• Authors:
    • Bara, C.
    • Sabau, N. C.
    • Domuta, C.
    • Borza, I.
    • Bara, V.
    • Samuel, A.
    • Ardelean, I.
    • Bara, L.
    • Ciobanu, G.
    • Sandor, M.
    • Domuta, C.
    • Brejea, R.
    • Vuscan, A.
  • Source: Analele Universităţii din Oradea, Fascicula: Protecţia Mediului
  • Volume: 14
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: The paper is based on the research carried out during 2003-2008 in a long term trial placed in 1990 on the preluvosoil from Oradea. Climate indicator "de Martonne aridity index" (IdM) was used for quantification the correlation between climate and wheat yield in unirrigated and irrigated conditions and new class called "arid" was purposed for climate index characterization. Maintaining the soil water reserve on 0-50 cm depth between easily available water content and field capacity using the irrigation determined the increase of the IdM values for period IV-VI with 79% in 2003, 73% in 2004, 36% in 2005, 16% in 2006, 162% in 2007 and with 131% in 2008; using the irrigation and the improvement of the microclimate conditions determined to obtain the yield gains, very significant every year and every crop rotation studied; both in unirrigated conditions and in irrigated conditions, the smallest yields wheat were obtained in monocrop and the biggest in the wheat-maize-soybean crop rotation; in the all three crop rotation, the direct links statistically assured were registered between the values of the De Martonne aridity index and yields in unirrigated and irrigated wheat. These correlations sustain the need of the irrigation in wheat from Crisurilor Plain; correlation between De Martonne aridity index is stronger (R 2=0.7361 xx) in the wheat-maize-soybean crop rotation in comparison with wheat-maize crop rotation (R 2=0.6215 x) and with wheat monocrop (R 2=0.6105 x). As consequence, crop rotation of wheat-maize-soybean is recomanded because the climate and microclimate conditions are better use.
  • Authors:
    • Gerpen, J. H. van
    • Kinney, A. J.
    • Schweiger, B.
    • Tat, M.
    • Tenopir, P.
    • LaVallee, B. J.
    • Graef, G.
    • Clemente, T. E.
  • Source: Plant Biotechnology Journal
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Phenotypic characterization of soybean event 335-13, which possesses oil with an increased oleic acid content (>85%) and reduced palmitic acid content (
  • Authors:
    • Swanton, C. J.
    • Tardif, F.
    • Hamill, A. S.
    • Sikkema, P. H.
    • Gulden, R. H.
  • Source: Weed Science
  • Volume: 57
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Glyphosate-resistant (GR) crops have been adopted rapidly since their commercial introduction, and with the increase in commercially available crops resistant to glyphosate, continuous use of the same herbicide mode of action is now possible in some crop rotations. A 6-yr study was initiated to investigate the effects of conventional herbicides compared with continuous use of gyphosate in GR or Roundup Ready corn and GR soybean in a corn-soybean and a corn-soybean-winter wheat rotation. Individual experiments were fully phased and established at three locations under conventional tillage (CT) and at two locations under no-tillage (NT). Results indicated that midseason weed ground cover was lower when weeds were controlled with glyphosate; however, in most cases, this did not result in improved corn or soybean yields. Within locations, species richness, which strongly influenced other diversity indicators, was most affected by the herbicide treatments. Including winter wheat in the crop rotation had little effect on corn and soybean weed ground cover, density, and community structure and only affected soybean yield. Moreover, no effects of herbicide system used in previous corn and soybean were observed in winter wheat, with the exception of species diversity in NT, where species diversity tended to be greater when weeds in previous corn and soybean were treated with conventional herbicides. After 6 yr, the effects of continuous use of GR crops in rotation were similar to those reported in previous Studies; however, continued monitoring and longer-term investigations of these systems are necessary to detect the early stages of development of herbicide-resistant biotypes.
  • Authors:
    • Gao, H. W.
    • Liu, L. J.
    • Li, H. W.
    • Wang, Q. J.
    • He, J.
  • Source: Soil & Tillage Research
  • Volume: 104
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: In the annual double cropping areas of North China Plain, low crop yield and water availability are the main limiting factors to crop production. Conservation tillage has been proposed to improve water conservation and sustain soil productivity. The objectives of the study were to compare conservation tillage (CT) with conventional tillage (CV) under the current double cropping system of corn-winter wheat in the Hebei, North China Plain. The field study consisted of eight conservation tillage treatments and two conventional tillage treatments, with different surface ground cover (0%, 50% and 100%). The tillage treatments consisted of no-till, subsoiling, rototilling and plowing. The CT treatments maintained soil temperatures that were approximately 0.4degreesC greater during cold condition and about 0.5degreesC lower during warm condition at 5 and 10 cm soil depths than the CV treatments, respectively. The greatest differences were achieved by the double no-till system with 100% residue cover treatment in terms of soil temperature and crop growth. Winter wheat yield and water use efficiency (WUE) were improved by 6.7% and 30.1% with CT compared to the CV treatments, and for corn, 8.9% and 6.8%, respectively. We conclude that conservation tillage for the annual double cropping system is feasible, and the double no-till with 100% residue cover is the most effective way of improving crop yields and WUE on the North China Plain.
