Producción de semilla de pasto guinea (Megathyrsus maximus cv. Mombaza); densidad de siembra y su efecto en el rendimiento y calidad

Objective: the objective was evaluating the effect of plant spacing on seed yield and quality in Megathyrsus maximus cv. Mombaza. Design/methodology/approach: the experiment was carried out in rain fed conditions in 2009, at the Universidad del Papaloapan, Campus Loma Bonita, Oaxaca, Mexico. Six plant distances (T1:broadcast, T2:2525 cm, T3:5050 cm, T4:7575 cm, T5:100100 cm and T6:125125 cm between rows and plants, respectively) were assessed. Treatments were distributed in a completely randomized block design, with four replicates. Total seed yield (TSY), pure seed yield (PSY), percentage of pure seed (PPS), stems plant1, stems m2, panicles plant1, panicles m2, and plants m2 were evaluated. Results: TSY and PSY showed differences among treatments (P0.01), and the highest values (216.9 and 161.2 kg ha1, respectively) were obtained at the 2525 cm spacing, with a PPS of 74.7%. Stems plant1, panicles plant1, stems m2, panicles m2, and plants m2 showed differences among treatments (P0.01). Panicles m2 was the yield component which showed a greater association with PSY with r value of 0.7. Findings/conclusions: as a conclusion, it can be stated that the largest seed yield of M. maximus cv. Mombaza was obtained at the 2525 cm spacing between rows and plants, respectively.