Amenity grass seed production in practice
A.G. Wright
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The growing and harvesting of
amenity grass seed crops requires special management
and also modifications and adjustments to header
harvesters for the various cultivars.
Keywords: Amenity grass, seed production, seed
harvesting, Agrostis tenuis, Agrostis pelustris, Festuca rubra, Poa pratensis
‘Grasslands Maku’ lotus seed production -
research and practice
J. A. LANCASHIRE, J. S. GOMEZ,
A. MCKELLAR
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The development of successful seed
production techniques for the recently released tetraploid
cultivar of Lotus pedunculatus Cav. (syn: L. uliginosis Schk.; and L. major Scop. Sm.) ‘Grasslands
Maku’ must take account of the distinctive
agronomic characteristics of the cultivar. These include
slow establishment, particularly in the cool
season, slow recovery from defoliation, and poor competitive ability with white clover and other
weeds in fertile soils. Spring sowings in cooler areas,
a minimum of lenient grazings, and the use of low
rates (0.5 to 1.0 kg/ha) of ethofumesate to control
white clover in establishing stands are recommended.
Although shattering of ripe pods can be reduced
by careful harvesting techniques and cutting when
70 to 80% of the pods have turned brown, some
loss of seed is inevitable.
It is suggested that the cultivar should be grown
as a specialist seed crop rather than as part of a
dual-purpose grazing and seed-production enterprise.
Key words: Seed production, ‘Maku’ Lotus Pedunculatus, lotus,
ethofumesate, seed harvesting, Trifolium
repens.
Bulk grass seed drying and storage
C. J. CROSBIE
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The basic principles of drying and
storing bulk lots of grass seed are briefly described.
The importance of cooling field-dried lines before
storage in order to prevent heating in the silo and
beed damage from thermophyllic fungi is stressed.
Key words: Grass seed drying, grass seed storage, Aspergillus glaucus
Growth of the white clover plant
in relation to seed production
R. G. THOMAS
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The growth and development at the
stolen apex of white clover is described, particularly
in relation to inflorescence initiation, and the factors
controlling such initiation are reviewed for the range
of cultivars which has been studied. The difference
between the responses to environment in plants of
Mediterranean and high latitude origin are emphasized.
Key words: Trifolium repens, growth, flowering, photoperiod, temperature, seed production.
Handling herbage to the consumer seed from the grower
J.R. Hartley
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The high costs of harvesting and
cleaning herbage seed are emphasized and the advantages
of bulk handling are stressed. The three
main methods for machine-cleaning herbage seed are
(1) aspirators,(2) screens, and (3) cylinders.
Key words: Seed cleaning, seed handling, seed harvesting.
Implications of Plant Selectors’ Rights
for herbage seed production -
a grower’s viewpoint
G. 6. ROBERTSON
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Over 60% of the herbage seed produced
in New Zealand is exported but because plant
breeders have concentrated on the local market New
Zealand seed has lost its pre-eminence in the United
Kingdom. The introduction of Plant Selectors’ Rights
will encourage the New Zealand seed industry to
meet market requirements. There is little future in
multiplying overseas-owned cultivars in New Zealand.
A progressive seed industry requires greater cooperation
between breeders, farmers and merchants.
Key words: Plant Selectors’ Rights, herbage seed production,
New Zealand.
Implications of Plant Selectors’ Rights
for herbage seed production -
Plant Varieties Office viewpoint
F. W. WHITMORE
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The reason for having a Plant Selectors’ Rights scheme and some attendant disadvantages
are discussed. The development of Rights both
internationally and in New Zealand is outlined. Of
the 136 applications for New Zealand Rights received
to date only one has been for a herbage cultivar. The
advent of Rights has not always been welcomed by
farmers. It is argued that a Recommended List would
complement the Rights scheme. Reference is made to
future expansion of Rights in New Zealand.
Key words: Plant Selectors’ Rights, herbage seed
production, New Zealand.
Implications of Plant Selectors’ Rights
for herbage seed production -
trade viewpoint
J. C. PATERSON
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The role of Plant Selectors’ Rights in
encouraging private plant breeding is emphasized and
the importance of developing low cost testing schemes
for Rights is stressed. The excellent prospects for the
development of the New Zealand seed industry are
discussed.
