Yield variability in Phalaris canariensis L. due to seeding date, seeding rate and nitrogen fertilizer

2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 651-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. E. May ◽  
G. P. Lafond ◽  
Y. T. Gan ◽  
P. Hucl ◽  
C. B. Holzapfel ◽  
...  

May, W. E., Lafond, G. P., Gan, Y. T., Hucl, P., Holzapfel, C. B., Johnston, A. M. and Stevenson, C. 2012. Yield variability in Phalaris canariensis L. due to seeding date, seeding rate and nitrogen fertilizer. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 651–669. Concern over the year-to-year and field-to-field variability in grain yield has consistently been expressed by annual canarygrass growers in Saskatchewan. The objectives of these studies were to understand the effects of a delayed seeding date (0, 15, 30 and 45 d), seeding rate (15, 25, 35, 45, and 55 kg ha−1 of seed) and applied N fertilizer (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 kg N ha−1) on the development and yield of annual canarygrass, to improve recommendations of best management practices in annual canarygrass and to determine the impact of these factors on yield variability in annual canarygrass. To address these objectives, three single factor field experiments were conducted, at a number of sites in Saskatchewan from 1998 to 2001. Seeding date had a large effect on grain yield. Grain yield decreased as seeding was delayed by 30 and 45 d from early May. Seeding rate had a small effect on grain yield. The response curve was very shallow peaking at approximately 1310 kg ha−1 at a seeding rate of 45 kg ha−1. Variation in grain yield tended to decrease as the seeding rate increased. There was a small increase in grain yield with the addition of nitrogen fertilizer. The response curve estimated a maximum yield of 1215 kg ha−1, which was obtained with a nitrogen rate of 78 kg ha−1. The majority of the increase was between 20 and 40 kg N ha−1, with a 2.3 kg ha−1 increase in grain yield for each kg of fertilizer N in that range of rates. There was a slight increase in grain yield as the nitrogen rate increased above 40 kg ha−1 but the variation in grain yield also increased reducing the incentive for growers to use N rates above 40 kg ha−1. Seeding date had a large effect on seed yield and could impact yield variability while seeding rate and nitrogen rate did not have a large effect on seed yield or yield variability.

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 485-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. Lafond ◽  
B. Irvine ◽  
A. M. Johnston ◽  
W. E. May ◽  
D. W. McAndrew ◽  
...  

Flaxseed is known to have significant health benefits in human nutrition and when included in animal rations. There is pressing need to improve flaxseed production to meet the growing demand. The objective was to study the effects of three seeding rates (22, 45 and 67 kg ha-1), two seeding dates (early May and late May), three rates of nitrogen (66, 100 and 133% of recommended) and three cultivars (Norlin, AC McDuff and CDC Valour) and at five locations representative of the flax-growing area of the Canadian prairies from 1999 to 2001. The variables of interest were plant density, seed yield and yield formation, seed oil content and oil quality. Plant establishment was always highest with Norlin, but bolls m-2 was similar between the three cultivars. Plant density was always highest with the later plantings. No overall effect of seeding date was observed on grain yield, but the site-year by seeding date interaction showed that the later planting was favoured by the most northerly sites and early planting at the most southerly sites. The sites intermediate in latitude showed little response to seeding date. This finding provides important information with respect to the inclusion of flax in cropping systems depending on the latitude and deciding on the order of planting. Later planting resulted in a small decrease in oil content. Seed yields were increased with seeding rates going from 22 to 45 kg ha-1, which corresponded to plant populations > 300 plants m-2, with no increases thereafter. Increases in seeding rates always reduced the number of bolls plant-1 with little effect on seeds boll-1. Seeding rate had no effect on seed oil quantity and quality and maturity. A seed yield increase was observed with nitrogen when going from 66 to 100% of the recommended rate with no increases past 100%. Adding nitrogen resulted in a small drop in seed oil content. The seeding date × nitrogen rate interaction revealed a lack of response to nitrogen with the later planting date beyond 66% of the recommended N rate, suggesting reduced nitrogen rates with later plantings are possible. The absence of a site-year by seeding date by nitrogen rate interaction implies that findings of this study can be applied to a wide geographical area. In conclusion, attention needs to be given to seeding rates to target plant density > 300 plants m-2. Even with the high seeding rates, the target plant population was achieved only 60 and 73% of the time for the early and late planting, respectively. Using soil test recommendations for nitrogen will maximize seed yields under most situations. Best agronomic practices to maximize seed yield were found to maintain adequate seed oil quality and quantity. Key words: Linum usitatissimum L., nitrogen rate, seeding rate, seeding date, cultivar


2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (4) ◽  
pp. 763-773 ◽  
Author(s):  
W E May ◽  
S J Shirtliffe ◽  
D W McAndrew ◽  
C B Holzapfel ◽  
G P Lafond

