New OSU Perennial Ryegrass Seed Crop Nutrient Management Publication

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A new publicPicture1ation on nutrient management in perennial ryegrass seed crops has just been released by OSU’s grass seed production research and extension team.  The publication (EM 9086) is a product of many years of  field work in grass seed crops by the members of the research and extension team.  The nutrient management guide covers the impacts of application of nutrients on seed yield, seed yield components, crop growth and development, plant growth regulator use, pests, and others.  Extensive use of tables, figures, and appendices supplement this comprehensive work on perennial ryegrass nutrient management.

The publication can be accessed at the link below:

Perennial Ryegrass Grown for Seed (Western Oregon) EM 9086

Trinexapac-ethyl PGR increases seed yield in perennial ryegrass across diverse lodging environments

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Here’s  a new article from our research group on trinexapac-ethyl plant growth regulator (PGR) effects in perennial ryegrass seed crops that will be published in Field Crops Research.  This PGR is marketed as Palisade, Moddus, and several generic products.  The trials were conducted from 1998 to 2012 at OSU’s Hyslop Farm.

Figure 1. Lodging in ryegrass.
Figure 1. Lodging in ryegrass.

The study reports several important findings:

  • Application of trinexapac-ethyl PGR reduced stem length and controlled lodging in perennial ryegrass across nine diverse lodging environments in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.
  • Trinexapac-ethyl PGR consistently increased seed yield and harvest index in perennial ryegrass regardless of the severity of lodging.
  • Timing trinexapac-ethyl applications between BBCH stages 32 and 51 produced the best seed yield results.
  • Seed yield increases resulting from trinexapac-ethyl application were attributable to a greater number of seeds spikelet-1 (seed number) and improvements in seed set.

 

Click on the citation below to go to the article:

Chastain, T.G., W.C. Young III, T.B. Silberstein, and C.J. Garbacik.  2014.  Performance of trinexapac-ethyl on seed yield of Lolium perenne in diverse lodging environments.  Field Crops Research 157:65-70.

 

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

Continue reading →

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 →