Tag Archives: Legume Seed Crops

Irrigation and PGR use in red clover seed crops

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Thomas G. Chastain

Here’s a new article from our seed production research and extension team on irrigation and trinexapac-ethyl PGR effects on seed yield and yield components in red clover seed crops.  Field trials were conducted in the Willamette Valley over a 3-year period at OSU’s Hyslop Farm.  Trinexapac-ethyl is marketed around the world as Palisade, Moddus, and several generic products for lodging control and seed yield enhancement in cool-season grass seed crops and legume seed crops.

Floret bleaching in red clover, a common effect of TE PGR application (TG Chastain photo)
Floret bleaching in red clover, a common effect of trinexapac-ethyl PGR application (TG Chastain photo)

This article appears in the current issue of Agronomy Journal and can be found at the link below:

Anderson, N.P., T.G. Chastain, and C.J. Garbacik. 2016. Irrigation and trinexapac-ethyl effects on seed yield in first- and second-year red clover stands. Agron. J. 108:1116-1123.

Key findings of the article:

  • Irrigation strategically-timed to coincide with peak flowering consistently increased seed yield in red clover regardless of stand age.
  • Trinexapac-ethyl PGR increased seed yield in second-year red clover stands but not in first-year stands.
  • Irrigation and trinexapac-ethyl independently increase the yield of red clover seed crops but there were no interactions between the two.

Winter Cutworm: Pest in Willamette Valley Seed Crops

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Seed growers are reporting winter cutworm in Willamette Valley seed fields this fall and early winter.  The extent and severity of this pest in fields is unknown at this time as is the potential for future seed yield loss.  A new OSU Extension publication addresses the pest and problems it may cause.  The publication can be found at the link below:

Winter Cutworm: A New Pest Threat in Oregon

EM9139 cover image

Concerns for the seed harvest include drought and heat

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Thomas G. Chastain

The combination of very dry and warm weather in spring and early summer 2015 is a cause for concern for growers of grass and forage legume seed crops in the Willamette Valley. Moreover, these conditions have accelerated the timing of the harvest of seed crops in the region. One question that has arisen is how will these conditions affect seed yield?

Seed Field
Aerial view of windrow-harvested seed field in the Willamette Valley.
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Grass and Forage Legume Seed Production Estimates for 2014

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Bill Young, OSU professor emeritus and extension agronomist in seed production, has recently updated Oregon’s grass and forage legume seed crop production estimates for the 2014 crop year.  This information was gathered by OSU Extension crops agents working in Oregon’s seed production regions and Nicole Anderson, an OSU Extension Field Crops Agronomist, played a key role in coordinating this effort.

This report provides a wealth of useful information about quantity of seed produced, crop yields, and economic value of seed crops in Oregon.

Here is a summary of key findings in Dr. Young’s report:

In brief, the combined value for all grass and legume seed crops in the 2013-14 crop year ($510,880,000) increased by 10.6% over the value of production in 2012-13 ($461,693,000) to mark a new record high over the $505,309,000 value set back in the 2007-08 crop year. The value of grass seed sales increased 7.5% ($31,392,000) over last year, and legume seed crops forged ahead 40.4% over last year’s record sales of $44,067,000 to a new high of $61,862,000. Acres of grass seed crops increases only 0.6% (2,634 acres) while total poundage surged by 10.8% (71,287,000 pounds). Legume seed crop acreage increased by 7.8% (3,142 acres) while total production jumped 16.4% (4,601,000 pounds).

Here is a link to the report on OSU’s Seed Crops page:

2014 Grass and Legume Seed Crop Estimates

You can follow the links on the Seed Crops page to find information about this past year’s seed crops and comparisons to previous crop years. Historical reports are also archived at this page.

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Seed Production Field Days in May

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OSU is presenting two seed production field days in May where the public can visit research farms and learn more about research activities. The field days provide a convenient choice for those located in either the western or eastern parts of the state.

May 19 – Grass Seed Field Day – Various topics focused on grass seed production practices and pests including ergot, powdery mildew and weed control, climate change, and more. Starts at 8:30 AM and ends at noon.

Located at OSU’s Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center, 2121 S. First Street, Hermiston, OR 97838. Phone (541) 567-6337.

May 27 – Hyslop Farm Field Day – Plant growth regulators, nutrient and irrigation management in clover seed crops, weed management in grass seed crops, biological control agents for clover root borer, canola, wheat, barley, and more. Starts at 8:15 AM and ends with lunch provided by the OSU Crops Club.

Located at Hyslop Crop Science Field Research Laboratory just off Highway 20 between Corvallis and Albany at 3455 NE Granger Corvallis, OR 97330. Phone (541) 737-6067. Hyslop Farm location

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Trinexapac-ethyl effects on red clover seed production

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Here’s a new article from our seed production research and extension team on trinexapac-ethyl plant growth regulator (PGR) and its effects on seed yield and yield components in red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) seed crops.  The field trials were conducted in the Canterbury region of New Zealand and in seed fields in the Willamette Valley.

Red clover leaf (TG Chastain photo)
Red clover leaf (TG Chastain photo)

This article will appear in an upcoming issue of Agronomy Journal and is a part of our series on PGR tools for use in legume and grass seed production.  The product is marketed around the world as Palisade, Moddus, and several generic products for lodging control and seed yield enhancement in cool-season grass seed crops and legume seed crops.

Key findings of the article:

  • Trinexapac-ethyl was responsible for seed yield increases in red clover ranging from 9 to 15% in New Zealand and Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
  • One contributing factor for the increased seed yield with trinexapac-ethyl was that the PGR increased the number of heads formed in the red clover crop.  Moreover, the PGR reduced the height of the crop canopy and increased penetration of light into the canopy, possibly leading to the increased head production.
  • Timing of trinexapac-ethyl applications to coincide with early stem elongation gave the best seed yields although split applications at stem elongation and bud emergence produced yield increases in Oregon.
  • Seed weight was generally inversely related to yield; trinexapac-ethyl treatments that produced the highest yield also had the lowest seed weight.

The article can be found at the link below:

Anderson, N.P., D.P. Monks, T.G. Chastain, M.P. Rolston, C.J. Garbacik, Chun-hui Ma, and C.W. Bell. 2015. Trinexapac-ethyl effects on red clover seed crops in diverse production environments. Agron. J. 107:951-956.

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