Growth and productivity of irrigated Sorghum bicolor (L. Moench) in northern Australia. I. Plant density and arrangement effects on light interception and distribution, and grain yield, in the hybrid Texas 610SR in low and medium latitudes

1982 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 773 ◽  
Author(s):  
RC Muchow ◽  
DB Coates ◽  
GL Wilson ◽  
MA Foale

The influence of plant arrangement and density on yield of the grain sorghum hybrid Texas 610SR grown as an irrigated dry season crop in the Ord Irrigation Area (lat. 16�S) was determined. Neither the rate of dry matter production nor the pattern of partitioning of dry matter during grain-filling varied between treatments, and grain yield was unresponsive to row spacings below 75 cm and densities above 267000 plants ha-1. The results were analysed by considering the effect of radiation interception and distribution in the canopy on dry matter production. The opportunity was then taken to compare this trial, and two others conducted at the same low latitude where grain yield was unresponsive to density, with four trials conducted at higher latitudes (27�S.) where Texas 610SR was very responsive to density. The effect is shown to be associated with radiation penetration into canopies. In the low latitude trials the poorer penetration of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) into high density stands could have resulted from lack of structural adjustment of the canopy, in contrast to the experience at medium latitude. Equally, there may have been an effect of lower solar angles at low latitude, resulting in the poorer PAR distribution. The consequence was a failure of response of dry matter production to increasing density, reflected in grain yield.

1990 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 449 ◽  
Author(s):  
GK McDonald

The growth and yield of two lines of uniculm barley, WID-103 and WID-105, were compared over a range of sowing rates (50-400 kg/ha) with the commercial varieties Galleon and Schooner. The experiments were conducted at Strathalbyn, S.A., in 1986, 1987 and 1988 and at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute in 1987. A third tillered variety, Clipper, was included in the comparison in 1988. Over the three years plant populations measured early in the season ranged from 39/m2 to 709/m2, and grain yields from 97 to 41 1 g/m2. Dry matter production at ear emergence increased with greater plant density, and both the tillered varieties and the uniculm lines showed similar responses to higher sowing rates. At maturity, dry matter production of the tillered barleys was greater than or equal to that of the uniculms and the harvest indices (HIs) of the two types were similar. Consequently, grain yields of the tillered types were greater than or equal to the yields of the uniculms. Over the four experiments the tillered varieties had a 6% higher yield. The number of ears/m2 was the yield component most affected by plant density in both the tillered and uniculm barleys. The uniculm lines had more spikelets/ear, but tended to set fewer grains/spikelet and produce smaller kernels. The experiments failed to demonstrate any advantage of the uniculm habit to the grain yield of barley. These results differ from previous experiments that showed that a uniculm line, WID-101, had a higher yield than the tillered variety Clipper. It is suggested that the uniculm habit per se was not the cause of this higher yield, but its higher HI resulted in it outyielding Clipper. Current varieties, however, have HIs similar to the uniculm lines and yield equally to or more than the uniculm barleys examined. To further improve the grain yield of uniculm barley, greater dry matter production is necessary as the HIs of these lines are already high.


1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 179 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. Borrell ◽  
A. L. Garside ◽  
S. Fukai ◽  
D. J. Reid

