Effect of varying seeding date on crop development, yield and yield components in canaryseed

The effects of varying seeding date on crop development, yield and yield co mponents in canaryseed (Phalaris canariensis L.) have not been previously r eported. In 1996 and 1997, a seeding date study was conducted at Swift Curr ent, SK, which included barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), canaryseed and wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) sown at three dates in separate tilled fallow and unt illed wheat stubble sites. Terminal summer drought occurred in both years o f this experiment. Cumulative degree days (DD0) to reach maturity did not d iffer significantly among seeding dares for barley, or for wheat in 1997, w hile cumulative degree days to reach maturity decreased by 60 DD0 with dela yed seeding for wheat in 1996. In contrast, cumulative degree days to reach maturity in canaryseed increased by 70 DD0 in 1996 and by 90 DD0 in 1997 w ith delayed seeding. Delaying seeding from the early to the late date decre ased canaryseed yield by 29%, while barley and wheat yields decreased only 14 and 11%, respectively. Panicle density in canaryseed was reduced 24% bet ween the early and late seeding dates, while barley and wheat spike densiti es were reduced only 2 and 6%, respectively. The large yield reduction in c anaryseed was likely due to slowed crop development with delayed seeding, w hich intensified late-season drought stress. The slowed crop development wi th delay in seeding date in canaryseed may be due to vernalization requirem ent in this crop. In the semiarid prairie region, canaryseed should be seed ed early to maintain a rapid crop development rate to minimize yield loss d ue to drought stress.