Rate on Growth, Lodging Percentage, and Yield of Wheat [ <i>Triticum aestivum</i> (L.)]

Wheat production in Zimbabwe is declining owing to poor agronomic practices, resulting in increased lodging and ultimately low grain yield. This has exposed many families to the risk of hunger and an increase in the import bill for wheat at the national level. This study is aimed at evaluating the effects of cycocel application rate and seed rate on growth, lodging, and grain yield of wheat ( Triticum aestivum (L.)] under contrasting agroecological regions in Zimbabwe. A field experiment was carried out at two sites, Ziswa farm and Biri Irrigation Scheme. The experiment was a 4 × 2 factorial experiment laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated thrice at both sites. Treatments comprised four cycocel rates (0 L·ha −1 , 1 L·ha −1 , 1.5 L·ha −1 , and 2 L·ha −1 ) and two wheat seed rates (120 kg·ha −1 and 160 kg·ha −1 ). The results showed that the interaction between cycocel rates and seed rate significantly influenced wheat grain yield at Ziswa Farm only. An increase in cycocel rates at both 120 kg·ha −1 and 160 kg·ha −1 seed rates increased wheat grain yield. Cycocel rates had a significant effect on the number of days taken by wheat plants to reach 50% anthesis and physiological maturity, number of tillers per plant, number of spikes per square meter, number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per spike, number of lodged plants, and 1000‐grain weight at both sites. Seed rate influenced the number of tillers per plant, the number of tillers per square meter, and the number of spikes per square meter at both sites. Application of cycocel reduces plant height due to shortening of internodes, thereby reducing lodging of wheat plants across all planting densities. Cycocel application in wheat increased grain yield even under high seed rates. Increasing seed rate without applying cycocel resulted in increased lodging of wheat plants and reduced grain yield. Farmers are recommended to apply cycocel at 1.5 L·ha −1 in combination with a seed rate of 160 kg·ha −1 to effectively control lodging and boost wheat yield.