Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus cv. Mombaza) seed production; plant spacing and its effect on yield and quality

Abstract

Objective: the objective was evaluating the effect of plant spacing on seed yield and
quality in Megathyrsus maximus cv. Mombaza.
Design/methodology/approach: the experiment was carried out in rain fed
conditions in 2009, at the Universidad del Papaloapan, Campus Loma Bonita,
Oaxaca, Mexico. Six plant distances (T1:broadcast, T2:25*25 cm, T3:50*50 cm,
T4:75*75 cm, T5:100*100 cm and T6:125*125 cm between rows and plants,
respectively) were assessed. Treatments were distributed in a completely
randomized block design, with four replicates. Total seed yield (TSY), pure seed yield
(PSY), percentage of pure seed (PPS), stems plant -1 , stems m -2 , panicles plant -1 ,
panicles m -2 , and plants m -2 were evaluated. TSY and PSY showed differences among
treatments (P<0.01), and the highest values (126.9 and 161.2 kg ha -1 , respectively)
were obtained at the 25*25 cm spacing, with a PPS of 74.7%.
Results: stems plant -1 , panicles plant -1 , stems m -2 , panicles m -2 , and plants m -2 showed
differences among treatments (P<0.01). Panicles m -2 was the yield component which
showed a greater association with PSY with r value of 0.7.
Findings/conclusions: as a conclusion, it can be stated that the largest seed yield
of M. maximus cv. Mombaza was obtained at the 25*25 cm spacing between rows
and plants, respectively.