THE EFFECTS OF SEED RATE, CLOVER AND APPLIED NITROGEN ON BROADCAST SEED CROPS OF PASTURE RYEGRASS

Abstract

This investigation was carried out with leafy varieties of perennial ryegrass at four centres near Aberystwyth over a period of three years. Nitrogen applied in spring increased lodging, the number of fertile tillers and also seed yield, except where sowing was made without a cereal cover crop. While reasonable yields were obtained from badly laid crops, it is suggested that lodging prior to anthesis has an adverse effect on seed yield. Clover included as a companion species tended to depress the yield of seed and increase the degree of lodging.Seed rate had less infiuence on lodging and seed yield, but the data show that similar yields were obtained from light seed rates of 4 lb. per acre as from the heavier rates. On the other hand, there was a tendency for the low rate of seeding to produce weedy plots, especially when sown in the absence of a cover crop.