Effect of Different Sowing Methods on Growth and Fodder Yield of Switch Grass(Panicum virgatum L.)in Jega Semi-arid Zone of Kebbi State,Nigeria

A study was conducted during the 2016 rainy season at Jega Teaching and Research farm of Kebbi State University of Science and Technology to investigate the effect of sowing methods on the growth parameters,herbage and dry matter(DM)yield of Switch grass(Panicum vargatum)in the semi-arid zone of Nigeria.Treatment consisted of three sowing methods(broadcasting,dibbling and drilling)which were laid out in randomized complete block design(RCBD)replicated three times among three blocks.Each plot in each block was measuring,2 m×1 m.Seeds of Switch grass were sown manually at the rate of 5.6 kg/ha for all the treatments and NPK fertilizer was applied across the treatments at the rate of 100 kg/ha.The experiment lasted for 12 weeks during which the growth parameters and plant establishment counts were measured while fresh herbage and DM were determined after harvesting at the end of the period.The sowing methods had significant effect(p<0.05)on the growth parameters and herbage yield.The highest plant height(116.52 cm),leaf width(0.98 cm),leaf length(43.10 cm)and leaf number(9.37)was recorded for dibbling sowing method.Also,the highest fresh herbage(13.70 t/ha)and DM yield(2.33 t/ha)were recorded for dibbling sowing method.However,the mean establishment counts were not significantly(p>0.05)affected by the sowing methods.The results suggested that Switch grass can be successfully established in Sudan savanna zone by dibbling sowing methods for good growth performance,herbage and DM yield.

Effect of Dates and Methods of Sowing with and without Hydropriming on Growth,Phenology and Yield of Sorghum under Semi Arid Conditions of Eritrea

A study was carried out at the research farm of Hamelmalo Agricultural College during summer 2015 to study the effect of dates and methods of sowing with and without hydro-priming on growth,development and yield of sorghum.The experiment consisted of 2 factors-three dates of sowing viz.D0(Sowing before the onset of first summer rain,June 30),D1(Sowing with the onset of first summer rains,July 7)and D2(Sowing after the onset of summer rains,July 14)and three methods of sowing viz.SP(Direct sowing with hydro seed priming),TR(Transplanting)and DS(Direct sowing without hydro seed priming).The experiment was conducted in split plot design with 4 replications by keeping dates of sowing in the main plots and methods of sowing in the sub plots.The data on growth parameters,crop phenology,yield components and yield were recorded.The data were analysed using GENSTAT software and inferences were drawn by using LSD at 5%level of significance.Sowing methods significantly affected leaf area and leaf area index but sowing dates and their interaction with sowing methods did not show significant difference.Stand count,plant height,phenological parameters,thousand grain weight,grain and biomass yield were significantly affected by the sowing dates and methods but no significant difference in their interaction on all the parameters except in stand count and phenological parameters.Sowing before the onset of first summer rains(D0)resulted in significantly highest grain yield.Among the sowing methods,transplanting resulted in significantly higher grain yield seconded by direct sowing with hydro seed priming.Transplanting is less profitable and practicable as it is more laborious and difficult to apply in larger areas.

Response of yield increase for dryland winter wheat to tillage practice during summer fallow and sowing method in the Loess Plateau of China

Soil moisture is the most critical limiting factor impacting yields of dryland winter wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) and it is strongly affected by tillage practice and sowing methods. This study was to assess the link between sowing method and tillage practice during summer fallow and their subsequent effect on soil moisture and grain yield. Furthermore, we sought to identify a more appropriate farming management practice for winter wheat production in Loess Plateau region of China. The experiment was conducted from 2011 to 2013, using a two-factor split plot design, including subsoiling(SS) or no tillage(NT) during summer fallow for main plots, and conventional drill sowing(DS) or plastic film drill sowing(FM) for subplots. Results showed that the maximum soil water storage(SWS) was under SS×FM treatment with values of 649.1 mm(2011–2012) and 499.4 mm(2012–2013). The SWS during the 2011–2012 growing season were 149.7 mm higher than that in the 2012–2013 growing season. And adoption of SS×FM significantly increased precipitation use efficiency(PUE) and water use efficiency(WUE) compared to other treatments for both seasons. Moreover, adoption of SS×FM significantly increased yield by 13.1, 14.4, 47.3% and 25.9, 39.1, 35.7% than other three treatments during the two growing seasons, respectively. In summary, combining subsoiling during summer fallow with plastic film drill sowing(SS×FM) increased SWS at sowing and effectively improved WUE, thus representing a feasible technology to improve grain yield of dryland winter wheat in the Loess Plateau of China.