Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2440/117175
Type: Conference paper
Title: The effects of wheat seed quality are greatest in high yielding environments
Author: McDonald, G.
Hussein, S.
Citation: Proceedings of the 18th Australian Agronomy Conference: Doing more for less, 2017 / O'Leary, G., Armstrong, R., Hafner, L. (ed./s), pp.1-4
Publisher: Australian Society of Agronomy
Issue Date: 2017
Conference Name: 18th Australian Agronomy Conference (24 Sep 2017 - 28 Sep 2017 : Ballarat, Victoria)
Editor: O'Leary, G.
Armstrong, R.
Hafner, L.
Statement of
Responsibility: 
McDonald GK and Hussein S
Abstract: The size and composition of seed varies considerable between sites and seasons and it is often suggested that plump seed with a high nutrient concentration will benefit yield. There have been few field experiments that have examined this idea critically. Experiments were conducted over three years at low and medium rainfall sites in South Australia to examine the relative effects of seed source and seed size on yield. Grain was selected from National Variety Trials (NVT )sites based on differences in seed nutrient concentrations and graded into two or three size categories. Grain nutrient concentrations varied considerably between sites and grading the seed did not influence seed nutrient concentrations. Seed source influenced yield in only two of the eight experiments and the effects of seed source varied with variety. The effect on yield varied from about 4% up to 28%. Seed P concentration was the nutrient most commonly associated with yield variation. Using large seed improved crop establishment and crop vigour but yield benefits of large seed were only achieved at higher yielding sites where the benefit was about 5%. There was no improvement in yield. In one instance there was a yield penalty from sowing large seed where yields were lower than 2 – 2.5 t/ha. The results suggest that seed size has a smaller, but more consistent effect on yield compared to seed source, and the effects of seed source varied with variety. The benefits from improved seed quality were only achieved at sites where yields were higher than approximately 3 t/ha.
Keywords: Grain nutrients; seed size; seed source
Rights: © 2017 Agronomy Australia Proceedings. The Society makes its publications available for free download with the request that you acknowledge the author and the Society when using the information
Published version: http://www.agronomyaustraliaproceedings.org/index.php/47-2017/730-2017-crop-physiology
Appears in Collections:Agriculture, Food and Wine publications
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