Traditionally, farmers have delayed seeding to manage wild oat (Avena fatua L.) in tame oat (Avena sativa L.) crops, but this practice can adversely affect grain yield and quality. The objectives of this study were: (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of using high seeding rates with early-seeded oat to maintain grain yield and quality, and (2) to determine an optimum seeding rate to manage wild oat and maximize grain yield and quality. The factors of interest were wild oat density (low and high density), seeding date (early May, mid May, early June and mid June), and tame oat seeding rate (150, 250, 350 and 450 viable seeds m-2). The study was conducted at Indian Head and Saskatoon, SK, in 2002, 2003 and 2004, at Winnipeg, MB, in 2002, and at Morden, MB, in 2003 and 2004. Wild oat biomass, wild oat panicle density and wild oat seed in the harvested sample decreased as seeding rate increased, while tame oat biomass and grain yield increased. Wild oat density ranged between 0 and 100 plants m-2 with averages of 10 plants m-2 in the low density treatment and 27 plants m-2 in the high density treatment. At low seeding rates, grain yield decreased with increasing wild oat density. The difference in grain yield between the two wild oat densities decreased as the seeding rate increased. There was a curvilinear decrease in grain yield as seeding was delayed. A seeding date × seeding rate interaction was noted for test weight, plump seed, thin seed and groat yield. Seed quality improved as seeding rate increased for only the mid-June seeding date. Even though the mid-June test weight increased as the seeding rate increased it was always lower than the early May test weight at any seeding rate. The results from this study established that in the presence of wild oats, early seeding of tame oat is possible providing high seeding rates, 350 plants m-2 are used.Key words: Wild oat competition, wild oat density, wild oat biomass, grain yield, grain quality


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Ruggeri ◽  
Riccardo Primi ◽  
Pier Paolo Danieli ◽  
Bruno Ronchi ◽  
Francesco Rossini

Experiments were conducted in open field to assess the effect of seeding season and density on the yield, the chemical composition and the accumulation of total tannins in grains of two chickpea (<em>Cicer arietinum</em> L.) cultivars (<em>Pascià</em> and <em>Sultano</em>). Environmental conditions and genetic factors considerably affected grain yield, nutrient and total tannins content of chickpea seeds, giving a considerable range in its qualitative characteristics. Results confirmed cultivar selection as a central factor when a late autumn-early winter sowing is performed. In effect, a more marked resistance to Ascochyta blight (AB) of <em>Sultano</em>, allowed better agronomic performances when favourable-to-AB climatic conditions occur. Winter sowing appeared to be the best choice in the Mediterranean environment when cultivating to maximise the grain yield (+19%). Spring sowing improved crude protein (+10%) and crude fibre (+8%) content, whereas it did not significantly affect the accumulation of anti-nutrients compounds such as total tannins. The most appropriate seeding rate was 70 seeds m–2, considering that plant density had relatively little effect on the parameters studied.


2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 687-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. D. Gossen ◽  
J. J. Soroka ◽  
H. G. Najda

Little information is available on the management of turfgrass species for seed production in the Canadian prairies. The objective of these studies was to assess the impact of residue management and row spacing on seed yield under irrigation. A factorial experiment was seeded at Saskatoon, SK, in 1993 to assess the impact of burning or scalping (very close mowing with residue removal) vs. mowing, and 20- vs. 40-cm row spacing on seed yield of Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) (Poa pratensis), creeping red fescue (CRF) (Festuca rubra subsp. rubra) and creeping bentgrass (CBG) (Agrostis palustris). Also, a residue management trial on KBG was seeded at Brooks, AB, in 1993. At Saskatoon, yield was higher at 20-cm spacing across all three species in 1994, but spacing had no impact on winter survival, stand density, tiller growth or yield in subsequent years. Burning and scalping consistently resulted in earlier spring green-up, a higher proportion of fertile tillers, and higher seed yield than mowing. Even with residue management, yield declined after one harvest in CBG and CRF, and after two harvests in KBG. At Brooks, residue management had a similar impact on yield of KBG. A second trial at Brooks examined the impact of row spacing (20, 40, 60 cm) and seeding rate (0.5 to 6 kg seed ha-1) on KBG. Seed yield was highest at 40-cm spacings in 1994, at 60 cm in 1995, and at 40 to 60 cm in 1996. Seeding rate did not have a consistent effect on yield. We conclude that a combination of residue management and 20- to 40-cm spacings provide the highest, most consistent seed yields for these turfgrass species in this region. Key words: Burning, clipping, turfgrass, seed production, row spacing, Poa, Festuca, Agrostis


