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Germination and Yield of Barley When Grown in a Water‐Repellent Sand 1
Author(s) -
Bond R. D.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1972.00021962006400030043x
Subject(s) - germination , sowing , agronomy , rainwater harvesting , hordeum vulgare , grain yield , yield (engineering) , biology , water repellent , horticulture , poaceae , ecology , materials science , metallurgy , composite material
Uneven penetration of rainwater into water‐repellent sands decreases germination of annual plants. To assess the importance of this problem, germination and yield of barley ( Hordeum vulgate cv Prior) were observed at two field sites on water‐repellent sands in South Australia. Germination continued throughout the wet winter period and 9 viable ungerminated seeds were recovered from 60 cm of row 3 month after sowing. Germination was controlled by the uneven penetration of rainwater into the soil. At Site I, the number of plants 1 month after sowing averaged 1.6/m in the poor plots and 19.2 plants/m in the good plots. Subsequently 11.0 plants/m grew in the poor rows but produced only 150 kg grain/ha compared with 1,440 kg/ha in the good plots while the average yield for this site was 560 kg/ha. Similar results were obtained at Site II where good plots yielded 1,830 kg grain/ha compared with 16 kg/ha in the poorest rows and an average yield for the site of 1,160 kg/ha. Delayed and incomplete germination of cereals on water‐repellent soil can cause very low grain yields.