Crop Residue Removal and Nitrogen Fertilization Affects Seed Production in Meadow Bromegrass

Seed yield in meadow bromegrass ( Bromus riparius Rehm.) declines rapidly after two to three seed crops. This is a critical limitation to economic seed production. Field experiments were conducted at Saskatoon and Outlook, SK, Canada, to determine the influence of residue removal and N fertilization on seed yield. Three N treatments (0, 50, and 100 kg ha −1 ) were applied in September each year for the first three seed production years, and four residue removal treatments (none, after harvest, October, and after harvest + October) were applied in the second and third seed production years. Residue removal after harvest and N application (100 kg ha −1 ) increased yield 0 to 572 kg ha −1 in the second seed crop compared with the untreated control. In the third‐year seed crop, residue removal increased seed yield 30 to 90 kg ha −1 . Application of N fertilizer increased third‐year seed yield 90 kg ha −1 at Outlook only. Mean seed yield was reduced in the third compared with the second crop year, regardless of treatment. Residue removal after harvest combined with the application of 100 kg N ha −1 increased the cumulative 2‐yr seed yield by 390 to 490 kg ha −1 compared with the untreated control. At the current seed price (Can$2.50 kg −1 ) and N fertilizer cost (Can$0.66 kg −1 ) of meadow bromegrass, the additional seed yield from residue removal and 100 kg N ha −1 would provide a net return of Can$975 to Can$1225 ha −1 on an additional investment of

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