Abstract:The uniform seed material is a prerequisite of stable yields. Therefore, the aim of the study was to observe variability of physiological seed traits depending on the classification of seeds by size and shape, and to determine advantages of large over small seed fractions. Three maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids (ZP 505, ZP 677, ZP 684), produced in two locations (Orahovo, Plavna), were classified into six fractions; small flat seed (SFS), medium small flat seed (MSFS), large flat seed (LFS), small round seed (SRS),… Show more
“…The rate of emergence in the field and laboratory was similar for both hybrids, regardless of seed size. Our results confirm that seed germination, emergence patterns, and yield are strongly influenced by seed genetics, seed quality, and environmental conditions and are independent of seed size [29]. The seed lots from both hybrids used in this study were of high quality, as determined by standard germination and vigor laboratory tests.…”
Section: Seed Sizesupporting
confidence: 80%
“…Further separating the seed lot into different size distributions did not affect seed germination under ideal (standard germination and speed of germination tests) or stressful (cold test) conditions. The lower cold germination percentage observed for the "remaining seed" category of 7016CNV could be related to hybrid-specific differences in susceptibility to mechanical damage associated with further conditioning and sizing [29]. Mechanical damage can lower seed germination and vigor [29,30].…”
The intensive corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) production practices currently used in the Midwestern U.S. concern producers and stakeholders. The negative impact of these two-crop rotations on the environment affects water quality and soil erosion and increases flooding risks. Due to these concerns, cover crops and, specifically, perennial groundcover (PGC) cropping systems have gained greater interest. These perennial species have growing patterns compatible with corn and soybean, and can help rebuild the ecosystem while maintaining good cash crop yields. In addition, producers also are interested in the possible effect of seed size and planting depth on uneven emergence in corn. The successful adoption of PGC systems ultimately depends on the successful corn seedling emergence and consistent yield. The objective of the study was to understand the effects of seed characteristics and placement on emergence, grain yield, and grain quality in corn planted using a Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) (KBG)-PGC and a bare-soil cropping system and to determine grain quality attributes and grain moisture dry-down in a PGC field when compared to a conventional cropping system. Commercially-sized seed and seed sized in the laboratory to represent a narrower seed size distribution were planted in KBG-PGC and bare soil systems at two planting depths (3.18 and 6.35 cm). The two-year experiments were planted in a split-plot RCB design with four replications. Individual plants were flagged at emergence, and ears from each plant were harvested individually. Separating the seed lot into different size distributions did not affect seed germination under ideal (standard germination and speed of germination tests) or stressful (cold test) conditions. Seed size distribution also did not influence emergence rate and yield in a conventional tillage (bare soils) or KBG-PGC system. These results indicate that seed sizing specifications and seed size cutoffs currently used by seed companies are suitable for uniform emergence and maximum grain yield in both cropping systems. Seed placement was crucial to uniform emergence in both cropping systems, while seed size distribution did not play a role in emergence for either system. The PGC cropping system delayed seed corn emergence and reduced grain yields as much as 50%. This information is important for those producers considering adopting a PGC system because it demonstrates that uniform planting depth is more important than seed size distribution.
“…The rate of emergence in the field and laboratory was similar for both hybrids, regardless of seed size. Our results confirm that seed germination, emergence patterns, and yield are strongly influenced by seed genetics, seed quality, and environmental conditions and are independent of seed size [29]. The seed lots from both hybrids used in this study were of high quality, as determined by standard germination and vigor laboratory tests.…”
Section: Seed Sizesupporting
confidence: 80%
“…Further separating the seed lot into different size distributions did not affect seed germination under ideal (standard germination and speed of germination tests) or stressful (cold test) conditions. The lower cold germination percentage observed for the "remaining seed" category of 7016CNV could be related to hybrid-specific differences in susceptibility to mechanical damage associated with further conditioning and sizing [29]. Mechanical damage can lower seed germination and vigor [29,30].…”
The intensive corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) production practices currently used in the Midwestern U.S. concern producers and stakeholders. The negative impact of these two-crop rotations on the environment affects water quality and soil erosion and increases flooding risks. Due to these concerns, cover crops and, specifically, perennial groundcover (PGC) cropping systems have gained greater interest. These perennial species have growing patterns compatible with corn and soybean, and can help rebuild the ecosystem while maintaining good cash crop yields. In addition, producers also are interested in the possible effect of seed size and planting depth on uneven emergence in corn. The successful adoption of PGC systems ultimately depends on the successful corn seedling emergence and consistent yield. The objective of the study was to understand the effects of seed characteristics and placement on emergence, grain yield, and grain quality in corn planted using a Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) (KBG)-PGC and a bare-soil cropping system and to determine grain quality attributes and grain moisture dry-down in a PGC field when compared to a conventional cropping system. Commercially-sized seed and seed sized in the laboratory to represent a narrower seed size distribution were planted in KBG-PGC and bare soil systems at two planting depths (3.18 and 6.35 cm). The two-year experiments were planted in a split-plot RCB design with four replications. Individual plants were flagged at emergence, and ears from each plant were harvested individually. Separating the seed lot into different size distributions did not affect seed germination under ideal (standard germination and speed of germination tests) or stressful (cold test) conditions. Seed size distribution also did not influence emergence rate and yield in a conventional tillage (bare soils) or KBG-PGC system. These results indicate that seed sizing specifications and seed size cutoffs currently used by seed companies are suitable for uniform emergence and maximum grain yield in both cropping systems. Seed placement was crucial to uniform emergence in both cropping systems, while seed size distribution did not play a role in emergence for either system. The PGC cropping system delayed seed corn emergence and reduced grain yields as much as 50%. This information is important for those producers considering adopting a PGC system because it demonstrates that uniform planting depth is more important than seed size distribution.
