• Authors:
    • Gamar, Y.
    • Abdalla, H.
  • Source: International Journal of AgriScience
  • Volume: 1
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is the most important cereal crop in Sudan in terms of consumption and total acreage under production. However recent climatic changes, have affected productivity. Cultivation has been constrained by the detrimental effect of drought which has often caused food shortages resulting in famine. Almost 90% of the total sorghum cropped area is rain-fed, and 60% of that is in drought prone soil conditions. A series of experiments were conducted to develop elite early maturing and combinable open pollinated varieties with good grain quality. Seven superior pure lines from an adapted drought tolerant land race commercial Arf'a' Gadamak (CAG,) were selected and tested under irrigation for three seasons at Gezira Research Station (GRS). Based on high yield potential and early maturity, AG-17 line was selected and advanced together with AG-8, AG-15, Wad Ahmed and CAG as checks for multi-location testing under intermediate and high rainfall areas (400-900/mm). Eight specific rain-fed environments were chosen as sites for standard variety trials, over three seasons (2006 to 2009). Results revealed that lines AG-17 flowered 12 days earlier by 50%, than Wad Ahmed. This early maturity coupled with very high yield potential, highlights drought tolerance making it an adaptable and stable crop across a wide range of rainfall environments. Like the released sorghum variety AG-8, the AG-17 line has exceptionally high protein content, 23% and 33% more than the checks, CAG and Wad Ahmed, respectively. This line also possesses the best grain quality, white, large and preferred by the market in addition to other attractive, physical grain characteristics. It was also evident that this line has high bread (kisra) making qualities.
  • Authors:
    • Ali, M.
    • Javaid, Q.
    • Ullah, M.
    • Ahmad, F.
    • Abid, M.
    • Ahmed, N.
  • Source: Pakistan Journal of Botany
  • Volume: 43
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The inorganic fertilizers produce significant effects on quantity as well as quality on the produce of most of the crop plants: The productivity of cotton crop varies greatly due to addition of macro-and micro-nutrients. Among micro-nutrients, boron fertilizer holds significant importance in not only sustaining but also enhancing the yield of cotton. At the advent of excessive use of high analysis fertilizers, a wide spread deficiency of boron in soils of Pakistan is of common scene. However, research studies are limited on the quantity and the impact of boron fertilizer on production of biological yield and its chemical composition of cotton plant under irrigated conditions. The present study was therefore conducted to determine the influence of boron fertilizer on dry matter production and its interactive effects on other nutrients in plant system. The experiment was conducted on calcareous soils under irrigated conditions for two seasons 2004-2005 at Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. The treatments consisted of six levels of boron fertilizer i.e., 0.0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 kg B ha(-1) and were arranged in randomized complete block design with 4 replication. Cotton crop cv. CIM-473 was planted during the month of May and harvested in November each year. The standard production practices were followed. The results showed that application of boron fertilizer produced significant effect on enhancing biological yield of cotton. Maximum dry matter yield was achieved by addition of 3.0 kg B ha(-1). Crop planted during season 2005 produced higher quantity of biological yield compared to year 2004. The addition of various levels of boron caused substantial increase in the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, copper, iron, zinc and boron nutrients, while lowering down of calcium magnesium and manganese in different parts of the cotton plant. The enhanced assimilation of macro-nutrients resulted in greater production of biological yield and better growth and development of cotton plant.
  • Authors:
    • Asgharzade, A.
    • Tavassoli, A.
    • Esmaeilian, Y.
    • Babaeian, M.
    • Sadeghi, M.
  • Source: Scientific Research and Essays
  • Volume: 6
  • Issue: 17
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Barley is a cool-weather cereal grain primarily produced on dryland farms in Sistan region. In order to study the effect of different proportions of manure and chemical fertilizer and water stress on grain yield and grain nutrient content in barley an experiment was conducted as split plot randomized complete block design with three replications in research field of Zabol University, 2009. Water stress treatments consisted of: water stress in grain filling stage (S 1) and control (S 2) as the main factor and different proportions of manure and chemical fertilizer treatment consisted of: 100% manure (N 1), 100% chemical fertilizer (N 2), 50% manure+50% chemical fertilizer (N 3), 75% manure+25% chemical fertilizer (N 4) and control (N 5) as sub factor in this experiment. Results illustrated that the effect of drought stress in grain filling stage treatment on all grain yield and yield components with the exception of ear weight, were significant. Drought stress in grain filling stage strongly decreased grain yield but its effect was not very strong on another traits. With the exception of grain number/ear and ear weight, fertilizer treatments had significant effect on grain yields and yield components. Grain nutrient content not affected by water stress but among different proportions of fertilizer treatments, 100% manure (N 1) caused to increase of these elements in grain.
  • Authors:
    • El-Tohamy, W.
    • Taalab, A.
    • Badr, M.
