Effect of plant arrangement and weed competition on plant traits related to sunflower harvesting
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab1992.v27.3742Keywords:
<i>Helianthus annuus</i>, plant density, row spacing, grain moisture, receptacle moisture, plant lodging, broken stemAbstract
With the objective of evaluating the effect of plant arrangement, and weed competition on trait associated to sunflower harvesting, a field trial was carried out in the Depressão Central region of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, during the 1987/88 growing season. Three plant densities (30, 50, and 70.000 plants/ha) and three row spacings (0.4; 0.7 and 1.0 m), with and without weed control, were tested. With the increase in plant density and without weed control, grain and receptacle moisture were reduced, and entred senescence rapidly as evaluated by leaf arca index. These results indicate that the increase of plant density, within the studied limits, could be considered and efficient method to antecipate sunflower harvesting, without negative influence on other associated traits.
