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What are the limiting factors to seed quality in organic production of grass and clover seed and how to improve yield

Boelt, Birte and Gislum, René (2004) What are the limiting factors to seed quality in organic production of grass and clover seed and how to improve yield. In: Lammerts van Bueren, Edith; Ranganathan, Radha and Sorensen, Neil (Eds.) Proceedings of the First World Conference on Organic Seed: Challenges and Opportunities for Organic Agriculture and the Seed Industry, pp. 149-153.

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Summary

In conventional seed production of grasses and clover it is recognised that a low plant density in the seed crop stimulates the reproductive development and hence increase seed yield. Most temperate forage species of grasses and white clover establish slowly and have a relatively poor ground cover, which limits the competition against weeds. In order to optimise quality and yield in organic grass and clover seed production alternative establishment methods have been identified. These methods enhance crop competitiveness against weeds and allow for mechanical weed control.
Establishing the under sown seed crop right between the cereal cover crop row provides a higher ground cover, and the establishment rate of the seed crop is enhanced. This method of establishment is recommended when weed density is low or where the prevailing weeds produce seeds that can be separated from the harvested grass or clover seed. Establishing the under sown seed crop in the cereal row allows for different strategies of mechanical weed control and our results show that perennial ryegrass tolerates a range of strategies of mechanical weed control including up to three harrowings. However, grass and clover species with a low seed weight and/or a slow establishment rate might not establish successfully when sown in the cereal row.
Identifying the optimal establishment technique must take the occurrence of weed species and the weed density into account.


EPrint Type:Conference paper, poster, etc.
Type of presentation:Paper
Subjects: Crop husbandry > Production systems
Research affiliation: Denmark > DARCOF II (2000-2005) > I.11 (CLOGS) Cultivation of organic clover and grass seed
Deposited By: Boelt, Dr. Birte
ID Code:3047
Deposited On:20 Jul 2004
Last Modified:12 Apr 2010 07:29
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Not peer-reviewed

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