Seeding Arrangement on Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Grain Yield and Interaction with Italian Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum)

Abstract

Studies were conducted to determine whether cross-seeding of winter wheat, while maintaining an equal seeding rate per hectare, would increase wheat grain yields and help the wheat compete more effectively against Italian ryegrass than conventional seeding. Wheat was seeded at rates of 50, 100, and 150 kg ha-1 in conventional parallel rows or cross seeded in a grid pattern. Ryegrass was seeded at densities of 0, 20, 100, and 200 plants per m-2. Cross-seeded wheat yielded less grain than single-seeded wheat in 1990 in the absence of ryegrass; there were no differences in 1991. Cross seeding did not reduce competition from Italian ryegrass. Ryegrass was highly competitive against wheat, especially in 1990. Even 20 plants per m-2 reduced grain yield by an average of 38%. Wheat seeding rate had essentially no effect on grain yield in 1990, but the higher seeding rates reduced yields in 1991 because of extensive lodging. In 1991, wheat grain yields were higher in the cross-seeded plots than the single-seeded plots at the two high wheat seeding rates and highest ryegrass densities. Cross seeding does not appear promising as an aid to controlling ryegrass in Pacific Northwest wheat.