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.

Control of cereal rye with a roller/crimper as influenced by cover crop phenology

Abstract: Adoption of reduced tillage practices have been driven by the need to enhance soil quality, minimize fi eld labor time, and scale up farm size. However, concerns about increased reliance on herbicides and demand for organically grown foods call for adoption of production practices that can reduce both tillage and herbicide use. Th is research study assessed the infl uence of planting and termination dates on mechanical cover crop control effi cacy to limit tillage and herbicide use using a roller/crimper. A thermal-based phenological model using growing degree days (GDD; base 4.4°C) was developed to predict cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) growth stage. Mechanical control of cereal rye increased as rye matured. Variations in cereal rye cultivar growth rates were observed; however, they responded similarly to rolling when terminated at the same growth stage. Consistent control was achieved at a Zadoks growth stage 61 (rye anthesis). A thermal-based phenological model separating the eff ects of heat units accumulated in the fall (Fall GDD ) from those accumulated in the spring (Spring GDD ) best predicted the phenological development of cereal rye. Predicting when cereal rye can be successfully controlled using a roller/crimper along with the use of the thermalbased phenological model should aid growers in decision-making regarding cereal rye planting and termination dates.

Calcium and humic acid affect seed germination, growth, and nutrient content of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) seedlings under saline soil conditions

Abstract: The effects of calcium and humic acid on seed germination, growth and macro- and micro-nutrient contents of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) seedlings in saline soil conditions were evaluated. Different levels of humic acid (0, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg kg−1) and calcium (0, 100, 200 and 400 mg kg−1) were applied to growth media treated with 50 mg NaCl kg−1 before sowing seeds. Seed germination, hypocotyl length, cotyledon width and length, root size, shoot length, leaf number, shoot and root fresh weights, and shoot and root dry weights of the plant seedlings were determined. Macro- and micro-nutrient (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) contents of shoot and root of seedlings were also measured. Humic acid applied to the plant growth medium at 1000 mg kg−1 concentration increased seedling growth and nutrient contents of plants. Humic acid not only increased macro-nutrient contents, but also enhanced micro-nutrient contents of plant organs. However, high levels of humic acid arrested plant growth or de...

Winter Wheat Seedling Emergence from Deep Sowing Depths

Abstract: Growers in low-precipitation ( 100 mm. Coleoptile length was associated with emergence capability among both cultivars (r 2 = 0.71, P < 0.004) and advanced lines (r 2 = 0.62, P < 0.001). From deep sowing depths in this study: (i) cultivars and advanced lines with Rht 1 and Rht 2 reduced-height genes always emerged poorly compared with Moro; (ii) the Rht 3 reduced-height gene did not hamper emergence to the extent that Rht 1 and Rht 2 did; and (iii) several advanced experimental lines with long coleoptiles equaled or exceeded Moro for emergence.

Winter Rye Cover Crop Management Influences on Soil Water, Soil Nitrate, and Corn Development

Abstract: A winter rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop can be seeded after corn (Zea mays L.) silage to mitigate some of the environmental concerns associated with corn silage production. Rye can be managed as a cover crop by chemical termination or harvested for forage. A field study was conducted in Morris, MN in 2008 and 2009 to determine the impact of killed vs. harvested rye cover crops on soil moisture and N0 3 —N, and to monitor the impact of the rye on subsequent corn yield. Corn for silage was seeded either after winter fallow (control), after a rye cover crop terminated 3 to 4 wk before corn planting (killed rye), or after a rye forage crop harvested no more than 2 d before corn planting (harvested rye). Soil moisture after killed rye was similar to the control, but after harvested rye was 16% lower. Available soil NO 3 ―N was decreased after both killed rye (35%) and harvested rye (59%) compared to the control. Corn biomass yield after killed rye was similar to the control, but yield following harvested rye was reduced by 4.5 Mg ha ―1 . Total forage biomass yield (silage + rye) was similar for all treatments. This work demonstrates that the environmental benefits of a winter rye cover crop can be achieved without impacting corn yield, but the later termination required for rye forage production resulted in soil resource depletion and negatively impacted corn silage yield.