Studies on Dry Matter Production in Soybean Plant : V. Photosynthetic system of soybean plant population

SUMMARYGrowth, yield and incidence of lodging of poppies were studied in Tasmania at 10–200 plants/m2 and at nominal rectangularities (within-row: between-row spacing) ranging from 1:1 to 10:1. In 1983/84 and 1988/89, there were asymptotic relationships between plant population density and both total dry-matter production and total head (capsule plus seed) yield at maturity. In 1983/84, a season with above-average wind, the incidence of lodging increased as density increased to > 50 plants/m2; morphine concentration decreased as density increased to > 100 plants/m2. This resulted in parabolic relationships between yield of erect (machine-harvestable) heads and yield of morphine from erect heads with plant density, the maximum morphine yield from erect heads being achieved at 70 plants/m2. In 1988/89, a season with below-average wind, the effects of lodging were less severe at high densities and the components of ‘erect’ yield were adequately fitted by an asymptotic function. Rectangularity of 1:1 gave higher total dry matter production, total head yield, yield of erect heads and morphine yield from erect heads than 4:1 and 10:1. Since calm conditions similar to those of 1988/89 occur only once in every 4 years, growers should be encouraged to establish c. 70 plants/m2. As most commercial crops in Tasmania are drilled in 150–175 mm rows, growing at 70 plants/m2 to maximize the effect of plant density would also approximate to the ideal rectangularity (2:1 in this case).

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Effect of plant density and row spacing on the yield of chickpea (cv. Tyson) grown on the Darling Downs, south-eastern Queensland

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea9890241 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 241 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

DF Beech ◽

GJ Leach

Keyword(s):

Population Density ◽

Seed Yield ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Plant Population ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Dry Matter Production ◽

Row Spacing ◽

South Eastern ◽

Matter Production ◽

Plant Population Density

Growth and yield of chickpea, Cicer arietinum cv. Tyson, were studied at 4 row spacings (180, 360, 530 and 710 mm) and 4 plant population densities (14, 28, 42 and 56 plants m-2) in factorial combination in a wet and a dry growing season on a vertisol at Dalby, south-eastern Queensland. In both years, row spacing had only a small effect on above-ground dry matter production and yield, and there were no significant interactions between row spacing and plant population density. Above-ground dry matter production increased significantly with increase in plant population density for about 120 days after sowing. Seed yield increased significantly from 104 to 126 g m-2 in the drier season (106 mm rain, May-October) with increase in plant population density from 14 to 56 plants m-2. In the wetter season (286 mm rain, May- October), the corresponding trend in yield was from 262 to 287 g m-2. The response was attributed chiefly to larger seed size in the wet year, and higher harvest index in the dry year. We conclude that a density of at least 40 plants m-2 is required to attain maximum seed yield in southeastern Queensland. Although row spacing had no significant effect on yield, our earlier research indicated potential benefits from narrow row spacing, particularly for mechanised crop production.

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