Quantity determinations of seed for rod rows of spring oats

1. Because of slight variation in size, seed wheat for rod rows can be as well measured as weighed. A porcelain crucible, 16-cc capacity, holds about 11 grams of seed which, planted in rows 12 inches by 17.5 feet, equals a rate of 1 bushel per acre. 2. Slight differences in rates result whether seed be counted, weighed, or measured. Counting seed for large scale operations becomes too laborious and, even if counted, variation in germination may occur. 3. Oats vary in size more than wheat and the preferable method of determining the amount of seed has been by weighing for each row. The present paper is a study of methods and a comparison of results when seed oats axe counted, weighed, or measured. 4. In a comparison of weights of measured fine, medium, and coarse oats, the average weights respectively were found to be 13.1, 13.2, and 12.6 grams per measure (porcelain crucible 26- to 27-cc capacity). These weights are equivalent to about 2.4 bushels per acre, which is near the standard rate of seeding (10 pecks). Should a heavier rate be desirable a slightly larger crucible could be substituted. 5. Counts of these measured fine, medium, and coarse oats showed the average number per measure to be, respectively, 754, 584, and 516 seeds per measure. For oats as fine as 754 per measure, a smaller measure could be used, but the tests reported herein show little need of this substitution. 6. Similar counts on seeds of 10 varieties of spring oats showed only an allowable variation within a variety or even between the varieties. The extreme range in all was 468 to 734 seeds, but within a variety no range above 102 was found. The averages varied from 520 in Fulghum to 684 per measure in the Iogren variety. 7. In a test of rate of seeding of the fine, medium, and coarse seeded oats with from 100 to 700 seeds per row, the results showed that rates of 400 or more seeds per rod row gave the better yields. The number of heads per row was closely related to the number of grams per row, but neither one apparently was so closely correlated with the number of seeds used. 8. Results with counted (400), weighed (11 grams), and measured (26 to 27 cc) seeds of Fulghum oats showed a slight-difference in favor of the measured oats which indicates perhaps that a slightly heavier rate than with the counts and weights used is desirable for this variety. In another test this difference was not found. 9. With 10 varieties, Fulghum included, no difference of note existed in number of heads per row or yield in grams per row as between methods of weighing or measuring the seed, except with the Elite variety, in which the measuring method gave the poorer results. 10. The conclusion can safely be drawn that for the varieties tested the seed may as well be measured as weighed. This being carefully done will lighten the work of nursery planting.