THE EFFECT OF SWATHING AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF MATURITY ON THE BUSHEL WEIGHT AND YIELD OF FALL RYE

Abstract

Tests were conducted over a 4-year period to determine the earnest stage of maturity at which fall rye could be swathed without loss of bushel weight or yield.Cutting commenced when the kernel moisture content of the standing crop approximated 50 per cent and continued until the kernel moisture reached 14 per cent or until a maximum of 20 plots (15 in 1955) had been cut. The weight per measured bushel, 1000-kernel weight, and yield in bushels per acre were determined at the time of picking up the swath with the combine.An analysis of variance of the data indicated that fall rye may be swathed at a stage of maturity defined by a kernel moisture content of 45 per cent without affecting yield or bushel weight. Correlations between kernel moisture at the time of swathing and bushel weight, 1000-kernel weight and yield indicated that generally a significant negative association existed to the 40 per cent moisture level but the relationship was not significant at the later stages of maturity.