2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. E. Juskiw ◽  
J. H. Helm

Seeding date is an important factor influencing productivity of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). When conditions are conducive to early seeding or result in delayed seeding, producers need to know how cultivars will respond to these seeding situations. In this study, five cultivars (Abee, Harrington, Jackson, Noble and Virden) registered for western Canada were studied for 4 yr (1990 to 1993) when seeded early (late April or early May), in mid-May, in late-May, or late (mid-June) at Lacombe, AB. For all cultivars, early seeding resulted in grain yield advantages of 113 to 134% of the mean site yield, while with late seeding, grain yields were reduced to 54 to 76% of the mean site yield. The reduction in yield was least for Jackson, the earliest maturing cultivar tested. Late seeding reduced the period from sowing to emergence, vegetative period, grain-filling period, time from emergence to physiological maturity, test weight, grain yield, kernel weight, and tillers per plant; and increased plant height and percent thins. Late seeding had no significant effect on phyllochron, stand establishment, scald, lodging, protein content of the grain, kernel number per spike, and spikelet number per spike. Barley responded positively to early seeding in central Alberta, but when seeding was delayed (in this study to mid-June) the early and mid-maturing six-rowed cultivars with short phyllochrons performed better than the two-rowed and late six-rowed cultivars. Key words: Hordeum vulgare L., seeding rate, phenological development, grain quality, grain yield, components


2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (8) ◽  
pp. 857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deirdre Lemerle ◽  
David J. Luckett ◽  
Eric A. Koetz ◽  
Trent Potter ◽  
Hanwen Wu

Canola (Brassica napus L.) is an important rotational crop in the temperate cropping zone of southern Australia. Herbicide-resistant weeds are rapidly spreading and reducing canola grain yield and quality. Crop competition is a useful tool for reducing weed costs and dependence on herbicides, and retarding the spread of herbicide resistance. The potential interaction of canola seeding rate and cultivar for weed management has not been quantified in Australia. A field experiment was conducted in three environments to examine the impact of two contrasting canola cultivars (a low vigour type and a high vigour hybrid) at four seeding rates (10–100 plants/m2) on volunteer wheat (~50 plants/m2). Significant but variable effects of crop seeding rate, cultivar and weed were detected on canola density and grain yield, and on the suppression of volunteer wheat. The canola hybrids suppressed volunteer wheat more than the less vigorous cultivars in all the experiments. There was no benefit of increasing canola seeding rate above the normally recommended rate of 40 plants/m2 for weed suppression. The seed production of volunteer wheat on average doubled when canola density dropped from 40 to 10 plants/m2. Treatment effects on canola grain yield losses from weeds were less than those on weed suppression. The grain yield of both cultivars was reduced between 30% and 40% with weeds at a canola density of 40 plants/m2 and plateaued above this density in weedy conditions. Maintaining canola plant establishment and using competitive cultivars is critical to avoiding weed seedbank replenishment, and reducing canola yield losses from weed competition.


2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. McKenzie ◽  
A. B. Middleton ◽  
E. Bremer

Yellow mustard (Sinapsis alba L.), brown mustard (Brassica juncea L.), and oriental mustard (B. juncea) have been grown in Alberta since the 1950s, but limited agronomic information specific for this crop is available. The objective of this study was to determine the response of mustard to fertilization, seeding date and seeding rate in southern Alberta. Field experiments were conducted at 20 field sites over a 4-yr period (1999–2002) under irrigated and dryland (fallow and stubble) conditions. Five experiments were conducted with the following treatments: (1) N fertilizer rate (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kg N ha-1), (2) urea placement (seed-placed and side-banded urea at rates of 0 to 120 kg N ha-1), (3) P fertilizer rate (0, 6.5, and 13.1 kg P ha-1), (4) S fertilizer rate (0, 10 and 20 kg S ha-1), and (5) seeding date (three dates at approximately 10-d intervals) and seeding rate (target plant densities of 75, 125, 175, 225, and 300 plants m-2). Experiment 1 was conducted with yellow mustard (AC Pennant), oriental mustard (Forge), brown mustard (Commercial Brown) and canola (Q2) (Brassica napus L.), while the remaining experiments were only conducted with yellow mustard. For maximum seed yield, mustard required 95 kg of available N Mg-1 of potential seed yield. Potential yields were closely related to available moisture, increasing 7 to 8 kg ha-1 for every mm increase in available moisture above a minimum moisture requirement of 90 mm. Seed-placed urea reduced plant stand at rates as low as 30 kg N ha-1 and reduced seed yield at rates of 60 to 120 kg N ha-1. Fourteen of 20 sites had a greater than 3% positive yield benefit due to P fertilizer. Mustard did not benefit from S fertilizer application. Delay in seeding by 3–4 wk, compared with seeding in late April to mid-May, reduced seed yield of yellow mustard by an average of 37%. Seed yield increased with seeding rate, but the maximum gain in seed yield due to high seeding rates was only 200 kg ha-1, with significant increases obtained only under very dry conditions. Early seeding and adequate N fertility were the most important agronomic practices for achieving high yields of mustard in southern Alberta. Key words: Sinapsis alba, Brassica juncea, yield, oil, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, water-use efficiency


