ChileanJAR

During the seasons 1962/63, 1963/64 and 1964/65 several trial, were carried out at the Experiment Station La Platina, in order to determine the effcctiveness and convenience of using plant desiccants in seed production of alfalfa, red clover, birdsfoot trefail and white clover. The use of plant desiccant would permit:
a) Direct seed harvesting in the field.
b) A reduction in time and cost of harvest.
c) Earlier harvest, avoiding damage due to adverse dimatic conditions.
For alfalfa and red clover, the best treatments were 0.8 to 2.5 Iiters Diquat per hectare, and 3.5 liten. Dinitro·butil-fenol+ 80 liters Diesel oil per hectare.
There was no significant difference between plant desiccants, and all were significantly superior in seed yield when campared to the check treatment.
In Birdsfoot trefoil, 1.6 to 2.5 liters Diquat per hectare significantly outyielded all others treatments. In Whitc clover, 2.0 liters; Diquat per hcctare gave the best results, but did not increase seed yield significantly.