Produção e qualidade de sementes de azevém submetido a cortes e épocas de colheita

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the yield and seeds quality of ryegrass subjected to cuts and harvest times. The sowing was carried on April 07 2010 and after 45 and 97 days at sowing, respectively, were made two cuts, simulating the entry of animals for use of the forage. The harvest of spikes was started 163 days after plants emergence and made weekly, a total of five, determining in the management with and without cut the amount of spikes produced, the seed production, maturation stage of the spikes by visual evaluation of color, weight of 1000 seeds and physiological quality of seeds for vigor and germination. The experimental design used was a randomized block, in factorial scheme. Comparisons between means were made by applying the Tukey test at 5% level of probability. It was concluded that the regimes with or without cut did not alter the production and seed quality. Higher physiological quality is achieved in ryegrass seeds harvested with greater weight and straw-yellow and yellow-green.