• Authors:
    • Alizadeh, O.
    • Sharafzadeh, S.
  • Source: Advances in Environmental Biology
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue: 7
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare Mill), belonging to Umbelliferae (Apiaceae) family, is a perennial plant. It is considered as a spice due to terpenic compounds isolated from its fruits. Successful transplant production begins with good growing media. Healthy vigorous transplants will be less susceptible to insects, diseases and transplant shock leading to better crop performance. The growing mixtures were using 1:1:1 (v/v) sand, soil and organic soil amendment. The treatments were (1) sand+soil+cocopeat, (2) sand+soil+sphagnum peat moss, (3) sand+soil+peat and (4) sand+soil+animal manure in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The highest values of shoot height (14.0 cm), shoot fresh weight (177.3 mg/plant), shoot dry weight (34.2 mg/plant), root fresh weight (21.8 mg/plant) and root dry weight (4.3 mg/plant) were at cocopeat amended medium which were not significantly different when compared to sphagnum peat moss treatment.
  • Authors:
    • Yang, Z.
    • Guan, C.
    • Zhou, H.
    • Fan, G.
    • Xie, W.
  • Source: Nongye Jixie Xuebao = Transactions of the Chinese Society for Agricultural Machinery
  • Volume: 42
  • Issue: 11
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Based on the results from 18-year long-term location experiment in dryland experimental area of northern China, the effects of various kinds of straw return to field such as no straw returning (CK), straw mulching (SM), straw crushing (SC), cattle manure (CM) and different fertilization time i. e. spring and autumn on corn yield and water use efficiency were studied. The results showed that the experiment of combining autumn fertilizing with returning stalks to field could increase the yield and water use efficiency of spring maize significantly compared to the spring fertilizing, meanwhile, it decreased the accumulated water consumption and increased the soil water storage amount. The results showed that autumn fertilizing increased 9.71-15.58 t/hm 2 in yield, compared with spring fertilizing. The range of increased in yield was 8.33%-16.19%. The total corn yield and water use efficiency in the past 18-year decreased in the following order: CM > SM > SC > CK. In different rainfall years, the corn yield and water use efficiency were very different. In normal years, the corn yield was highest. In dry years, the water use efficiency of spring maize was highest and yield increasing effect from straw mulching combining with autumn fertilizing was striking.
  • Authors:
    • Gurjeet, G.
    • Malik, R.
    • Ashok, Y.
    • Kamboj, B.
    • Yadav, D.
  • Source: Environment and Ecology
  • Volume: 29
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Two field experiments were conducted during kharif of 2009, to optimize ground cover by green manure cover crops before taking no-till direct seeded basmati rice and mechanical transplanted coarse grain rice. The treatments included three cover crops ( Sesbania, mungbean and cowpea) with two seed rates (X and 2X) along with check (without cover crop) under no-till after wheat harvest. The X seed rates for Sesbania, mungbean and cowpea were 30, 20 and 50 kg/ha, respectively. Farmers' field trails on the issue in question were also conducted at three locations. Weed infestation until cover crops were knocked down, was significantly reduced due to growing of cover crops as compared to plots where no cover crop was included. Minimum density and dry weight of weeds was recorded with Sesbania at 60 kg/ha seed rate which was superior to all other treatments. This could be due to ample ground cover and heavy biomass production by Sesbania. In general biomass production among green manure cover crops was followed the sequence of Sesbania > cowpea > mungbean. Due to lower cost of seed, Sesbania at 60 kg/ha was realized more economical than other cover crops. Infestation of Echinochloa sp. in rice was lowest in the plots where Sesbania was taken as preceding cover crop and it was superior to other two cover crops. There was no infestation of sedges in rice in the plots where cover crops were grown but there was infestation of sedges in check plots. There was no significant impact of different cover crops on the yield and yield attributed of rice; however, to attain higher returns, inclusion of green manure cover crops on long-term basis could be more meaningful.
  • Authors:
    • Xie, J.
    • Li, L.
    • Huang, G.
    • Cai, L.
    • Luo, Z.
    • Zhang, R.
  • Source: Acta Prataculturae Sinica
  • Volume: 20
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Long-term field experiments on soil physical quality in rainfed farming systems were conducted in Dingxi on the western Loess Plateau. The effects of conventional tillage and five conservation agriculture patterns [conventional tillage (T), conventional tillage with stubble incorporation (TS), no till with no stubble (NT), no till with stubble retention (NTS), conventional tillage with plastic mulching (TP) and no till with plastic mulching (NTP)] were studied. The experiment was fully-phased with two rotation sequences. Phase 1 started with field pea ( Pisum sativum) followed by spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum) (P->W) whereas phase 2 started with spring wheat followed by field pea (W->P). There were highly significant differences between the six tillage measures in soil properties including soil aggregates, available water content, water use efficiency and saturation conductivity. There were also significant differences in some soil properties including soil bulk density, total porosity, capillary porosity, non-capillary porosity, soil strength and saturation capacity. There were no significant differences in soil properties such as soil temperature and field capacity. Using the addition and multiplication method, and weighted integrated method, quantitative assessments of soil physical quality in different tillage systems were carried out. The order of soil physical quality index from high to low was NTS, NTP, NT, TS, T(TP) and TP(T) in P->W rotation, and NTS, NTP, TS, NT, TP and T in W->P rotation. The various tillage measures resulted in very different soil physical quality levels. Improved soil structure arose from tillage reduction or residue retention which improved soil structure, enhanced water infiltration, reduced soil and water loss, and hence improved soil physical quality.
