This study evaluated the effects of seed vigor and of possible interactions with different plant populations (150, 300, and 450 pl/m2), on the growth of two cultivated black oats cultivars, and on some components of the nitrogen utilization. The biological yield at anthesis and at maturity, nitrogen remobilization and nitrogen utilization efficiency, nitrogen concentration in plant tissues at maturity and physiological quality of the produced seeds, were not affected by differences of the levels of seed vigor, and by plant population variation. Yield and its components were not affected by seed vigor, altough low plant populations reduced grain yield. Plants from seeds of lower vigor were more efficient at allocation photosynthetic products to the seeds. The cultivar Embrapa 29 was less efficient in aerial biomass nitrogen assimilation at antesis and in the aerial vegetative tissues at maturity, than the cultivar Embrapa 140. Genotipic differences were related to the seed vigor for some characteristics linked to the nitrogen utilization efficiency. No interactions were observed between seed vigor levels and plant populations.
Avena strigosa; grain; yield; harviest index; nitrogen
