Sowing

About: Sowing is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 33888 publications have been published within this topic receiving 273438 citations. The topic is also known as: seeding.

Influence of plant population and seed tuber size on growth and yield components of potato (Solanum tuberosum).

Abstract: A field study was carried out with the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) variety BP1 to determine the influence of plant population density and seed tuber size on the crop’s physiological growth components and yield performance under optimal field conditions. Two factors considered were seed tuber size and population density. The first factor involved four seed sizes; S1 (small), 200-350 mm in diameter; S2 (medium), 350-450 mm in diameter; S3 (large), 450-550 mm in diameter and S4 (very large), greater than 550 mm in diameter. The second factor was population density (E) and it was at three levels; level 1 (E1) at 90 by 15 cm, level 2 (E2) at 90 by 30 cm, level 3 (E3) at 90 by 45 cm spacing. Parameters measured included shoot emergence (germination), haulm growth and yield. There were significant differences in mean percentage germination at 9, 10, 11 and 12 days after planting across the four seed sizes. Plants from larger seed potato tubers exhibited greater physiological growth and yield (kg/ha) compared to smaller seed tubers when the experiment was terminated at 95 days after emergence. Large and very large seed potato tubers exhibited greater overall resource use efficiency of allocation of metabolites as measured by growth components and yield at all plant density levels compared to small and medium sized seed tubers. This had implications on the duration of the bulking, physiological growth and consequently on yields obtained at harvest. At the same time, plant population density had no significant (p>0.05) effect on the number of days to emergence. From the results obtained in this study, it can be concluded that the optimum plant population density for good yield was 90 by 30 cm and that large and very large seed sets gave the best yield. © 2012 Friends Science Publishers

The response of field beans (Vicia faba L.) to irrigation and sowing date. 2. Growth and development in relation to yield.

Abstract: The growth and yield of four crops of field bean cv. Maris Bead in response to irrigation and sowing date were analysed in relation to leaf area expansion and senescence and their absorption and utilization of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Total dry matter (D.M.) production and seed yield were strongly correlated with total green area duration (GAD) and post-flowering GAD respectively.Total D.M. production was also strongly related to radiation absorbed by the green surfaces of the crop although autumn sowing and drought both decreased the constant of proportionality, i.e. the growth efficiency (Eg). Autumn sowings yielded more than spring sowings because they grew for longer and received 22% more radiation. Their harvest index was also about 40% higher than in spring sowings. These more than compensated for their smaller Eg. Drought decreased yield mainly by decreasing radiation received and Eg. Growth duration was shorter and harvest index was smaller.The rate of phenological development was strongly dependent upon temperature and to a lesser extent on photoperiod. The average thermal duration from emergence to flowering was 790 °Cd above a base of 0 °C. The time from sowing to the end of the pod growth was well represented by a simple multiplicative model in which development rate was a linear function of temperature above a base of 0 °C and photoperiod above a base of 6 h. The average photothermal duration required for 10 crops was 980 °Cd.An attempt was also made to determine the crop physiological and environmental factors which govern the change in size of the yield components of field bean crops caused by irrigation and sowing date. The final number of pods per plant was closely correlated with the rate of supply of assimilates during pod filling. Irrigation increased assimilate flux by increasing leaf area, growth rate and total dry matter during pod growth. Both the rate and duration of pod growth were little affected by irrigation. Autumn sowings produced heavier pods and beans due to both a faster rate and a longer duration of growth which were associated with a greater production of assimilate during the seed growth period. Seed growth depends on both the current assimilate and stored reserves, the latter especially when plants were subjected to environmental stress.

Response of maize seed number to solar radiation intercepted soon after anthesis

Abstract: A versatile method for predicting maize (Zea mays L.) seeds per plant would be valuable for simulating maize yield with different population densities. The objective of this work was to characterize the form of the response of seeds per plant to intercepted photosynthetically active radiation per plant in the 10 d following silking and to test the generality of the response function across several hybrids at different locations. Data from the literature and results with 2 yr of field experiments at Temple, TX, on Houston Black clay (fine montmorillonitic, thermic Udic Haplusterts) and 1 yr in central Pennsylvania on Hagerstown silt loam (fine, mixed, mesic Typic Hapludalfs) were used to evaluate this seed number response. The data support a linear response function, with values being on a plateau when the potential number of seeds of a hybrid has been reached. A single regression equation was adequate for 10 hybrids at Temple and/or in central Pennsylvania. Several other hybrids at these or other locations showed significantly different responses. Prediction functions for other hybrids can be derived with similar linear models, with a plateau defined by the potential seeds per plant produced at low planting densities

The impact of sowing density of small grains on rill and ephemeral gully erosion in concentrated flow zones

Abstract: Despite the fact that soil erosion by water causes considerable on-site and off-site problems, farmers in Europe are reluctant to adopt prevention and control measures when such measures require additional labour and material inputs This paper documents the impact of multiple sowing of small grains on concentrated flow erosion rates and grain production for a winter triticale field (X Triticosecale Wittmack ex A Camus) in the Belgian loess belt Multiple sowing refers to drilling more than once in zones of concentrated flow erosion in order to increase the total root mass in this zone Multiple sowing strongly altered the morphology of erosion channels and reduced soil loss significantly Statistical analysis confirmed that differences in channel dimensions could be explained by the seedling density Doubling the root mass in the topsoil by multiple sowing, resulted on average in a reduction of soil loss by 42% for the whole growing season For the winter period, soil loss reduction, mainly attributed to the triticale roots, amounted even to 53%, showing the tremendous impact of seedling roots on soil erosion by concentrated overland flow in the early stages of vegetation growth Furthermore, total grain yield in the multiple drilled zones was not significantly smaller compared to the conventionally drilled parts of the field Grain size of cereals was slightly smaller The results of this case study indicate that double sowing in concentrated overland flow zones may be a viable soil erosion control technique # 2002 Elsevier Science BV All rights reserved

Effect of Soil Application of Dairy Manure on Germination and Emergence of Some Selected Crops

Abstract: Germination and emergence of sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense Stapf ‘Piper’), barley (Hordeum vulgare L. ‘Numar’), radish (Raphanus sativus L. ‘Cherry Belle’), and spinach (Spinacea oleracea L. ‘Bloomsdale’) in a glasshouse were investigated using a Chino loam soil where various amounts (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% dry manure by weight) of dairy manure were added. The degree of germination injury depended on the crop species and rate of application or the salt and N inputs. The crop sensitivity to salt or NH3 were as follows: barley < sudangrass and spinach < radish. Barley and sudangrass were more tolerant to salt or NH3 than spinach and radish. Barley germination data from treatments which had NaCl added to the soil extracts to obtain the same osmotic potential as those treated with urine, urea, or manure suggest that the germination injury was not salt specific and that other compounds such as NH3 were also contributing factors. Germination injury can be minimized by planting several days after soil application of large amounts of dairy or feedlot manure to allow volatilization of a significant quantity of NH3 or after adequate preirrigation, or both.