EFFECT OF ROW SPACING ON SEED AND HAY PRODUCTION OF ELEVEN GRASS SPECIES UNDER A PEACE RIVER REGION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Abstract

The effect of row spacing on seed and hay yields of 11 perennial grass species, including crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L.), intermediate wheatgrass (A. intermedium (Host.) Beauv.), a northern biotype of bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), a southern biotype of bromegrass, Russian wildrye (Elymus junceus Fisch.), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Hudson), creeping red fescue (F. rubra var. genuina L.), chewings fescue (F. rubra var. commutata Gaud), reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), a turf-type timothy (Phleum bertolonii DC (P. bulbosum auct.)) and hexaploid timothy (Phleum pratense L.), was studied under a system with limited inputs of fertilizer and no weed control. The width of the row spacings ranged from 16 to 104 cm where seed yields were measured and from 27 to 93 cm where hay yields were measured. The seed yield of all grasses was greater at a row spacing of 16 cm than at row spacings of 60 cm or more. Hay yields of all grasses, averaged over four production years, were also greatest at narrow row spacings (27 cm). These yields decreased as row spacings increased to 49 through 93 cm. Row spacing had its greatest effect on hay yields during the first production year. After this period the effects of row spacing on hay yields were small.Key words: Row spacing, perennial grasses, seed yields, hay yields