Experiments on the planting distance in varietal trials with millet, Setaria italica (L) Beauv
1937
Li, H.W. | Meng, C.J.
In varietal trials with millet, the closer the plants are set in the row, the higher will be the yield in that row no matter whether one is dealing with a free-tillering variety or non-tillering varieties. With a freeing tillering variety, the loss in number of plants per row will be compensated by the increase in number of tillers when the distance between plants in the row is increased. With non-tillering variety, this loss will be manifested by a decrease in yield with an increase in the planting distance. There will be compensation offered in this case by the increase in weight of kernels and length of earhead, but this is far from being sufficient. Ability to send out tillers is an inherent hereditary phenomenon of a variety. With more room given for expansion, thus providing more fertility, more moisture, and more sunlight, a free-tillering variety will take advantage of the situation to send out more tillers, while a non-tillering variety, on the other hand, will not be able to do so in spite of the opportunity presented. In case of missing hills, moreover, a non-tillering variety will not be able to cope with the situation. Naturally, experimental errors of great magnitude will enter in. Thus, in varietal trials with millet, plants set closer together in the row, say 2 inches apart, will undoubtedly give the best results.
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