Production of flooded direct-seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.) in semi-arid tropical regions of northern Australia would be enhanced by increasing the efficiency of fertiliser nitrogen (N) use. Short-statured and early-maturing genotypes have replaced the taller and later genotypes in northern Australia, and they may respond differently to N. This paper reports the results of 4 experiments comparing the response of 3 rice genotypes differing in maturity and stature to 5 rates of applied nitrogen (0, 70, 140, 210, and 280 kg/ha) over 4 seasons (2 wet and 2 dry seasons) in the Burdekin River Irrigation Area, northern Australia. Grain yield varied among seasons and was negatively correlated with average daily mean temperature during the 30-day period before anthesis. The response of yield to N fertilisation was generally higher in the dry season. Panicle number was correlated with grain yield in both seasons, yet responded to N fertilisation only in the dry season. In 3 of 4 experiments, grain yield responded to the application of up to 70 kg N/ha, yielding about 750 g/m2. In only 1 dry season experiment did grain yield respond to the application of 140 kg N/ha, yielding about 930 g/m2. In this experiment, the response of grain yield to N rate also varied among genotypes such that yield in the early-maturing genotypes (Newbonnet and Lemont) was more responsive to N rates above 70 kg/ha than in the late-maturing genotype (Starbonnet). Of the 3 genotypes examined, highest yields were attained in Newbonnet (early-maturing, medium-statured) by combining high total dry matter production with high harvest index, indicating that this plant type may have an advantage in northern Australia. Yields in Lemont (early-maturing, short-statured) and Starbonnet (late-maturing, tall-statured) were limited by dry matter production and harvest index, respectively. There is some evidence that increased dry matter production in Newbonnet compared with Lemont was related to increased stem length. The evidence linking high harvest index with increased earliness in Newbonnet compared with Starbonnet is less compelling.


1981 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 685-697 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. McLaren

SUMMARYThe effects of variety, plant density and time of N application on the yield and yield components of winter wheat were investigated in factorial experiments during 1977–8 and 1978–9, at Sutton Bonington. Armada produced substantially fewer vegetative tillers/m2 but the number of ears/m2, from anthesis onwards, was similar to that of Maris Huntsman. The effects of the time of N application on tiller production and survival differed between the 2 years and may have been related to the amount of residual N in the soil. A linear relationship was found between the number of tillers/m2 which died and the maximum number of tillers/m2.Kador produced a lower grain yield than Armada or Maris Huntsman, owing to a combination of lower ratio of grain D.M. to total above-ground D.M. (harvest index) and lower total dry-matter production. Armada produced a higher grain yield than Maris Huntsman in response to earlier application of N. Grain yield was less variable when final plant densities were greater than 200/m2.Grain yield was not particularly well related to individual yield components but showed a good linear relationship with number of grains/m2. Grain yield was also linearly related to total dry-matter production, with treatment effects on harvest index being relatively small. The results indicate that factors which influenced crop growth during grain site development were relatively more important than the factors affecting subsequent grain filling.


1987 ◽  
Vol 108 (2) ◽  
pp. 395-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Adjei-Twum

SummaryEffects of plant density ranging from 44444 to 133333 plants/ha and tillage practices (planting in flat beds (control), in the furrows of open ridges, on the top of open ridges, in the furrows of tie-ridges and on the top of tie-ridges) on growth and grain yield of sorghum were investigated at Kobo, a typical semi-arid area in Ethiopia, during 1980, 1981 and 1982 cropping seasons. Plant growth was limited in the flat beds because they were likely to be deficient in soil moisture and sometimes in the tie-ridging treatments, due to waterlogging. However, planting on the top of tie-ridges produced 1·6, 0·4 and 1·8 t/ha more yield than in the flat beds, the method commonly practised by the Kobo farmers, during 1980, 1981 and 1982 respectively. In all seasons, the effect of plant density did not show marked differences. The plants rather adjusted their reproductive growth and development to the seasonal rainfall and presumably to the available soil moisture at the grain-filling periods. It was concluded that the highest plant density did not reach the optimum for the area. Planting sorghum on the top of tie-ridges is recommended.


1982 ◽  
Vol 22 (115) ◽  
pp. 76 ◽  
Author(s):  
KA Boundy ◽  
TG Reeves ◽  
HD Brooke

