Category Archives: Seed Production

Tillers, Rhizomes, and Stolons

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Thomas G. Chastain

Tillers, rhizomes, and stolons are three types of branches produced by grass plants.  All are stems that branch at some point from the crop’s mainstem or from other stems.

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Figure 1. Kentucky bluegrass plant (T.G. Chastain photo).

The tiller is an above-ground branch on a grass plant.  Tillers are an important component of the crop’s shoot system and through carbon capture and partitioning, contribute to seed yield.  As a tiller grows and develops, additional tillers can form in the leaf axils of that tiller.  All grasses produce tillers. Continue reading →

Camelina: Adaptation and performance of genotypes

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Here’s a new article on the adaptation and performance of camelina that will be published soon in Field Crops Research.  Camelina is a Brassica family oil seed crop that has demonstrated potential for production in the Pacific Northwest and is thought to have a place as a rotation crop for small-grain cereals and grass seed crops.  This work was led by Stephen Guy at Washington State University, a member of our research team.

Several key findings from the work include:

  • Planting camelina in the spring produced higher seed yields than planting in the fall.
  • Seed yields ranged up to 2948 lbs/acre across the four study sites.
  • With increasing seed yield, oil content of the seed was reduced.

Click on the citation below to go to the article:

Guy, S.O., D.J. Wysocki, W.F. Schillinger, T.G. Chastain, R.S. Karow, K. Garland-Campbell, and I.C. Burke.  2014.  Camelina: adaptation and performance of genotypes.  Field Crops Research 155:224-232.

 

Pollination and Seed Yield in Grass Seed Crops

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Thomas G. Chastain

Grass seed crops are biologically inefficient in the production of seed.  Many flowers are produced by these grasses yet relatively few of the flowers become seed, thus the potential seed yield may be many times greater than the actual seed yield harvested.  Losses due to inadequate pollination and fertilization, abortion during seed development, and seed shattering all contribute to the relative low numbers of seed that are harvested compared to the crop’s yield potential.

Ryegrass floret

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Fall irrigation for grass seed crops in the Willamette Valley

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Thomas G. Chastain

The late summer and early fall period has long been thought to be critical for regrowth of the perennial ryegrass and tall fescue seed crops after harvest and for the following year’s seed yield.  Extremely dry conditions during this period in the Willamette Valley can reduce stands and crop regrowth in both seed crops.  There is good evidence from our research that irrigation improves the appearance of the stand (number of tillers and stand cover) going into the winter.  But what about the impact of fall irrigation on seed yield in perennial ryegrass and tall fescue?

Continue reading →

Post-harvest residue management for grass seed crops

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Thomas G. Chastain

The stubble and straw remaining in grass seed fields after harvesting seed is known as residue.  Post-harvest residue burning has been justified on the basis of pest control and stimulation of seed yield.  Public concern over air quality and the potential for adverse health impacts on the region’s residents has necessitated the identification of alternative residue management practices.  Oregon legislation (SB 528) has, in effect, ended the practice of field burning in the western part of the state for most species except for the fine fescues.

Smoke plume from open-field burning in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. (T.G. Chastain photo)

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Seed Production Research Report is now available

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Oregon State University has recently released the 31st annual Seed Production Research Report in both hard copy and an online version.  This publication has long been a forum for reports from a variety of seed production researchers, not only from OSU but also from affiliated institutions and agencies.  For much of the Report’s existence, the publication has been edited and produced by Bill Young – now retired professor and extension agronomist in seed production.  This year’s installment was edited by OSU Extension staff members Andrew Hulting, Nicole Anderson, Darren Walenta, and Michael Flowers.

The report is home to articles on a wide range of topics concerning the production of seed from species found in Oregon.  Topics in this year’s edition include weed, insect and disease management; plant growth regulators; irrigation management; and seed testing.  Here’s a link to the online version of the Seed Production Research Report:

2012 Seed Production Research Report

Articles at the linked site can be accessed by clicking on the title of the article.