Seeding depth and soil packing affect pure live seed emergence of cuphea

Cuphea viscosissima Jacq. × C. lanceolata f. silenoides W.T. Aiton is a new crop being developed in the north-central USA as an industrial oilseed crop. Adequate plant stand is essential for successful commercial production of cuphea. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of seeding date, depth and soil packing on stand establishment and subsequent crop performance. The study was conducted at Carrington and Prosper, ND, in 2005 and 2006. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replicates, with a split–plot arrangement, where the whole plot was a factorial arrangement (2 × 2) of two seeding dates, optimum and late, with or without soil packing after seeding. The subplot treatments were three seeding depths (surface, 13, and 25 mm). The same plot planter was used to adjust seeding depth to 13 and 25 mm. Each experimental unit had six rows 4.6-m long with a between-row spacing of 0.31 m. Traits evaluated were pure live seed emergence (PLSE), plant stand, plant height at harvest and seed yield. The main effect for seeding date did not have an effect on PLSE and resulted in adequate stands from both late May and mid June plantings averaged across environments. The seeding depth by soil packing interaction was significant for PLSE, plant stand and seed yield. Pure live seed emergence, plant stand, and seed yield were greater if the soil was packed compared with non-packed for the surface seeded treatment. The soil packing treatment did not influence PLSE, plant stand, or seed yield at the 13- and 25-mm seeding depths. Plant stands obtained from the non-packed surface and 13-mm seeding depths was adequate for high seed yield, as the plants branched to compensate for the lower plant density. Although surface seeding with packing produced satisfactory plant stands, reliance on timely rainfall is required for this to be successful. For this reason, the recommendation for seeding at the 13-mm depth without soil packing would ensure a better chance for sufficient soil water absorption by the seed to initiate germination. If surface seeding is practiced, a roller-packer to incorporate seeds and firm the seedbed after planting is recommended.