The response of a Mombaça grass seed crop to timing and levels of boron fertilization

Abstract

Boron (B) deficiency has been frequentely mentioned in crops of economic interest. This experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of two times (March 3 2008 and at anthesis) and four doses of foliar application of B (equivalent to 0, 2, 4 and 6 kg ha-1) in Mombaça grass (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Mombaça) on components of seed yield and quality, seed yield, and relationships among yield-components. The experimental design was a randomized block design in a factorial design (2x4), with four replications. The experiment was conducted in the field. The times and doses of B application had no effect on the mass of tillers vegetative and tillers with panicle, and numbers of vegetative tillers, tillers with panicle and total tillers. The interaction was significant in March 3, for the number of seeds apparent and pure, panicle-1 and area-1, apparent seed yield, pure seed yield, harvest index, germinable seed yield, and for a one thousand seeds pure. The times and doses of B did not affect the physical purity and seed germination. A high correlation was obtained between the number of apparent and pure seeds per area and harvest index, with apparent seed yield and with pure seed yield. Levels of foliar B fertilization of 4.0 kg ha-1 can be recommended to be applied in seed crops of Mombaça grass.

Keywords

• Foliar micronutrient fertilizer; Seed quality tropical grass; Panicum maximum; Seed yield