  • Authors:
    • Doka, L. F.
    • Vad, A.
  • Source: Cereal Research Communications
  • Volume: 37
  • Issue: Suppl. 1
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Effects of crop-rotation, fertilization and irrigation on the yield of maize has been studied in different cropyears characterized by different water supply (2007 year=dry; 2008 year=optimum) on chernozem soil. Our scientific results proved that in water stress cropyear (2007) the maximum yields of maize were 4316 kg ha -1 (monoculture), 7706 kg ha -1 (biculture), 7998 kg ha -1 (triculture) in non irrigated circumstances and 8586 kg ha -1, 10 970 kg ha -1, 10 679 kg ha -1 in irrigated treatment, respectively. In dry cropyear (2007) the yield-surpluses of irrigation were 4270 kg ha -1 (mono), 3264 kg ha -1 (bi), 2681 kg ha -1 (tri), respectively. In optimum water supply cropyear (2008) the maximum yields of maize were 13 729-13 787 (mono), 14 137-14 152 kg ha -1 (bi), 13 987-14 180 kg ha -1 (tri) so there was no crop-rotation effect. In water stress cropyear (2007) fertilization caused yield depression in non irrigated treatment (control=2685 kg ha -1; N 240+PK=2487 kg ha -1). Our scientific results proved that the effects of abiotic stress could be strongly reduced by using the optimum crop models in maize production. We obtained 8,6-11,0 t ha -1 maximum yields of maize in water stress cropyear and 13,7-14,2 t ha -1 in optimum cropyear on chernozem soil with using appropriate agrotechnical elements.
  • Authors:
    • Schoenau, G.
    • Tabil, L.
    • Adapa, P.
  • Source: Biosystems Engineering
  • Volume: 104
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Agricultural biomass has the potential to be used as feedstock for biofuel production. However, crop residue after harvest must be gathered, processed and densified in order to facilitate efficient handling, transportation and usage. in this study compacts were prepared by densifying material against a base plate (representing the specific energy required to overcome friction within the straw grinds) as opposed to the process that occurs in a commercial operation where compacts are formed due to back-pressure effect in the die. Densification was measured using four selected biomass samples (barley, canola (oilseed rape), oat and wheat straw) at 10% moisture content (wb) and 1.98 mm grinder screen size using a compaction apparatus which applied four pressure levels of 31.6, 63.2, 94.7 and 138.9 MPa. The specific energy required to extrude the compact was measured; this will closely emulate the specific energy required to overcome the friction between the ground straw and die. The mean densities of barley, canola, oat and wheat straw compacts ranged from 907 +/- 31 to 988 +/- 26 kg m(-3), 823 +/- 73 to 1003 +/- 21 kg m(-3), 849 +/- 22 to 1011 +/- 54 kg m(-3) and 813 +/- 55 to 924 +/- 23 kg m(-3), respectively; while the mean total specific energy for compaction of grinds ranged from 3.69 +/- 0.28 to 9.29 +/- 0.39 MJ t(-1), 3.31 +/- 0.82 to 9.44 +/- 0.33 MJ t(-1), 5.25 +/- 0.42 to 9.57 +/- 0.83 MJ t(-1) and 3.59 +/- 0.44 to 7.16 +/- 0.40 MJ t(-1), respectively. Best predictor equations having highest coefficient of determination values (R(2)) and standard error of estimate or root mean square error were determined for both compact density and total specific energy required to compress the ground straw samples. The resulting R 2 for pellet density from barley, canola, oat and wheat straw were 0.56, 0.79, 0.67 and 0.62, respectively, and for total specific energy the values of R 2 were 0.94, 0.96, 0.90 and 0.92, respectively. (C) 2009 IAgrE. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
  • Authors:
    • Raus, L.
    • Bucur, D.
    • Jitareanu, G.
    • Ailincai, C.
    • Ailincai, D.
    • Zbant, M.