  • Authors:
    • Rasaily, R. G.
    • He, J.
    • Li, H.
    • Zhang, X.
  • Source: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
  • Volume: 20
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Due to the problem of residues blocking and seriously damaged bed shape during the planting of wheat in maize stubble coverage fields under the condition of permanent raised beds in irrigated agricultural region of Northwest China, the throwing stubble and renovating the bed type no-till planter for wheat was designed. This paper mainly analyzed the reshaping plough, moving cutter and throwing stubble device. Furthermore, the key parameters were analyzed and determined. The field experiment showed that through adopting the anti-blocking principle that combined moving cutter and throwing stubble device and residue-cutting by knife type opener, the machine could solve the residue and weed blocking problem effectively. It also has a good performance of passing and cutting stubble, and renovating the beds. The seeding and fertilizing depths acquired by the planter were 47.2 mm and 85.6 mm, respectively, which indicates the planter could meet the requirements of wheat no-tillage planting in permanent raised beds farming system in agricultural region of Northwest China.
  • Authors:
    • Wen, Y.
    • Gong, Z.
    • Gu, S.
    • Lu, J.
    • Zhao, J.
  • Source: Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering
  • Volume: 27
  • Issue: 12
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The objective of this study was to distinguish effects of main growing factors on the corn yield under dry-farming conditions. A corn field experiment with three factors and four levels for each factor was conducted using the same corn cultivar and the same design in three consecutive years on a black soil classified as typic udolls of which the available nitrogen is middle but both available phosphorus and potassium are high. The results showed that, the most limiting factors to corn yield were respectively precipitation in growing season (PGS), rate of nitrogen fertilizer and available nitrogen contents of soil. Only when the PGS was greater than 280 mm, was nitrogen fertilizer effect statistically noticeable. The appropriate combination of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers increased the water use efficiency by 24.3% compared to no fertilizer treatment. Corn yield was positively correlated with the available nitrogen contents of soil too, meaning that higher soil available nitrogen contents are favorable to the increase in corn yield.
  • Authors:
    • Sharawy, W.
    • Abdel-Hafeez, A.
    • Abdel-Gawad, K.
    • El-Nabawy, W.
  • Source: Bulletin of Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University
  • Volume: 62
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Two field experiments were conducted at the Agricultural Experiments and Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt, during 2008 and 2009 summer seasons, to study the intercropping of forage cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata L., var. Buff) with maize ( Zea mays L), stay green and single cross hybrid 122. The experiment was planted at the 1st of July after wheat in both seasons. The experimental design was a split-split plot design arranged in randomized complete blocks with three replicates. The main plots were devoted to three intercropping patterns: (1) Maize on one side of the ridge and forage cowpea on the other side, (2) Solid maize, (3) Solid forage cowpea. Subplots were arranged with plant density of forage cowpea, one and two plants hill -1 at 20 cm between hills. Sub-sub plots were four nitrogen levels viz., zero, 60, 90 and 120 kg N fed. -1 N was added in two equal doses after 21 and 60 days from planting (after the 1st cut of forage cowpea). The results indicated significant differences between intercropping patterns, plant density and nitrogen levels for dry yield. Light intensity at top, middle and bottom of cowpea and maize were obtained at each cut in both seasons. light intensity under solid cowpea was greater for the three levels of light intensity reading than intercropped cowpea plants. At the top of intercropped cowpea plants, light intensity was greater as compared with readings at the middle and bottom of plants. At the middle, light intensity was greater for solid cowpea compared to intercropped cowpea. One plant hill -1 was superior to two plants hill -1 in light intensity at top, middle and bottom of cowpea plants intercropped with maize at each cut in both seasons. The percentage of increases in light intensity gave lower values between the two plant intensities, it could be recommended with planting two plants hill -1 when intercropped cowpea with maize for obtaining high dry forage yield of cowpea. Nitrogen application was significantly decreased light intensity at top, middle and bottom plant of forage cowpea at each cut in both seasons. Nitrogen from zero to 120 kg N fed -1 caused reduction in light intensity, While total dry forage yield of cowpea was increased. The highest value of light intensity was obtained by solid cowpea, one plant hill -1 and zero nitrogen fed -1, while the lowest value of light intensity was at intercropped cowpea with maize, two plants hill -1 and 120 kg N fed. -1 For maize plants there were significant differences in light intensity as affected by intercropping patterns at top, middle bottom of maize plants in both seasons except between intercropping two plants hill -1 of cowpea with maize and solid maize at top plant before the 1st cut of cowpea in the first season. Nitrogen levels was significantly decreased light intensity at top, middle and bottom plant of maize, with not significant differences between 90 and 120 kg N fed. -1 While, grain yield and dry stover yield were increased. Zero N level had the highest value of light intensity at top, middle and bottom of maize plants compared with the other N levels. The highest value was obtained by solid maize and zero nitrogen fed, -1 while the lowest value was at intercropping two plants hill -1 of cowpea with maize and 120 kg N fed -1.
