THE EFFECTS OF SEEDING RATE AND ROW WIDTH IN RELATION TO SEED PRODUCTION IN ORCHARD GRASS, DACTYLIS GLOMERATA L.

Abstract

The effects of six seeding rates and five row spacings on seed yield, seed quality and the yield components—number of fertile culms per square foot, number of seeds per culm and seed weight were studied in orchard grass.Row width had a marked effect on seed yield each year. Rate of seeding affected seed yield to a lesser extent and a row width × seeding rate interaction did occur. Seeding rates and row width caused small relatively unimportant differences in seedling establishment and early seedling vigour only in the third harvest year. Considering seed yield, seed quality and the ease of weed control, the best treatment combination appeared to be a seeding rate in the area of [Formula: see text] in 14-in. rows for stands to produce for 2 or 3 years.Seed yield was positively and closely correlated with the number of fertile culms in the first 2 crop years but a negative relationship was found in the third crop year. Seed weight was negatively correlated with seed yield. The number of seeds per panicle was closely associated with yield in the third crop year and negatively correlated with seed weight and culm numbers.