“…Additionally, many agronomic factors directly lead to plant density loss (Figure 4). For example, seed quality, soil type, sowing depth and soil moisture content all directly affect seed germination and growth [21,49,50], thereby leading to the loss of seedlings. During the growth of maize, pests, diseases on the ground and underground and poor water and fertilizer management practices seriously limit the growth and development of plants, resulting in the loss of mature plants and ears and limiting the yield (Figure 6).…”
Section: Density Loss Caused By Mechanical and Agronomic Factorsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…In this process, farmer decision-making, the type and quality of the seeder and the experienced operator affect the final sowing density [20]. In addition, soil factors (e.g., water content), seed quality (e.g., germination rate) and the use of herbicides also affect seedling emergence after sowing [19,21]. Finally, poor management practices in water and fertilizer applications and plant protection can further reduce the final plant density [22].…”
Increasing plant density is a key measure to close the maize (Zea mays L.) yield gap and ensure food security. However, there is a large plant density difference in the fields sown by agronomists and smallholders. The primary cause of this phenomenon is the lack of an effective methodology to systematically analyze the density loss. To identify the plant density loss processes from experimental plots to smallholder fields, a research methodology was developed in this study involving a farmer survey and measurements in a smallholder field. The results showed that the sowing density difference caused by farmer decision-making and plant density losses caused by mechanical and agronomic factors explained 15.5%, 5.5% and 6.8% of the plant density difference, respectively. Changing smallholder attitudes toward the value of increasing the plant density could help reduce this density loss and increase farm yields by 12.3%. Therefore, this methodology was effective for analyzing the plant density loss, and to clarify the primary causes of sowing density differences and plant density loss. Additionally, it was beneficial to identify the priorities and stakeholders who share responsibility for reducing the density loss. The methodology has wide applicability to address the sowing density differences and plant density loss in other areas to narrow crop yield gaps and ensure food security.
“…Sowing early in spring exposes the crop to cold stress, which leads to low seed germination and a reduced number of plants per hectare (Hassell et al, 2003;El-Hamed et al, 2012). While sweet corn grown at a later sowing period is susceptible to various diseases and insects (Williams, 2008) and is exposed to drought and heat stress (Heshemi et al, 2017;Tabakovic et al, 2020).…”
Sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. saccharata [Sturtev.] L.H. Bailey) is a thermophilic crop that is sensitive to cold stress and thus may be cultivated by raising seedlings. The aim of this work was to determine the impact of transplanting and direct sowing on the yield and earliness of the sweet corn crop. The treatment protocol used had a combination of two different cultivation technologies (transplanting and direct sowing) and two different sowing periods (8 and 15 May during both growing seasons). The results show that the different cultivation technologies both had significant effects on the productive properties and earliness of sweet corn. The transplanting variants had about 34% more plants per hectare compared with the direct sowing yield. The ear length and mass were higher in crops grown using transplanting (22.2 cm and 278.0 g, respectively) than in crops grown using direct sowing (21.2 cm and 270.3 g, respectively). During the research period, a significantly higher ear yield was noted in the transplanted variants (11.7 t ha-1) compared with those of direct sowing (7.6 t ha-1). The transplanting variants had earlier harvests by 18 and 16 d in the first and second sowing periods, respectively, compared with those of direct sowing.
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