Response of kabuli chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to sowing rate in Mediterranean-type environments of south-western Australia

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 87 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Regan ◽  
K. H. M. Siddique ◽  
L. D. Martin

The effect of sowing rate (60–320 kg/ha) on the growth and seed yield of kabuli chickpea (cv. Kaniva) was assessed at 11 sites for 4 seasons in the cropping regions of south-western Australia. The economic optimum plant density and yield potential were estimated using an asymptotic model fitted to the data and calculating the sowing rate above which the cost of additional seed was equivalent to the revenue that could be achieved from the extra seed yield produced, assuming a 10 and 50% opportunity cost. On average for all sites and seasons, plant densities ranged from 10 plants/m2 when sown at 60 kg/ha to 43�plants/m2 when sown at 320 kg/ha. Assuming a mean seed weight of 400 mg and a germination of 80%, then on average 75% of viable seeds sown (or 60% of sown seeds) established as plants. The poor establishment rates are thought to be associated with reduced viability caused by mechanical damage, storage conditions, fungal infection in the soil, and unfavourable seed bed moisture and temperatures. In general, there was a positive relationship between sowing rate and seed yield. Seed yield increases at higher sowing rates were mainly associated with the greater number of plants per unit area. There were fewer pods per plant at higher sowing rates, but there were more pods per unit area. Changing the sowing rate had little effect on mean seed weight and the number of seeds per pod. The economic optimum plant density varied from 8 to 68 plants/m2, depending on the location, but the mean (27�plants/m2) was within the range currently recommended in southern Australia (25–35 plants/m2). Due to the low establishment rates observed in this study, we estimate a sowing rate greater (160–185 kg/ha) than currently suggested (110–160 kg/ha) to achieve this density. There was a strong relationship between economic optimum plant density and seed yield potential (r2 = 0.66, P<0.01), which allows an estimation of the most profitable sowing rate, depending on the seed yield potential of the site. For most crops yielding about 1.0 t/ha in southern Australia, a plant density of 25 plants/m2 is most profitable, while in higher-yielding situations (>1.5 t/ha) plant densities >35�plants/m2 will produce the most profit.


1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 1017 ◽  
Author(s):  
R . J. Jettner ◽  
S. P. Loss ◽  
K. H. M. Siddique ◽  
R. J. French

The response of chickpea (cv. Tyson) seed yield to sowing rate (30–180 kg/ha) was examined in 18 field experiments across 3 years in south-western Australia. The economic optimum plant density was estimated at each site by fitting an asymptotic model to the data and calculating the point where the cost of extra seed equalled the return from additional seed yield, allowing a 10% opportunity cost for the extra investment. When averaged across all sites and seasons, plant densities varied from 14 plants/m2 when sown at 30 kg/ha to 84 plants/m2 when sown at 180 kg/ha. Therefore, only about 54% of seeds sown established into viable plants, even though the germination test of the seed was about 80%. The poor establishment rate is thought to be mainly due to physical damage to the seed during transport and sowing, as well as unfavourable seed-bed moisture and temperature conditions. At most experimental sites the seed yield of desi chickpea responded positively to an increase in sowing rate up to about 120 kg/ha. Increased yields at high sowing rate can be directly attributed to large plant populations. Although in many cases the number of pods per plant, seed size, and harvest index were reduced at high plant populations, increased plant density compensated for these effects and seed yield tended to increase. There was a good relationship between economic optimum plant density and yield potential derived in this study (r2 = 0.497, P< 0.001) and this improves the ability of desi chickpea producers to select the most profitable sowing rate, depending upon their yield potential. These results suggest that the optimum plant density is 50 plants/m2 for most chickpea crops in south-western Australia yielding about 1.0 t/ha, whereas in high-yielding situations (>1.5 t/ha), plant densities >70 plants/m2 produce the most profit. Although not observed in these experiments, high plant densities can exacerbate fungal diseases, and hence, reduced plant densities are desirable in disease-prone situations. Differences in sowing rate responses may be expected between Tyson and new large-seeded cultivars such as Heera and Sona, which have longer branches and more open canopy, or kabuli types, and this deserves further investigation.



