This study was initiated to determine if seeding safflower seed of lower germination affects final stand establishment and ultimately yields. Two seed sources of the variety Finch were used; one having 88% germination and the other having only 64 % germination. Seeding rates used were 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 PLS seeds per square foot or 87120, 174240, 261360, 348480, 435600 and 522720 PLS/a. From 60-70% of the planted seeds established as plants. This is not an uncommon occurrence with safflower and other crops, even small grains. The lower germination seed source was able to establish more plants/a than the higher germination seed source through the middle seeding rates. At higher seeding rates the higher germination seed source established more plants/a. The 2 PL seeds/ft2 seeding rate yielded significantly less than the other higher seeding rates. Seeding at least 4 PLS/ft2 resulted in good yields, though the higher seeding rates of 10 and 12 PLS/ft2 tended to yield more than other lower seeding rates with no affect on seed oil content, test weight or 1000 kernel weight.
|
Cultivar |
Seed |
Seed |
Established |
Flower |
1000 |
Test |
Seed |
|
Plant |
|
|
Germ |
Rate |
Plant |
Density |
Date |
KWT |
Weight |
Oil |
Yield |
Density |
|
|
|
% |
PLS/ft2 |
#/ft2 |
% of SR |
fr plntg |
gms |
lb/b |
% |
lb/a |
plts/a |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Finch |
88 |
2 |
1.17 |
59 |
77.5 |
31.7 |
44.3 |
35.3 |
854.9 |
50820 |
|
Finch |
64 |
2 |
1.17 |
59 |
77.5 |
31.9 |
44.6 |
35.2 |
788.5 |
50820 |
|
|
|
AVG. |
1.17 |
59 |
77.5 |
31.8 |
44.4 |
35.2 |
821.7 |
50820 |
|
Finch |
88 |
4 |
2.25 |
56 |
77.5 |
32.7 |
45.0 |
34.9 |
1151.9 |
98010 |
|
Finch |
64 |
4 |
3.08 |
77 |
77.0 |
32.2 |
44.5 |
35.0 |
1062.9 |
134310 |
|
|
|
AVG. |
2.67 |
67 |
77.3 |
32.4 |
44.8 |
34.9 |
1107.4 |
116160 |
|
Finch |
88 |
6 |
4.04 |
67 |
77.0 |
31.9 |
44.2 |
34.6 |
1114.4 |
176055 |
|
Finch |
64 |
6 |
4.17 |
70 |
77.0 |
32.0 |
44.4 |
34.9 |
1095.7 |
181500 |
|
|
|
AVG. |
4.10 |
68 |
77.0 |
32.0 |
44.3 |
34.7 |
1105.1 |
178777 |
|
Finch |
88 |
8 |
5.38 |
67 |
76.8 |
32.3 |
44.6 |
35.0 |
1213.7 |
234135 |
|
Finch |
64 |
8 |
5.29 |
66 |
76.8 |
31.6 |
44.3 |
34.4 |
1074.5 |
230505 |
|
|
|
AVG. |
5.33 |
66 |
76.8 |
32.0 |
44.5 |
34.7 |
1144.1 |
232320 |
|
Finch |
88 |
10 |
6.33 |
63 |
76.8 |
32.4 |
44.4 |
34.8 |
1204.4 |
275880 |
|
Finch |
64 |
10 |
5.38 |
54 |
76.8 |
31.9 |
43.8 |
34.4 |
1087.7 |
234135 |
|
|
|
AVG. |
5.86 |
58 |
76.8 |
32.1 |
44.1 |
34.6 |
1146.0 |
255008 |
|
Finch |
88 |
12 |
7.29 |
61 |
76.5 |
32.7 |
44.6 |
34.8 |
1253.6 |
317625 |
|
Finch |
64 |
12 |
5.96 |
50 |
76.8 |
32.5 |
44.3 |
34.5 |
1185.4 |
259545 |
|
|
|
AVG. |
6.62 |
56 |
76.6 |
32.6 |
44.5 |
34.6 |
1219.5 |
288585 |
|
Exp Mean |
77.0 |
32.1 |
44.4 |
34.8 |
1090.6 |
186945 |
||||
|
C.V.% (RCBD) |
0.6 |
2.1 |
1.0 |
0.9 |
10.3 |
24 |
||||
|
LSD 5% (compare all values, not AVG’s) |
NS |
NS |
NS |
NS |
161.4 |
63484 |
||||
|
LSD 5% (comparing seed rate AVG’s) |
0.5 |
NS |
NS |
NS |
96.3 |
41930 |
||||
Planted: May 2 on tilled recrop Harvested: September 16
Harvested Area: 64 ft2;
Trifluralin applied at 0.9 lbs/a ai PPI.
Oil percentages from NMR machine adjusted to 8.0% seed moisture content.
1 NDSU Williston Research Extension Center, Williston, ND