Row spacing and seed physiological quality of Crotalaria species

Abstract

Crotalaria crops have important uses, such as in green manuring, nematode control, biological nitrogen fixation and sugarcane reform in Savanna areas. Due to its strategic importance, knowledge about crotalaria seed production technology is a relevant factor to ensure the availability of high physiological quality seeds. This study aimed to assess the effect of two row spacings (20 and 40 cm) on the germination and vigor of Crotalaria ochroleuca and Crotalaria spectabilis seeds produced in two crop seasons (2018 and 2019). The experimental design was randomized blocks, with four replications, in a 2 x 2 factorial scheme (spacing x crop season), for each species. The climatic conditions during seed production significantly infuenced the physiological quality of the crotalaria seeds. The 2018 harvest, with more abundant rainfall and milder temperatures during flowering, provided more vigorous seeds for both species. The 20 cm spacing was more efficient to produce C. ochroleuca seeds with high physiological performance. Notwithstanding, C. spectabilis seeds showed a higher physiological quality when produced under 40 cm spacing than when produced under denser cultivation.

Cover crop diversity for sustainable agriculture: Insights from the Cerrado biome

“…Crotalaria spectabilis showed the lowest biomass production in both locations, an average of 3388 kg ha −1 in Montividiu and 2939 kg ha −1 in Rio Verde), indicating that this is the cover crop with the lowest amount of biomass among the cover crops used in this study regardless of the location. However, this specie may add other ecosystem services to the agroecosystem, such as nematode control (Debiasi et al., 2016; Silva et al., 2022), biological N fixation (34.10 kg ha −1 ; Mendonça et al., 2017) and faster nutrient cycling (half‐life time shorter than 20 days for N, P, K, Ca and Mg; Pacheco, Monteiro, et al., 2017).…”

An insight into seed priming response of Crotalaria ochroleuca and Crotalaria spectabilis during storage

“…Besides, the climatic conditions during seed production may affect the interval from anthesis to harvest time, aggravating non-uniform maturity levels in seed lots. In spite of the advantages of using Crotalaria species have increased the demand for high quality seeds in recent years, researchers still must develop efficient procedures for the production of high-quality Crotalaria seed lots (Silva et al, 2022a), since its direct-seeded and the seed quality greatly affects field emergence uniformity and crop yield.…”