Comparison of dry matter production from spring-sown cereals sown on different dates

Abstract

Wheat, oats, and barley were sown after pasture at different dates during spring and early summer in two seasons. Dry matter (DM) production was measured at intervals and tended to follow a linear pattern for most of the period studied. Delay in sowing date from late September to mid December in 1973 reduced DM yields of wheat and oats; barley yields were similar from September and late-October sowings, but delay in sowing thereafter reduced yields. In 1974 yields of each of the three cereals from the September and early-November sowings were similar, but yields from the December sowing were reduced. Wheat and oats gave higher yields than barley sown in September. In later sowings there was no difference between oats and barley, but ‘Raven’ wheat was poorer than oats in the December 1973 and November 1974 sowings. Nitrogen contents were determined in the last two harvests of the 1974—75 season. There was little difference among the three cereals, although that of ‘Arawa’ wheat was slightly higher. Nitrogen content was higher also in December-sown cereals than in earlier sowings, which were similar.