The effect of serial planting on dry matter production, leaf area, grain yield and yield components cf Lupinus angustifoiius (cvv. Uniwhite, Uniharvest and Unicrop) and L. albus (cv. Ultra) was investigated in field plots at Rutherglen in 1973 and 1974. Delayed planting reduced dry matter production of all cultivars, and leaf area for Ultra. Differences in dry matter partitioning were observed between the late flowering Uniharvest, and the early flowering Unicrop and Ultra. In Uniharvest, delayed plantings resulted in a greater proportion of total dry matter being produced during the flowering phase, whereas the reverse was true for Unicrop and Ultra. The later flowering cultivars showed marked grain yield and yield component reduction with later sowing. Yields were reduced by 160.6 kg/ha and 222.5 kg/ha for each week's delay in sowing Uniharvest and Uniwhite, respectively. This effect was offset in the early flowering cultivars by greater development of lateral branches. In addition, when Unicrop and Ultra were planted in April, pod and flower abortion on the main stem resulted from low temperatures at flowering time. Optimum sowing time was early April for Uniwhite and Uniharvest, and early May for Unicrop and Ultra. Excellent vegetative growth under ideal moisture conditions highlighted the poor harvest indices of lupins and the scope for genetic improvement in the genus.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-164
Author(s):  
Mohammad Issak ◽  
Most Moslama Khatun ◽  
Amena Sultana

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of salicylic acid (SA) as foliar spray on yield and yield contributing characters of BRRI Hybrid dhan3.The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and six treatment combinations as, T1: 0 μM SA, T2: 200 μM SA, T3: 400 μM SA, T4: 600 μM SA, T5: 800 μM SA and T6: 1000 μM SA. The results revealed that biomass production, dry matter production and yield and yield contributing characters were significantly increased due to the foliar application of SA. At the maximum tillering (MT) stage, the highest biomass production (15.0 t/ha) and dry matter production was observed in T3 treatment. Treatments T4, T5 and T6 showed significant variation on the effective tillers/hill. The maximum effective tillers/hill were found in the treatment T6. The percentages of spikelet sterility were decreased with increasing the level of SA and the percentage of filled grains/panicle were increased with increasing level of SA. The insect infestation was reduced with increasing level of SA to up to 1000 μM. The maximum grain yield (9.21 t/ha) and straw yield (9.22 t/ha) was found in the treatment T6 which was identical to T5. On the other hand, in all cases the lowest results were found in the control treatment. The result showed that grain yield of rice increased with increasing level of SA to up to 1000 μM (T6 treatment). Our results suggest that foliar spray of SA might be applied to increase the yield of hybrid rice in Bangladesh.Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.4(3): 157-164, December 2017


1974 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. C. Enyi

SUMMARYApplication of dimecron to cowpea plants increased grain yield, its effect being more pronounced in widely spaced plants and those planted in March. Dimecron increased grain yield by encouraging greater leaf area development, by increasing the number of flowering inflorescences and the number of pods set per inflorescence, and by decreasing the number of shrivelled pods. March planting encouraged greater dry matter production than January and May planting. Dimecron application decreased the number of Ootheca beningseni, reduced the proportion of leaf damaged by these insects, and reduced the number of plants infested with aphids and Acidodis larvae.


2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. K. McDonald

High spatial and temporal variability is an inherent feature of dryland cereal crops over much of the southern cereal zone. The potential limitations to crop growth and yield of the chemical properties of the subsoils in the region have been long recognised, but there is still an incomplete understanding of the relative importance of different traits and how they interact to affect grain yield. Measurements were taken in a paddock at the Minnipa Agriculture Centre, Upper Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, to describe the effects of properties in the topsoil and subsoil on plant dry matter production, grain yield and plant nutrient concentrations in two consecutive years. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Worrakatta) was grown in the first year and barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Barque) in the second. All soil properties except pH showed a high degree of spatial variability. Variability in plant nutrient concentration, plant growth and grain yield was also high, but less than that of most of the soil properties. Variation in grain yield was more closely related to variation in dry matter at maturity and in harvest index than to dry matter production at tillering and anthesis. Soil properties had a stronger relationship with dry matter production and grain yield in 1999, the drier of the two years. Colwell phosphorus concentration in the topsoil (0–0.15 m) was positively correlated with dry matter production at tillering but was not related to dry matter production at anthesis or with grain yield. Subsoil pH, extractable boron concentration and electrical conductivity (EC) were closely related. The importance of EC and soil extractable boron to grain yield variation increased with depth, but EC had a greater influence than the other soil properties. In a year with above-average rainfall, very little of the variation in yield could be described by any of the measured soil variables. The results suggest that variation in EC was more important to describing variation in yield than variation in pH, extractable boron or other chemical properties.


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