Premium
Seed Yield of Bahiagrass in Response to Sward Management by Phenology
Author(s) -
Adjei M. B.,
Mislevy P.,
Chason W.
Publication year - 1992
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/agronj1992.00021962008400040011x
Subject(s) - raceme , paspalum notatum , inflorescence , agronomy , biology , human fertilization , pasture , dormancy , phenology , straw , horticulture , germination
Although seed yield of bahiagrass ( Paspalum notatum Fluegge) can be increased by burning and N fertilization, there is a need to establish the optimum stage of plant development for the application of such practices. A ‘Pensacola’ bahiagrass pasture, grown on Pomona fine sand (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic, Ultic Haplaquods), was either burned or mowed at five stages of plant development: dormant, early vegetative, first‐raceme‐visible, and 2 or 4 wk after first‐raceme‐visible. After residue removal, plots were fertilized with 0, 50, or 108 kg ha −1 N. Seed yield, number of inflorescences, seed weight, and seed quality (1987 only) were determined in 1987 and 1988. Stage of plant development at time of residue removal affected all traits ( P ≤ 0.05). Seed yield, seed weight, and seed quality were highest when residue was removed at the dormant or early‐vegetative stages of plant development. Seed dormancy, however, decreased as stage of plant development increased. Method of residue removal (burn vs mow) did not significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) affect any trait except number of inflorescences in 1987, when more inflorescences were produced following mowing than burning. Nitrogen fertilization significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) increased seed yield and number of inflorescences, but had no affect on seed weight or seed quality. Residue removal by burning or mowing prior to the first‐raceme‐visible stage of plant development, followed by application of 50 kg ha −1 N, produced high yields of quality bahiagrass seed.