Effects of Planting Space and Havesting Methods on Yield and Quality of Seeds of Guinea Grass Grown in DakLak Province

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted to determine effects planting space and havesting methods on yield and quality of guinea grass seeds in order to help set up appropriate guinea grass seed production practices in Daklak province. Three planting spaces, (70 x 70 cm, 70 x 100 cm, and 100 x 100 cm) and five methods of seed harvesting (net bags, daily ear shaking, ear cutting after 10 days, 15 days or 20 days of 50% ear blossoming. Results showed that both planting space and seed harvesting method significantly affected yield and quality of Guinea grass seeds. For Guinea grass grown to harvest seeds, the best planting space was 70 x 100 cm (556.97 kg seeds/ha with a germinity of 80.66%). The seed harvesting method using net bags resulted in the highest seed yield and economic efficiency (585.33 kg seeds/ha and 69.21 million VND/ha as profit). Seed harvesting by ear shaking and by ear cutting after 15 days of 50% ear blossoming showed good economic responses (57.53 and 56.53 million VND/ha, respectively). The three methods of seed harvesting also resulted in good quality of seeds