Comparison of a press wheel, seed soaking and water injection as aids to sorghum and sunflower establishment in Queensland

Abstract

The effects of press wheel compaction at sowing, seed soaking before sowing and water injection at sowing on the establishment of grain sorghum and sunflower were compared in nine experiments at nine sites. Press wheel compaction always hastened the emergence of sorghum, but seed soaking and water injection each hastened emergence in only three of eight experiments. The press wheel always improved final sorghum establishment, but seed soaking and water injection had no effect. Press wheel compaction hastened the emergence of sunflower in seven of nine sowings but delayed emergence in the other two; seed soaking hastened emergence in six and water injection in four of nine sowings. In 10 sowings, the press wheel increased final sunflower establishment in seven, and reduced it in one; seed soaking increased establishment in two and water injection in one. Various quantities of water injection (0, 40, 80 and 160 ml/m of row) were tested in relatively dry seedbeds at two sites. Additional increments of water gave slightly faster emergence, but amounts of 0- 160 ml/m gave the same final establishment of both sorghum and sunflower.