The influence of inter-row and intra-row cultivation on the yield of grain sorghum at Katherine, N.T

Abstract

Three experiments concerned with inter-row spacing, plant population, and inter-row cultivation of grain sorghum were carried out at Katherine, N.T., in 1957-58, 1958-59 and 1961-62. In 1957-58 and 1958-59, 7 inch, 18 inch, and 36 inch row spacing, with inter-row cultivation treatments at the wider spacings, were compared at three population lever's. Conflicting responses to row spacing between years were recorded. Interactions between population and row spacing indicated 204 an optimum within-row plant distance OJ' 6-12 inches for all inter-row spacings. At 18 inch and 36 inch raw spacings, one cultivation was beneficial, but not two. In 1961-62, a similar group of row spacing and cultivation treatments WGV compared at a standard within-row plant distance of 9 inches. As a mean of three years, yield differences between 9 inch, 18 inch and 36 inch rows were relatively small. Variation between years was attributed to soil moisture conditions. The mean response to one cultivation in 18 inch and 36 inch rows was approximately 7 per cent.