The Effect of Seeding Rate on Selected Physical Parameters and the Biomass Yield of Maize

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of the seeding rate of two hybrid cultivars of maize harvested for silage on selected, i.e.: physical parameters (stem length, stem diameter, total plant weight and weight of ears with husks), fresh weight yield and ear yield of maize plants. A field experiment was carried out in 2011-2013 on soil of weak rye complex (cv. Kosmo) and a good rye complex (cv. Kixxo). The results were processed by one-way analysis of variance, correlation analysis and regression analysis. The analyses revealed that at constant inter-row spacing of 0.75 m, seeding rate (6.5 to 11.9 seeds•m -2 for cv. Kosmo and 8 to 12•m -2 for cv. Kixxo) significantly (α=0.05) influenced the evaluated parameters. Higher plant density lowered the weight of plants and ears and resulted in lower stem diameter. Plants grown in treatments with lower seeding rates were larger and heavier. In cv. Kosmo, the highest total yield and ear yield were noted at the seeding rate of 11•m -2 . Maize plants cv. Kixxo sown at the rate of 12•m -2 were characterized by the highest fresh weight yield and the highest yield of ears with husks. A set of equations were developed to analyze the correlations between seeding rate and the physical parameters of maize plants and between seeding rate vs. green fodder yield and ear yield.

Predicting the seeding quality of radish seeds with the use of a family of Nakagami distribution functions

“…The relevant control and metering systems alert the user concerning any irregularities in seed flow. They are the indispensable elements of agricultural machines designed for precision farming, and they support the evaluation of the seeding process (Markowski, 2017;Kęska, 2002;Gierz, 2015;Jia-lei Zhang et al, 2020;Bai et al, 2022). In addition, the sowing quality is affected not only by the speed of the seeder, but also by the relevant soil parameters and its structure, which may be changed by applying the appropriate biostimulators (Findura et al, 2022;Bredykhin et al, 2023;Krawczuk et al, 2023;Szparaga, 2023a,b).…”

“…Such systems are equipped with cameras with a fast shutter speed as well as photoelectric and piezoelectric sensors. Various seed counting sensors have been patented (United States Patent 4.555.624, 1983;United States Patent 8.441.247, 1995) and described in the literature, and yet to date seed counting accuracy has only been discussed by two authors (Markowski, 2017;Gierz, 2015).…”

“…-to improve the accuracy of seed distribution within rows (Solie et al, 1991;Błaszczak and Przybył, 2000;Firsov and Cherepakhin, 2002;Lipiński et al, 2004;Banasiak and Michalak, 2000); -to improve the working units and subassemblies in seed drills, these play a key role in seeding quality (Bozdogan, 2006); -and finally, to develop new methods for evaluating seeding quality with the application of contact and contactless sensors which are used to measure the distances between seeds (Kachman and Smith, 1995;Kęska and Kośmicki, 1986;Łazarczyk et al, 1996;Feder et al, 2012;Bracy and Parish, 1998;Lan et al,1999;Özmerzi et al, 2002;Karayel et al, 2006;Çakir et al, 2016;Markowski, 2017).…”