Culture and Mechanical Seed Harvest of Fourwing Saltbush Grown Under Irrigation

Abstract

The culture, management, and mechanical seed harvest of fourwing saltbush grown under irrigated farm crop conditions has been developed. The phenology and internal moisture regime of this plant bears directly on seed harvest operations and timing. Manipulation of plant growth habit from a branching shrub type to single upright stems is essential for adaptation to mechanical harvest. This is accomplished by cutting the plant to a two-inch stubble height and leaving decumbent branches intact on the plant, from which the erect branches arise the following year.