Sowing rates and row spacing of Avena sativa ‘Heyan No.1’ influence agronomic characters and yield

An experiment was conducted in Hezheng County of Gansu Province to study the effects of different sowing rates and row spacing of Avena sativa ‘Heyan No.1’ on agronomic characters, hay yield, and seed yield. Results show that sowing rate and row spacing significantly affected A. sativa ‘Heyan No.1’ agronomic characters, hay yield, and seed yield. Hay yield was highest (9 059.73 kg·ha^–1) with a row spacing of 30 cm and seeding rate of 300 kg·ha^–1, while seed yield was highest (2 728.40 kg·ha^–1) with a row spacing of 20 cm and sowing rate of 300 kg·ha^–1. Correlation and path analyses showed that plant height, tiller number, hay yield, and seed yield were positively correlated with row spacing (P < 0.01), while stem diameter, leaf length, and effective tiller number were positively correlated with row spacing (P < 0.05). Seed yield was positively correlated with sowing rate (P < 0.05), while tiller number, stem diameter, and leaf width were negatively correlated with sowing rate (P < 0.05) and seed yield was negatively correlated withspike length (P < 0.01). Seed yield was significant positively correlated with plant height and hay yield (P < 0.01). The direct effect of plant height on hay yield was the greatest. In production, yield potential of A. sativa ‘Heyan No.1’ could be excavated by altering plant height, effective tiller number, leaf length, stem diameter, and so on, to maximize economic benefits.