Main Article Content
Effects of sowing rate on growth and protein contents of wall barley (Hordeum murinum L.) grown under Mediterranean conditions
Abstract
Accurate control of the seeding rate favours the establishment of a high-quality
stand. Improper seeding rates waste seed and reduce potential yield. Our
objective for this research is to determine the proper sowing rate for
wall barley (Hordeum murinum L.) to obtain optimum and sustainable
forage and seed yield in the northeastern depleted rangelands of Jordan.
Wall barley seeding rates of 10kg ha-1,
20kg ha-1, 30kg ha-1
and 40kg ha-1 were evaluated in field
studies that were conducted for two years at Ramtha Agricultural Research
Station (32°33'N 36°0'E) located 22km to the east of Irbid. Measurements
recorded each year included plant height, number of tillers per plant,
oven-dry forage weight, seed yield and protein content. Forage and seed
production increased in response to increasing sowing rate, and was highest
at a sowing rate of 30kg ha-1. Tiller
numbers showed a negative response to increasing sowing rate. Plant height
and crude protein content did not respond to seeding rate, but they varied
with years (P ≤ 0.05). Protein content did
not respond to seeding rates. The highest forage and seed yield of wall
barley was obtained at 30kg ha-1 seeding
rate.
Keywords: annual grasses, forage production, plant height, tiller number, seed yield
African Journal of Range & Forage Science 2003, 20(1): 53–57
stand. Improper seeding rates waste seed and reduce potential yield. Our
objective for this research is to determine the proper sowing rate for
wall barley (Hordeum murinum L.) to obtain optimum and sustainable
forage and seed yield in the northeastern depleted rangelands of Jordan.
Wall barley seeding rates of 10kg ha-1,
20kg ha-1, 30kg ha-1
and 40kg ha-1 were evaluated in field
studies that were conducted for two years at Ramtha Agricultural Research
Station (32°33'N 36°0'E) located 22km to the east of Irbid. Measurements
recorded each year included plant height, number of tillers per plant,
oven-dry forage weight, seed yield and protein content. Forage and seed
production increased in response to increasing sowing rate, and was highest
at a sowing rate of 30kg ha-1. Tiller
numbers showed a negative response to increasing sowing rate. Plant height
and crude protein content did not respond to seeding rate, but they varied
with years (P ≤ 0.05). Protein content did
not respond to seeding rates. The highest forage and seed yield of wall
barley was obtained at 30kg ha-1 seeding
rate.
Keywords: annual grasses, forage production, plant height, tiller number, seed yield
African Journal of Range & Forage Science 2003, 20(1): 53–57