1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 989 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Jettner ◽  
S. P. Loss ◽  
L. D. Martin ◽  
K. H. M. Siddique

Sowing rate influences plant establishment, growth, seed yield, and the profitability of a crop. However, there is limited published information on the optimum sowing rate and plant density for faba bean in Australia. The response of the growth and seed yield of faba bean (cv. Fiord) to sowing rate (70-270 kg/ha) was examined in 19 field experiments conducted over 3 years in south-western Australia. The economic optimum plant density was estimated at each site by fitting an asymptotic model to the data and calculating the point where the cost of extra seed equalled the return from additional seed yield, allowing a 10% opportunity cost for the extra investment. On average across all sites and seasons, only 71% of the seeds sown emerged. Increasing sowing rate resulted in more dry matter production at first flower and at maturity, and at about half of the sites there was a small trend of reduced harvest index. In general, the mean number of seeds per pod (1·8-2·6) and mean seed weight (32-45 g/100 seeds) were unaffected by sowing rate. As sowing rate increased, the number of pods per plant (5-35) generally decreased, but this was compensated by the large plant population and more pods per unit area. The asymptotic models fitted to the seed yield data accounted for 15-81% of the variance. In 8 experiments, the models indicated that yield was continuing to increase substantially as sowing rate increased at the largest sowing rate treatment. The estimated optimum plant densities in these experiments were beyond the range of the data or had large standard errors and, hence, were excluded from any further consideration. Among the remaining 11 experiments, the estimated optimum plant densities varied from 31 to 63 plants/m2, with a mean of 45 plants/m2. This study demonstrates that targeting sowing rates greater than the current commercial practice for faba bean in southern Australia of 15-30 plants/m2 results in more yield and profit. Additional experiments are required with sowing rates in excess of 270 kg/ha to estimate accurately the optimum plant density for faba bean. Fungal diseases were either absent or controlled with fungicides in these experiments but the interactions between disease, time of sowing, and sowing rates also deserve further attention.



2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (8) ◽  
pp. 1043 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Seymour ◽  
K. H. M. Siddique ◽  
N. Brandon ◽  
L. Martin ◽  
E. Jackson

The response of Vicia sativa (cvv. Languedoc, Blanchefleur and Morava) and V. benghalensis (cv. Barloo) seed yield to seeding rate was examined in 9 field experiments across 2 years in south-western Australia. There were 2 types of field experiments: seeding rate (20, 40, 60, 100 and 140 kg/ha) × cultivar (Languedoc, Blanchefleur, and Morava or Barloo), and time of sowing (2 times of sowing of either Languedoc or Blanchefleur) × seeding rate (5,�7.5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75 and 100 kg/ha).A target density of 40 plants/m2 gave 'optimum' seed yield of vetch in south-western Australia. In high yielding situations, with a yield potential above 1.5 t/ha, the 'optimum' plant density for the early flowering cultivar Languedoc (85–97 days to 50% flowering) was increased to 60 plants/m2. The later flowering cultivar Blanchefleur (95–106 days to 50% flowering) had an optimum plant density of 33 plants/m2 at all sites, regardless of fitted maximum seed yield. Plant density in the range 31–38 plants/m2 was found to be adequate for dry matter production at maturity of Languedoc and Blanchefleur. For the remaining cultivars Barloo and Morava we were unable to determine an average optimum density for either dry matter or seed yield due to insufficient and/or inconsistent data.



1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (7) ◽  
pp. 1057 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. H. M. Siddique ◽  
S. P. Loss ◽  
K. L. Regan ◽  
D. L. Pritchard