  • Source: Cercetări Agronomice în Moldova
  • Volume: 42
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: The influence of long-term fertilization and irrigation on wheat and maize yield and soil fertility was studied at the Agricultural Research and Development Station of Podu-Iloaiei since 1980. These experiments were carried out on a 10% slope field, on a Cambic Chernozem with clayey loam texture (423 g clay, 315 g loam and 262 g sand), a neuter to weakly acid reaction and a mean nutrient supply. The mean annual rainfall amounts, recorded in the last 28 years, were higher, with values comprised between 12.7 and 279.2 mm, compared to the multiannual mean on 80 years (542 mm) in 16 years, and lower by 25.3-236.7 mm in 10 years. Annual application of rates of N 160 P 80, in a four-year crop rotation (soybean-wheat-sugar beet-maize)+a reserve field, cultivated with legumes and perennial grasses, determined the accumulation of a reserve of mobile phosphates of 78 mg/kg soil. Under irrigated, a good plant supply with mineral elements and the increase in the content of organic carbon from soil were done by applying the rate of N 80P 70+30 t/ha manure. Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, although applied at high rates (N 130+100 P 2O 5), could not prevent the decrease in organic carbon content from soil.
  • Authors:
    • Griffis, T. J.
    • Baker, J. M.
  • Source: Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
  • Volume: 149
  • Issue: 12
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Climate change and economic concerns have motivated intense interest in the development of renewable energy sources, including fuels derived from plant biomass. However, the specter of massive biofuel production has raised other worries, specifically that by displacing food production it will lead to higher food prices, increased incidence of famine, and acceleration of undesirable land use change. One proposed solution is to increase the annual net primary productivity of the existing agricultural land base, so that it can sustainably produce both food and biofuel feedstocks. This might be possible in corn and soybean production regions through the use of winter cover crops, but the biophysical feasibility of this has not been systematically explored. We developed a model for this purpose that simulates the potential biomass production and water use of winter rye in continuous corn and corn-soybean rotations. The input data requirements represent an attempt to balance the demands of a physically and physiologically defensible simulation with the need for broad applicability in space and time. The necessary meteorological data are obtainable from standard agricultural weather stations, and the required management data are simply planting dates and harvest dates for corn and soybeans. Physiological parameters for rye were taken from the literature, supplemented by experimental data specifically collected for this project. The model was run for a number of growing seasons for 8 locations across the Midwestern USA. Results indicate potential rye biomass production of 1-8 Mg ha(-1), with the lowest yields at the more northern sites, where both PAR and degree-days are limited in the interval between fall corn harvest and spring corn or soybean planting. At all sites rye yields are substantially greater when the following crop is soybean rather than corn, since soybean is planted later. Not surprisingly, soil moisture depletion is most likely in years and sites where rye biomass production is greatest. Consistent production of both food and biomass from corn/winter rye/soybean systems will probably require irrigation in many areas and additional N fertilizer, creating possible environmental concerns. Rye growth limitations in the northern portion of the corn belt may be partially mitigated with aerial seeding of rye into standing corn. Published by Elsevier B.V.
  • Authors:
    • Bolotova, N. S.
  • Source: Kormoproizvodstvo
  • Issue: 12
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Techniques and standards for production of haylage and silage from high-protein fodder mixtures of pea, oat, rape, vetch, barley, beans, rye, wheat and maize are discussed. Plants should be cut into 15-20 mm pieces when the protein content of fodder mixture is over 30%, and into 40-50 mm pieces when the protein content of fodder mixture is less than 20%. Bales of silage mass are wrapped in film and roll size is 1.2 m wide and 0.8-1.6 m in diameter. The high yield of maize, vetch, and oat-rape mixture achievable in the conditions of European Russia is 10.8 t/ha of dry mass and 1.2 t/ha of protein.
  • Authors:
    • Dhuyvetter, K. C.
    • Staggenborg, S. A.
    • Gordon, W. B.
  • Source: Agronomy Journal
  • Volume: 100
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2008
  • Summary: Grain sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is often grown where water stress is expected. But, improved drought tolerance in corn ( Zea mays L.) hybrids has resulted in increased dryland corn production in preference to grain sorghum. However, grain sorghum may still have a yield advantage over corn in drought prone environments. This study was conducted to determine if grain sorghum has either a yield or economic advantage over corn when drought or temperature stress occurs. Yield and weather data from crop performance testing programs in Kansas and Nebraska (1992-2005) were analyzed. Grain sorghum produced higher yields than corn in environments where corn yields were <6.4 Mg ha -1. When net returns ($ ha -1) were considered for grain sorghum prices that were set at 70, 87, 100, and 117% of corn prices, grain sorghum net returns were higher than corn net returns when corn yields were ≤4.4, 6.6, 8.8, and 13.6 Mg ha -1, respectively. Both corn and grain sorghum yields were positively correlated to June through August precipitation and negatively correlated to June through August maximum temperatures. The yield difference (grain sorghum minus corn) increased as July and August maximum temperatures increased. Monthly minimum temperatures affected corn yield less than grain sorghum yield. Producers in this region likely can minimize production risks by considering this historical yield information. At locations in this region where corn yields are consistently <6.4 Mg ha -1, producers should consider producing grain sorghum.