2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (7) ◽  
pp. 708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deirdre Lemerle ◽  
Peter Lockley ◽  
Eric Koetz ◽  
Simon Diffey

Conservation cropping systems with no-till and stubble retention improve soil condition and water conservation. However, tillage is replaced by herbicides for weed control in these systems, increasing the threat of herbicide resistance. In the medium to high rainfall zones of the southern wheatbelt of Australia and under irrigation, wider row spacing is used to enable seeding into heavy stubble loads and to avoid stubble burning. Some evidence suggests that wider rows lead to reduced crop competitive ability and crop yields, greater herbicide dependence, and increased spread of resistance. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that increasing seeding rate compensated for reduced competitive ability at wider row spacings, especially when herbicide performance was suboptimal. We examined the impact of two wheat row spacings (18 and 36 cm) and five seeding rates (resulting in a range of densities of ~80–700 plants/m2) on control of Lolium rigidum with five rates of post-emergence application of diclofop-methyl (Hoegrass®), ranging from label rate to lower rates, over two growing seasons. In the presence of L. rigidum, wheat grain yield was unaffected by row spacing but was significantly reduced at low seeding rates, especially at lower herbicide rates. Lolium rigidum was suppressed at higher crop densities but was also unaffected by row spacing. Grain yield was maximised when post-emergence herbicide was applied at 60–100% of the recommended dose at wheat densities >~300 plants/m2. Significant levels of the weed remained in the crop at anthesis in all treatments. Weed dry matter ranged from 525 g/m2 at low crop densities and with no herbicide to 150 g/m2 with the recommended rate of herbicide and high wheat densities. The implications of manipulating crop competitive ability to improve weed control are discussed, especially in conditions where herbicide performance is unreliable due to weeds developing herbicide resistance or adverse environmental conditions.


2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 845-853 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. F. Hwang ◽  
R. L. Conner ◽  
K. F. Chang ◽  
B. D. Gossen ◽  
H. Su ◽  
...  

Mycosphaerella blight (Mycosphaerella pinodes) occurs throughout western Canada and can severely reduce field pea (Pisum sativum) seed yield. Field trials were conducted at two sites (Edmonton, AB, and Morden, MB) from 2001 to 2003 to assess the impact of seeding rate and seeding depth on blight severity. Mycosphaerella blight severity in the canopy was greater at higher seeding rates; treatments seeded at 30 plants m-2 had lower levels of disease than those seeded at more than 100 seeds m-2. However, yield potential was reduced at low seeding densities. Depth of seeding did not affect seedling density, disease severity, yield or final seed weight. In addition, field trials were conducted at Edmonton to quantify yield losses associated with mycosphaerella blight in Alberta. In trials inoculated with M. pinodes, application of a foliar fungicide (chlorothalonil) increased yield by about 20% over the unprotected control. Key words: Pisum, Mycosphaerella, fungicide, crop management, yield loss


1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 727-734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pirjo Mäkelä ◽  
Leena Väärälä ◽  
Pirjo Peltonen-Sainio

Development of a dwarf oat (Avena sativa L.) for northern growing conditions may further improve many important agronomic features of the oat crop including lodging resistance, yield stability, yield potential, grain-straw ratio, and fertile tillering. Our objective in this study was to assess the performance of a Minnesota-adapted dwarf line at high latitudes, through measurement of several traits that characterize duration of pre- and post-anthesis growth and plant stand structure, with special reference to tiller growth and tiller productivity. Response of the dwarf line to seeding rate (250, 500, and 750 viable seeds m−2) and nitrogen fertilizer application rates (80, 120, and 160 kg N ha−1) was compared with that of a semi-dwarf line, a conventional height cultivar, and a landrace cultivar, all of which are adapted to long-day conditions. The experiments were conducted in Finland (60°13′N) in 1993 and 1994. The dwarf line produced less grain (≤ 30%) than the other lines but out-yielded the lodging-sensitive landrace in 1994 at a high seeding rate and high rate of nitrogen fertilizer application. As for the semi-dwarf line and conventional height line, the dwarf line produced the highest grain yield at 500 seeds m−2 which is the standard planting density for oat in Finland. The particularly short duration of the generative phase and associated low number of grains per main shoot panicle are likely to be principal contributors to low mean panicle-filling rate, panicle weight, and grain yield of the dwarf line. However it was better able to tiller and produce head-bearing tillers than the other lines. This increased number of tillers was, however, unable to compensate for yield reduction resulting from low yield potential of the main shoot. Key words:Avena sativa L., oat (dwarf), grain yield, landrace, partitioning, straw length, yield components


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