Fiber length in broomcorn as affected by stand density

Abstract

Bromcorn fiber length is determined by measuring the distance between the point at which the fibers start to branch out and the tip of at least two thirds of all the fibers present in a given panicle. This is a very important morphological trait, as it determines the success of the panicle harvest. A two-year investigation was carried out in order to determine the influence of different stand densities on fiber length levels in two broomcorn genotypes. Two row-to-row spacings (50 and 70 cm) and six plant-toplant ones (5, 9, 13, 17, 21, and 25 cm) were studied. Fiber length was the smallest (42.6 and 45.2 cm) with the highest stand densities, and it increased with increasing plant growing space (63.7 cm and 71.0 cm).