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Using 1,000 kernel weight for calculating seeding rates and harvest losses

Description

The 1,000 kernel (1,000 K) weight is a measure of seed size. It is the weight in grams of 1,000 seeds. Seed size and the 1,000 K weight can vary from one crop to another, between varieties of the... More ≫

Description

The 1,000 kernel (1,000 K) weight is a measure of seed size. It is the weight in grams of 1,000 seeds. Seed size and the 1,000 K weight can vary from one crop to another, between varieties of the same crop and even from year to year or from field to field of the same variety. Because of this variation in seed size, the number of seeds and, consequently, the number of plants in a pound or a bushel of seed is also highly variable. By using the 1,000 K weight, a producer can account for seed size variations when calculating seeding rates, calibrating seed drills and estimating shattering and combine losses.

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Harvesting hulless barley

Description

Hulless barley is a specialty crop that can generate price premiums when marketed, but to do so, it must be harvested properly. Little research information is available about harvesting hulless... More ≫

Description

Hulless barley is a specialty crop that can generate price premiums when marketed, but to do so, it must be harvested properly. Little research information is available about harvesting hulless barley. What is known comes from several years of experience gained with the crop by farmers, researchers and agricultural engineers.

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Harvesting grass seed

Description

The timing of seed harvest is one of the most important decisions a grass seed grower will make. Grasses need 20-30 days after flowering for seeds to properly mature. This will vary because the... More ≫

Description

The timing of seed harvest is one of the most important decisions a grass seed grower will make. Grasses need 20-30 days after flowering for seeds to properly mature. This will vary because the period of flowering and seed development lasts from several days to two weeks. As a result, seed heads emerge at different times, which causes uneven ripening. Hot, dry weather shortens the ripening time. Cool, moist conditions delay seed maturity. Grasses grown under irrigation tend to have a higher ash content, which can result in more shattering than experienced with dryland produced grasses. The ideal time to swath is when seed is at the medium to hard dough stage and still firmly attached. Moisture testing of the entire seed head (35-50%) is also a useful indicator of when to swath. Most grasses will hold their seed for 10-15 days, but the time from medium dough to seed shatter can be as short as three or four days.

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