Key Points
The response of perennial ryegrass seed yield to water was determined in a arainshelter that excluded rainfall
- Moisture stressing crops, particularly during reproductive development, decreases seed yield.
- Highest seed yield was from the FULL treatment that was irrigated to replace the water used each week. These crops used approximately 5.5 mm of water per day.
- The lowest seed yields were from treatments that were not irrigated for the full season or were droughted from early spring.
- Short periods of stress over flowering or early seed fill did not reduce yield as much as if the stress was extended through seed fill.
- The highest yielding treatments had the highest dry matter production.
- Treatments that were stressed prior to or at flowering had less lodging than fully watered ones.
- Increasing the Soil Moisture Deficit caused a linear reduction in seed yield.