Key words: Plant Selectors’ Rights, herbage seed
production, New Zealand.
Importance of diseases in herbage seed production
G.C.M. Latch
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Yield and quality of herbage seed can
be affected by many diseases. In New Zealand the
most important diseases of grasses are rusts, especially
stem rust on ryegrasses, cocksfoot and timothy; head
smut of bromes; and ergot of paspalum. Blind-seed
disease is of minor importance on ryegrass at present.
Clover yield can be affected by rot, scorch and stem
nematode. These diseases and others are discussed
in relation to changing farming practices, and disease
control measures are suggested.
Keywords: Herbage seed production, diseases,
Puccinia graminis, Ustilago bullata, Claviceps paspali, Gloeotinia temulenta
Pests in herbage seed production
T.E.T. Troucht
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A number of insect pests affecting
seed production of leguminous and graminaceous
crops used for grazing or fodder conservation are
described. Where known, the damage threshold levels
and control measures are given.
Key words: Herbage seed production, pests, Coleophorcl
spp., Acyrthosiphon kondoi, A. pisum,
Hyperodes bonnriensis
Problems of amenity grass seed production
in New Zealand
L. Corkill, W. Rumball
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The problems of seed production of
amenity grasses in New Zealand are considered from
two aspects - (a) increasing seed potential by
breeding; (b) achieving that potential by good management
as practised in the Netherlands,
(a) In terms of breeding, the strategies to increase
seed yield depended to some degree on the species
concerned. With browntop it was necessary to discard
about two-thirds of the most promising genotypes
because of poor heading, but the remaining
genotypes flowered freely and in unison, and gave
good seed yields. With fescue even the best original
plants were sparsely heading, so direct selection for
prolificacy has been needed. This was also carried
out for perennial ryegrass, as well as selection of
early-heading genotypes to avoid infection by stem
rust.
(b) It is suggested that areas for seed of amenity
grasses in New Zealand should be used for seed production
only rather than for both forage and seed
as is the usual practice. Techniques used in the
Netherlands could serve as guidelines to procedures.
The implications of low seeding rates, good weed
control, high fertilizer applications and minimum
cutting or grazing in promoting strong individual
plants capable of high seed yields are discussed.
Key words: Amenity grass, seed production, New
Zealand, breeding, management, Netherlands,
Problems of amenity grass seed production in New Zealand
L. Corkill, W. Rumball
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The problems of seed production of
amenity grasses in New Zealand are considered from
two aspects - (a) increasing seed potential by
breeding; (b) achieving that potential by good management
as practised in the Netherlands,
(a) In terms of breeding, the strategies to increase
seed yield depended to some degree on the species
concerned. With browntop it was necessary to discard
about two-thirds of the most promising genotypes
because of poor heading, but the remaining
genotypes flowered freely and in unison, and gave
good seed yields. With fescue even the best original
plants were sparsely heading, so direct selection for
prolificacy has been needed. This was also carried
out for perennial ryegrass, as well as selection of
early-heading genotypes to avoid infection by stem
rust.
(b) It is suggested that areas for seed of amenity
grasses in New Zealand should be used for seed production
only rather than for both forage and seed
as is the usual practice. Techniques used in the
Netherlands could serve as guidelines to procedures.
The implications of low seeding rates, good weed
control, high fertilizer applications and minimum
cutting or grazing in promoting strong individual
plants capable of high seed yields are discussed.
Keywords: Amenity grass, seed production, New
Zealand, breeding, management, Netherlands, Agrostis
tenuis, Festuca rubra, Lolium perenne
Recent developments in seed production
in Oregon, U.S.A.
