Effect of seed harvesting time on seed production and germination in buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) genotype CAZRI 358.

摘要

The seed yield components of buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) genotype CAZRI 358 were examined at the Central Research Farm of Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, during 2003 and 2004 to determine the optimum time for quality seed production with maximum productivity. During 2003, initial inflorescence emergence (IIE) started by mid of August, approximately 30 days after the sowing and during 2004, IIE started in second week of August, approximately 35 days after the start of the monsoon initiated growth. Seed yield/spike was 0.24 and 0.40 g with yields of 411.5 and 489.2 kg/ha in 2003 and 2004, respectively. The number of fertile tiller/m2 was 72.0 in the second year against only 38.4 in the first year but the spike density/m2 peaked at 235.5 in Year 1 and 173.6 in Year 2. The 1000-seed weight was considerably high in the second year (2.67 g) while it was only 1.48 g in the year of establishment. More than 50% of the seed yield was harvested during second fortnight of September in Year 1, whereas the yield of the harvest of first fortnight of September was 82.8% of the total seed yield in Year 2. In the first year, the seed harvested during second fortnight of September had 49.8% germination and was significantly higher than the seed germination of all other harvests..