Comparing fall and spring seeding of Kochia scoparia on saline soil

Abstract

Kochia scoparia naturally invades distributed soils in the Brown soil zone of the Canadian Prairies and offers potential as a forage crop in saline environments. A 3-yr study conducted on severely saline soil near Swift Current, Saskatchewan, compared kochia production resulting from fall (natural- and implement-seeded) and spring (early- and late-seeded) treatments. Late spring-seeded crops produced, on average, 5.4 t of dry, shoot biomass per ha per yr. Early spring and fall-seeded kochia (naturally or implement-placed) yielded between 5.4 and 10.9 t ha−1. Of the nine comparisons between forage yields from fall and spring seedings, six favored fall over spring, two were equal, and one produced more forage from early spring seedings than from the naturally-seeded fall treatment. The late spring treatment consistently produced the least forage. Fall seedings exhibited a greater potential for forage production because fall-seeded plants usually established early in the growing season and in sufficient number to fully exploit soil and water resources when conditions became favorable and effective rooting depths were not restricted by concentrated salt layers. When drier growing conditions prevailed, the lower plant densities associated with early spring seedings tended to minimize plant competition and foster greater forage production. Key words: Kochia forage, seeding dates, salinity, Kochia establishment, Kochia agronomy