M. P. ROLSTON
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Developments in weed control include
the use of activated carbon applied in bands to protect
the emerging grass seed crop from soil-applied
herbicides. “Weed-seed free” crops can be produced
with this technique, especially when combined with
chemical seedbed treatments. Novel techniques of
herbicide usage, including the roller herbicide applicator,
are being used for weed control. Field burning
is important for disease control and techniques of
smoke management are improving. Aerial inspections
of seed crops by seed certification inspectors are
faster and are considered to be as thorough as ground
inspections. Seed growers can be classified as either
high- or low-cost producers. Fixed costs show
economies of scale until farm size reaches 250 to
300 ha. Operating costs are similar for all types of
seed crops, with fertilizer, herbicides and machinery
costs representing up to 50% of total costs.
Key words: Herbage seed production, Oregon,
activated carbon, field burning, aerial inspections.
Recent grass seed production studies in Canterbury
K.R. Brown
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Seed production trials in Canterbury
have shown (1) strong negative relationships between
plant density and seed yields per plant, and
(2) plant density ranges above which high plant
numbers failed to compensate for low yields per
plant and below which high yields per plant failed
to compensate for low plant numbers. The net result
was that seed yields per unit area tended to plateau
at this density range, with no further gains being
made by increasing plant numbers. It is concluded
that the function of seeding rate is to provide sufficient
viable seeds to attain this density. Optimum
density ranges for ‘Grasslands Tama’ Westerwolds
ryegrass and ‘Grasslands Nui’ perennial ryegrass were
300 to 400 plants/m, and for ‘Grasslands Matua’
prairie grass 100 to I30 plants/m.
The value of superphosphate and potassic fertilizers
for seed production was doubtful, but nitrogen
increased seed yields regardless of time of application.
Work in Canterbury concentrated on the time of
N application and showed that nitrogen for seed
production was most efficient when applied just after
stem elongation had commenced.
Grazing grass-seed crops reduced seed yields because
of an indirect negative effect on seedhead size
and individual seed weights, both of which proved
to be more important than seedhead numbers in
determining seed yields.
Keywords: Seed production, grasses, plant density,
nitrogen, stem elongation, grazing, seedhead size,
seed weight.
Research in white clover seed production
P. T. P. CLIFFORD
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White clover seed yields from crops
derived from pure autumn broadcast sowings harvested
in the first year after sowing were improved
by increasing sowing rate from 3 to 6 kg/ha. On
moisture-retentive soils or where irrigation was available,
mid-November closings gave highest seed yields
for crops derived from either spring undersowings of
cereals or as ryegrass mixtures taken for ryegrass seed
in the first year from sowing. Closing a month earlier
gave similar yields if 30 cm rather than 15 cm row
spacings were used. Harvest should be no later than
one month from main flowering to reduce the numbers
of seedheads lost. General management should
aim to promote good primary stolon growth rates
over the month prior to mid-December if high flowerhead
densities are to be obtained. Therefore excessive
grazing before closing and poor timing of herbicide
spraying for grass control should be avoided.
Keywords: Trifolium repens, seed production, plant
density, closing date, pollination, seed harvesting,
management.
Seed production of ‘Grasslands Tama’ Westerwolds ryegrass in practice
G.E. Moore
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A specialist management system for
‘Grasslands Tama’ Westerwolds ryegrass seed production
is described. Planting, fertilizer, irrigation, harvesting
and drying and machine-dressing policies are
outlined. Particular emphasis is placed on the production
of high seed-weight crops.
Key words: Seed production. Lolium multiflorum,
irrigation, seed harvesting, seed drying, seed dressing.
Seed production of new cultivars of lucerne
T. P. PALMER and B. 1. DONOVAN
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Multiplication of new cultivars of
lucerne must be rapid to keep abreast of new pests
and diseases. The most important factor is to harvest
high seed yields in the establishing year. Widespread
use of alkali and leafcutting bees, and possible management
of short-tongued bumblebees, should raise
the pollination level to near maximum. Low seeding
rates, early sowing, good early weed control, adequate
pollination and insect pest control will be
rewarding for seed growers, merchants and customers.
Keywords: Seed production, Medicago sativa, Nomia
melanderi, Megachile rotundata, pollination.
Seed production of new grass cultivar
J.A. Lancashire, J.G. Hampton, J.S. Gomez
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Some aspects of the agronomy and
seed production of four recently released Grasslands
cultivars are described.
