Intercultivar Competition in Sunflower Test Plots
1975
Fick, G. N. | Swallers, C. M.
The use of single-row test plots would greatly facilitate evaluation of experimental sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivars, particularly when the number of entries is large and seed or land area is limited. The objectives of our study were to obtain information on intercultivar competition, and to determine whether single-row plots will provide reliable performance data. Eight sunflower cultivars representing diverse agronomic types were grown at Fargo, N. D., in 1972 and 1973. Seed (achene) yields for individual cultivars ranged from 50% higher to 25% lower in one-row as compared to three-row plots. These differences were highly significant and indicated the need for bordered plots in preliminary yield testing. One hundred-seed weights were also influenced significantly by intercultivar competition in one-row plots but to a lesser degree than seed yields. Competition did not significantly affect days to 50 percent flowering, plant height, rust reaction, test weight, and seed oil percent, which suggests that these traits can be estimated accurately in single-row plots.
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