Effect of pearl millet and sorghum seed quality on stand establishment in Botswana : II. on - station millet experiments

Br. seed size and density in improving stand establishment in Botswana was examined. Large (>2.6 mm diameter), dense (>1.26 g cm-3 density), bold (large and dense), control, and washed control millet seed were grown at Sebele in a dryland planting on four dates and in an irrigated establishment trial. A dry/wet planting trial and an irrigated trial were planted at Etsha 8 with bold, large, and control seed. Seedlings from bold and dense seed emerged faster and had a higher rate of establishment at 8 and 12 days after planting than those from control seed at Sebele. Yields were not affected by seed quality. Under irrigation at Sebele, control seed had a higher rate of emergence than bold or dense seed. The ratio of plants at harvest to those emerged was higher from dense seed than from control seed. Seed quality did not affect yield. (Author abstract)