Growth of the grass plant in relation to seed production

Abstract

The specialized management techniques required for successful seed production in grasses must be based on a sound understanding of the physiology of the plant. Seed yields depend strongly on the number of ears per unit area, and early-formed tillers are largely responsible for producing these ears. Numbers of fertile tillers are generally increased by early spring applications of nitrogen fertilizer and autumn grazings, but can be seriously reduced by defoliation after floral initiation and ear development have started. Seed yields from later formed tillers can be improved by using nitrogen fertilizer to increase the numbers of seeds per ear and the mean seed weight.