The growth and seed yield response of lentil (cv. Digger) to sowing rate (20-120 kg/ha) was studied at 13 sites over 3 seasons in the cropping regions of south-western Australia. The economic optimum plant density was estimated by fitting an asymptotic model to the data and calculating the sowing rate above which the cost for additional seed was equivalent to the revenue that could be achieved from the extra seed yield produced, assuming a 10% opportunity cost. On average across all sites and seasons, only 51% of sown seeds emerged. Increasing sowing rate resulted in greater dry matter production at ˚owering and maturity, and fewer pods per plant. Harvest index (0·31-0·36), number of seeds per pod (1·13-1·84), and mean seed weight (2·9-3·6 g/100 seeds) remained relatively stable with changes in sowing rate. The asymptotic models fitted to seed yields accounted for 1-73% of the total variance in the data, except at one site where a model could not be found to provide an adequate fit to the data. In addition to this site, another 5 sites were excluded from further consideration where the percentage of variance accounted for was <25% or the predicted optimum densities and seed yield potentials were well beyond the range of the data. The economic optimum of the remaining 7 sites ranged from 96 to 228 plants/m2, with a mean of 146 plants/m2. These results suggest that lentil yields may be improved by increasing sowing rates beyond those currently targeted in southern Australia (100-125 plants/m2). On the basis of these results, targeting a density of about 150 plants/m2 by using a sowing rate of approximately 90-110 kg/ha is recommended, depending on mean seed weight and germination percentage of the seed. Even higher sowing rates may be optimum where the growing conditions are unfavourable and individual plant growth is limited.



2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 759-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. T. Gan ◽  
P. H. Liu ◽  
F. C. Stevenson ◽  
C. L. McDonald

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seed yield can be increased by identifying and managing the key yield components. A field study was conducted in southwestern Saskatchewan in 1999 and 2000 to determine the direct and indirect effects of various yield components on chickpea seed yield . Both desi- and kabuli-chickpea were planted at the target plant populations of 20, 30, 40, and 50 plants m-2 on conventional summerfallow (CS) and no-till wheat stubble (NT). Path coefficient analyses revealed that seed yield for both chickpea classes largely depended upon pods m-2 and seed weight, with the kabuli crop having higher coefficient values than the desi. These relationships were stronger when the pulses were grown on CS than on NT. Seeds pod-1 had a negative effect on seed yield for the kabuli crop, but this negative effect was counterbalanced by a strong, positive effect of seed weight on seed yield. The total pod production of the desi crop depended on plants m-2 more than on pods plant-1, whereas the pod production of the kabuli crop relied equally on plants m-2 and pods plant-1. For both chickpea classes, mean seed weight decreased with prolonged vegetative growth period regardless of tillage environment. Seed weight was positively related to the length of reproductive growth and seeds pod-1 only when the pulses were grown on CS. Seed yield potential of desi chickpea would be increased by increasing plant population to produce more pods per unit area, whereas the seed yield potential of kabuli chickpea would be increased by shortening the period of vegetative growth, promoting the number of pods per plant, and increasing mean seed weight. Key words: Cicer arietinum, yield components, plant density, seed weight, canopy, path analysis



1981 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. DEGENHARDT ◽  
Z. P. KONDRA

The effects of seeding date and seeding rate on the agronomic characteristics of five genotypes of Brassica napus L. were studied for 2 yr at two locations in western Canada. Delayed seeding resulted in a significant increase in vegetative and total yield but a significant decrease in seed yield, harvest index, plant density, racemes per plant and racemes per unit area. Seeding date had no significant effect on seed yield per plant, 1000-seed weight and plant height. Increased seeding rate resulted in a significant increase in plant density, and racemes per unit area, but a significant decrease in harvest index, racemes per plant, seed yield per plant and plant height. Seeding rate had no significant effect on seed, vegetative or total yield and 1000-seed weight. There were significant differences due to genotypes for all variables except for total yield and racemes per unit area.



1989 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Aufhammer ◽  
I. Götz-Lee

SUMMARYEffects of inflorescence removal under different plant densities and degrees of shading on seed yield of field beans (Vicia faba L.) were investigated. Two indeterminate cultivars were used in field experiments for two seasons (1985 and 1986). The hierarchy within the generative storage system of field bean plants was manipulated by removal of inflorescences at various growth stages and nodes.Removal of the inflorescences of nodes 1–3 (counted from the base upwards) caused about 30% loss of seed yield potential compared with the control but compensatory increases in seed yield were found, differing with plant density and duration of shading. Under favourable growing conditions (no shading, 20 plants/m2), overcompensation occurred, giving a mean seed yield up to 40% more than in controls.Removal of all inflorescences above the ninth flowering node did not significantly reduce seed yield as plants completely compensated for the restriction on yield imposed.