Matua prairie grass sown at 10 to 15 kg/ha in
50-60 cm rows has produced over 3000 kg/ha of
seed from two harvests in one season. The problem
of head smut can be overcome by treating the seed
with 1% by weight of benomyl, but techniques for
treating large seed lots still have to be developed.
Roa tall fescue sown at 2.2 kg/ha in 60 cm rows
has produced over 1000 kg/ha of seed in the second
season from sowing. Early defoliations should be very
lenient or avoided altogether because the species is
very slow to establish.
Maru phalaris has produced over 800 kg/ha of seed
in the absence of defoliation between sowing and
harvesting. Although the cultivar may be less prone
to seed shattering than older types, it is still very
important to harvest at the correct time.
Raki paspalum is a valuable grass for the northern
areas of New Zealand, but ergot seriously restricts
seed production, particularly in wetter years. The
disease can probably be controlled within the crop
by cultural and fungicidal methods, but it is very
difficult to prevent reinfection from outside areas.
The best prospect is to avoid the disease by growing
Raki in suitable areas which have a reliable dry
period each summer.
Keywords: Seed production, Bromus willdenowii,
Phalaris aquatica, Festuca arundinacea, Paspulum
dilatatum, new grass cultivars.
The place of amenity grass seed production.
G.S. Robinson
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In recent years the supply of seed of local types of fine turf grasses has decreased. This
has resulted in the need for the importation of overseas
cultivars of browntop, creeping bent grass and
red fescue. These have generally proved to be very
effective in producing high-quality turf.
The coarser types of turf used in sportsfields for
football and cricket are ideally ryegrass-dominant.
Fine-leaved perennial ryegrasses have been developed
overseas. and experimental plantings of these in New
Zealand look very promising.
Keywords: Amenity grass, New Zealand, Agrostis tenuis Lolium perenne, Agrostis palustris, Festuca rubra.
The role of field inspection in seed certification
I. D. EADEN
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The New Zealand Seed Certification
Scheme has operated for almost 50 years, 12 as a
member of the OECD Herbage and Oil Seed
Scheme. The objective is to ensure that seed of high
cultivar purity is available to the grower having regard
to the criteria laid down for the inspection of
seed crops. These include the origin of the seed,
paddock history, isolation, a field inspection of the
growing crop at the optimum time for the detection
of contamination with other cultivars and species
and certain specific diseases and weeds.
Key words: New Zealand seed certification, field
inspection.
The role of seed testing
D. J. SCOTT
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An account is given of the place of
seed testing in New Zealand agriculture. The functions
of the Government Seed Testing Station are
outlined, including sections on the role of testing
in the Government seed certification scheme, testing
seed for export, seed importation. noxious plants,
Rhizobium testing, surveys and research. Also discussed
are the procedures and aspects of seed quality
testing relevant to New Zealand pasture seeds, including
sampling, purity, germination, seed health.
seed vigour, cultivar and tolerances.
Key words: Seed testing, New Zealand, noxious
plants, Rhizobium.
Training seed technologists
M. 1. HII,L
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The Seed Technology Centre at Massey
University was established in 1976, An outline of the
courses offered and personnel trained during the first
4 years of its operation is given. The success of the
Centre in providing training for both technicians and
post-graduate students from overseas, and the role of
Massey University in the training of researchers and
servicing personnel in the New Zealand seed industry
are also discussed.
Key words: Seed technologists, training, Massey
University.
White clover seed production with irrigation
J. K. LAY
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Irrigation has removed much of the
risk associated with white clover seed production
in an area of poorly distributed annual rainfall of
530 mm. Machine-dressed seed yields range between
540 and 900 kg/ha. The importance of minimizing
harvesting losses is emphasized.
Key words: Trifolium repens, seed production, irrigation.
White clover seed production without irrigation
N. Q. WRIGHT
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The key to large-scale white clover
seed production in this environment is (1) the use
of herbicides for grass and weed control; (2) the
use of defoliants at harvest; (3) a crop programme
which enables the harvest to be spread over a longer
period, thus giving time in the crucial hottest part of
the summer to harvest the bulk of the clover.
Keywords: Trifoliun repens, seed production,
dryland farming.
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