Open AccessLUCERNE ESTABLISHMENT PRECISION VERSUS CONVENTIONAL SOWING METHODS
Author(s) -
Ralph Sims
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
proceedings of the new zealand grassland association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1179-4577
pISSN - 0369-3902
DOI - 10.33584/jnzg.1974.36.1400
Subject(s) - seeding , sowing , seeder , agronomy , dry matter , mathematics , population , drill , semis , biology , engineering , medicine , mechanical engineering , environmental health
Lucerne was sown at several sowing rates with both a roller drill and a precision seeder. Plant population counts and dry matter yields were recorded at regular intervals. The high seeding rate treatments showed higher plant mortalities than those sown at lower rates, resulting in a tendency for the population to reach an optimum, regardless of sowing method or rate. There were no significant differences obtained in the dry matter yeilds obtained from any treatment. Thus it would appear that precision seeding techniques enable lower seeding rates of lucerne to be sown successfully, owing to the better distribution of the seeds by the drill.