2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gan Yantai ◽  
K. Neil Harker ◽  
H. Randy Kutcher ◽  
Robert H. Gulden ◽  
Byron Irvine ◽  
...  

Optimal plant density is required to improve plant phenological traits and maximize seed yield in field crops. In this study, we determined the effect of plant density on duration of flowering, post-flowering phase, and seed yield of canola in diverse environments. The field study was conducted at 16 site-years across the major canola growing area of western Canada from 2010 to 2012. The cultivar InVigor® 5440, a glufosinate-resistant hybrid, was grown at five plant densities (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 plants m−2) in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Canola seed yield had a linear relationship with plant density at 8 of the 16 site-years, a quadratic relationship at 4 site-years, and there was no correlation between the two variables in the remaining 4 site-years. At site-years with low to medium productivity, canola seed yield increased by 10.2 to 14.7 kg ha−1 for every additional plant per square metre. Averaged across the 16 diverse environments, canola plants spent an average of 22% of their life cycle flowering and another 27% of the time filling seed post-flowering. Canola seed yield had a negative association with duration of flowering and a positive association with the days post-flowering but was not associated with number of days to maturity. The post-flowering period was 12.7, 14.7, and 12.6 d (or 55, 68, and 58%) longer in high-yield experiments than in low-yield experiments in 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively. We conclude that optimization of plant density for canola seed yield varies with environment and that a longer post-flowering period is critical for increasing canola yield in western Canada.



2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-127
Author(s):  
Muneeb Ahmad Wani ◽  
Ambreena Din ◽  
FU Khan ◽  
Raiz Ahmed Lone ◽  
Gazanfer Gani ◽  
...  

An attempt was made to study the effect of pinching, plant densities and foliar nutrient sprays on seed yield and quality parameters in China aster cv. Powder puff. The experiment comprised of two levels of pinching (P0 = No pinching, P1 = Pinching), three planting densities (D1 = 30 plants m-2, D2 = 36 plants m-2 and D3 = 42 plants m-2) and three levels of commercial nutrient sprays (S1= 3 sprays, S2= 4 sprays and S3 = 5 sprays), constituting a total of 18 treatment combinations replicated thrice in randomized complete block design (RCBD). Pinching at visible bud stage, significantly increased 1000 seed weight (2.18 g) and seed yield (490.85 kg/ha), Increasing the planting density resulted in increased seed yield (485.55 kg/ha) and 1000 seed weight (2.05 g). On the other hand, 4 and 5 nutrient sprays significantly improved seed yield (463.12 kg/ha-) and 1000 seed weight (1.95 g). The results from the study suggest that increased branching with apical bud removal, wider planting space and 4 to 5 foliar applications of multi-nutrient sprays, significantly improves seed yield and quality attributes of transplanted China aster. While suggesting the best combination of pinching, spacing and nutrient sprays, the economics of flower production was duly considered.



1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 481-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Moyer ◽  
R. W. Richards ◽  
G. B. Schaalje

Alfalfa was seeded in row spacings of 36, 72 and 108 cm and at broadcast seeding rates of 0.33, 1.0 and 3.0 kg ha−1 on irrigated land at Tilley (1983) and Lethbridge (1984), Alberta to determine the effect of plant density on weed growth and alfalfa seed yield. During the seed-producing years at each location, herbicide treatments were overlaid on seeding treatments in a split-block arrangement to assess the joint effect of herbicides and plant density on alfalfa seed yield. Hexazinone was the main herbicide used for weed control. Alfalfa seed and weeds were harvested for 5 yr following alfalfa establishment. Alfalfa seed yields tended to be maximum with 36-cm row spacings or the 3.0 kg ha−1 broadcast seeding rate, and were similar in row-seeded and broadcast-seeded alfalfa. Dry matter yields of weeds decreased as row spacings decreased or the broadcast seeding rate increased. Hexazinone controlled quackgrass, sow thistle, flixweed and kochia. In the experiment at Tilley with perennial weed infestations, mean alfalfa seed yields from 1984 to 1985 were 20% larger when herbicides were used than in the untreated check. Alfalfa plant densities slightly larger than currently recommended usually produced the largest seed yields and smallest weed infestations. Key words: Medicago sativa, quackgrass, kochia, sow thistle, flixweed, hexazinone



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