  • Authors:
    • Badran, M.
  • Source: Bulletin of Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University
  • Volume: 62
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Egyptian faba bean cultivar Sakha 1 was planted either solely or intercropped with four Egyptian wheat varieties i.e., Giza 168, Sakha 94, Gemmiza 9 and Sids 1 by seven cropping patterns. The cropping patterns i.e., sowing wheat at three seeding rates (300, 350 and 400 grains/m 2) solely and intercropped with faba bean as well as solid faba bean plantings, were tested for each wheat variety in alternative rows 20 cm apart (1:1). The main objective of this work was to determine the suitable (wheat/faba bean) intercropping treatment for maximizing the land productivity of sandy soil through calculating the degree of competition indices for both crops. Hence, both faba bean seed yield and wheat grain yield tons/ha were used to calculate the degrees of competition indices in terms of Land Equivalent Ratio (LER), Aggressivity (Ag) and Relative Crowding Coefficient (RCC). Two field experiments were carried out at the Experimental Station Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Damanhour University, El-Bostan Region, El-Behera Governorate, Egypt, during 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 seasons. A split-plot design with four replicates was used in both seasons. Wheat varieties were randomly assigned to the main-plots, while intercropping patterns were allocated in the sub-plots. The obtained results can be summarized as follows: - LER was insignificantly affected by the four studied wheat varieties in both seasons. Meanwhile, the intercropping patterns significantly affected LER values, in both seasons. LER values averaged of both seasons were greater than one (1.40) for intercropping plantings. - Values of aggressivity of wheat varieties were significantly differed in the second season only. Sakha 94 was the most aggressive wheat variety compared with the other studied varieties in both seasons. The data also, revealed that the aggressivity values of faba bean were positive, while that of wheat was negative, under intercropping treatments in both seasons. - RCC for wheat and faba bean was insignificantly affected among wheat varieties, in both seasons. The higher values of RCC w were produced when using Giza 168 (wheat variety) meanwhile, the lowest RCC f values were produced by Sids 1 variety in both seasons. A significant interaction was detected between wheat varieties and cropping patterns (Vx C 1) for the relative yield of wheat, in the first season only. In general, it could be concluded that intercropping any studied wheat variety with seeding rate of 300 grains/m 2 with Sakha 1 faba bean cultivar at 166667 plants/ha in alternative rows 20 cm apart (1:1) could be recommended to maximizing the productivity of land unit area under sandy soil conditions, in El-Bostan Region, El-Behera Governorate, Egypt.
  • Authors:
    • Eskandari, H.
  • Source: African Journal of Biotechnology
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 77
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Wheat ( Triticum aestivum) and bean ( Vicia faba L.) sole crops and their mixture in three planting pattern (M 1: alternate-row intercrop, M 2: within-row intercrop, M 3: mixed intercrop) were used to investigate the amount of resource consumption in terms of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) interception, water and nutrient uptake. The experiment was carried out as randomized complete block design with four replications. The results show that intercropping systems had a significant effect on environmental resources consumption, where intercropping systems had more light interception and water, and nutrient uptake compared to sole crops, suggesting the complementarity effect of intercropping components in resources consumption. The ability of wheat and bean was different in intercropping systems in absorbing nutrients because of their differences in root morphology and cation exchange capacity. Regarding weed suppressions, intercrops were more effective than wheat sole crops, which were related to lower availability of environmental resources for weeds in intercropping systems.
  • Authors:
    • Emeran, A. A.
    • Shtaya, M. J. Y.
    • Fernandez-Aparicio, M.
    • Allagui, M. B.
    • Kharrat, M.
    • Rubiales, D.
  • Source: Crop Protection
  • Volume: 30
  • Issue: 8
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Chocolate spot incited by Botrytis fabae is a serious faba bean disease of worldwide distribution. The increasing interest in sustainable tools for disease control, together with the lack of sufficient levels of genetic resistance triggered our interest in the use of intercropping as a tool for the management of this disease. The effect of intercropping on chocolate spot severity was studied in field experiments performed in Egypt, the Palestinian Territories, Spain and Tunisia, in which a susceptible faba bean cultivar was grown as a monocrop or with two mixed species intercrops of either barley, oat, triticale, wheat, pea or common vetch, or with three mixed species intercrops of wheat and berseem clover. Chocolate spot was significantly reduced when faba bean was intercropped with cereals, but not when intercropped with legumes. Suppressive effects can be ascribed to a combination of host biomass reduction, altered microclimate and physical barriers to spore dispersal.