Crop density and seed production of creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L. var. rubra). 2. Reproductive components and seed characteristics

The natural growth habit of creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L. var. rubra) involves a steady proliferation of tillers which eventually become too dense to form seedheads. The effects of the initial density (1.6, 3.1, 6.3, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 plants m−2) and row spacing (20, 40 and 80 cm) on reproductive components and seed characteristics of red fescue were studied in a northerly environment for three production years (1991–1993) The weight proportion of cleaned to uncleaned seed decreased as density increased, from 82% at 1.6 plants m−2 to 60% at 100 plants m−2. The thousand-seed weight was 1.20–1.54 g (i.e., 830 000–650 000 seeds kg−1) and decreased as density increased. The specific seed weight was 16–25 kg hL−1; it differed among years and decreased as density increased. The germination capacity of the seed was unaffected by density but differed among years, averaging 87, 92 and 69% in the three consecutive production years. The seed yield per plant, the number of seedheads per plant, and the numb...