Co-Authors:
Stibbe, E., Agricultural Research Organization, Institute of Soils and Water, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan, Israel
Terpstra, R., Tillage Laboratory, Agricultural University, Diedenweg 20, 6703 GW Wageningen, Netherlands
Abstract:
The emergence and early growth responses of silage corn (Zea mays L.) seeds, planted at various depths, to increasing penetration resistance for two soil moisture regimes was evaluated in a laboratory experiment with sandy soil. At soil moisture content levels of 15% and 25% (v/v) increasing penetration resistance below and beside the planting slot linearly increased the time lapse between planting and emergence of 50% of the number of seeds planted. Percentage of emerged seedlings, increase in plant height and dry matter yield during early growth decreased linearly with increasing penetration resistance. For the latter two parameters an increase in soil moisture content from 15% to 25% (v/v) raised the level of the response curves, but the slopes remained practically the same. Under the experimental conditions deeper planting slightly delayed emergence and increased plant height, but dry matter yield was not affected. © 1982.