  • Source: Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue: 7
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Drip irrigation offers excellent method of water and nutrient supply for vegetable crops in precise amounts at a rate, which matches the plant requirements. In addition to allowing precise control of irrigation water applications, drip irrigation system offers the ability to use high frequency fertigation with water soluble N materials throughout the growing season. Little information about optimum fertigation interval for drip-irrigated crops in general and for potato in particular, is available. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of two N rates (200 and 300 kg N ha -1) and four fertigation frequencies (1, 2, 7, and 14 days) on potato yield, N uptake and soil N status in a sandy soil under drip irrigation system. Total potato yield and yield components were responsive to increase N rate and to decrease fertigation frequency. The highest tuber yields (47.16, 46.32 and 44.75 t ha -1) occurred at 300 kg N ha -1 with the frequencies of 1, 2 and 7 days, respectively while yield with the longest interval were significantly lower (37.89 t ha -1). Leaves N concentration at all sampling dates was higher in the plants received high N rate, but fertigation frequency did not significantly affect leaves N concentration except at the longest duration. Similarly, N rate and fertigation frequency resulted in significant differences in total N uptake, N recovery and apparent N use efficiency (NUE). Total N uptake was appreciable higher with increasing N rate and with more frequent than with less frequent fertigation. The averaged N recovery across fertigation frequencies was 68% and 62% and NUE was 151 and 142 kg yield -1 kg N -1 with applied 200 and 300 kg N ha -1, respectively. Analysis of soil samples at the end of last fertigation indicated considerable influence of fertigation frequency on NO 3--N distribution in the root zone of potato. The NO 3--N in lower soil profiles,(40-60 cm) depth with high N rate was marginally affected in daily, alternate and weekly fertigation while NO 3--N in the corresponding soil depth was appreciable higher in biweekly fertigation. Thus, frequent fertigation was needed to obtain maximum yield of potato in sandy soil with less nitrate leaching from root zone.
  • Authors:
    • Singh, J.
    • Bhatnagar, P.
    • Kaul, M.
  • Source: Acta Horticulturae
  • Issue: 922
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Studies of variation in plant environmental factors of Kinnow mandarin for at Agriculture Research Station, SriGanganagar district of Rajasthan state in India during 2002-04 with respect to three differential irrigation treatments revealed that overall maximum carboxylation efficiency (A) was estimated at 70% Etc treatment from April to June with a linear trend. It showed depression in September and October followed by a steady rise in November and December months. Stomatal conductance revealed oscillating trend with maximum in 70% Etc treatment for April and May months followed by steep rise in 40% Etc treatment for June-July. It remained static in August and September, but a trend reversal occurred in October-November with maximum stomatal conductance in 100% Etc treatment. The cumulative overall high stomatal resistance in 40% treatment might have attributed to low photosynthetic rates followed by 100% treatment and the better assimilation rates were observed under 70% treatment and were correlated with low rates of stomatal resistance. The daily course of transpiration in all the three irrigation treatments was not closely linked to solar irradiation but rather to leaf temperature. Temperatures of 25-30degreesC are optimal for photosynthesis but temperatures above 30degreesC definitely reduce photosynthetic activity. The annual trend for three consecutive years' data revealed occurrence of cyclic oscillations in photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, stomatal resistance, transpiration rate and photosynthetic active radiation under field conditions. Citrus belong to C3 plants, with photosynthetic rates lower than C4 plants. Assimilation rates ranging from 1.28 to 7.93 mmol m -2 s -1 observed under differential irrigation treatments seem realistic under optimal irrigated conditions of Western Rajasthan.
  • Authors:
    • Guo, R.
    • Xu, H.
    • Lin, T.
    • Tian, L.
    • Cui, J.
  • Source: Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences
  • Volume: 48
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Objective: In order to substantially know the weeds community and its characteristics in cotton field under mulch-drip irrigation of the south Xinjiang, an investigation on weeds was conducted. Finally a theoretical base of weeds control was provided in cotton subregions of the Southern prematurity and medium ripening taha. Method: Laid heavy stress on the years of cotton field with drip irrigation in townships of Avati County, weed community and quantities were investigated, including comparing with weeds community under the different mode of cotton. Result: There were a lot of weeds species in different cotton mode, including 9 families 15 kinds. Their main species were gramineous, compositae and chenopodiaceae families which had great effect on cotton growth. Conclusion: Compared with cotton fields under outdoor sowing, conventional irrigation and mulch-drip irrigation, the dry weight of weeds root hade significantly lower. The reason was that enough water and nutrient were supplied in time in cotton field under mulch-drip irrigation. The weeds quantity of annual shallow roots and broad-leaved had tendency to increase. The weeds had two harm peaks in the cotton growth period, and peak harm appeared earlier and continued for longer time.
  • Authors:
    • Lasram, A.
    • Akkari, T.
    • Dellagi, H.
  • Source: New Medit
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: This work deals with the regional characteristics of the supplied irrigation effect on the cereal yield in Tunisia. It underlines the value of the knowledge how scientifically brought to farmers. This study analyses the results of an inquiry carried on over seven consecutive years at the level of two categories for farmers practising irrigated wheat farming. The first category of farmers is taking advantage of a set of the technological support actions which related both to the vulgarization of different forms of technological innovations and the miscellaneous forms of support in kind, while the second category of farmers is granted no form of support. The specification of the different regions studied in Tunisia and the comparison of the two farmers categories studied is brought out by the Principal Components Analysis technique and the PLS regression. The mastering of the irrigation waters use, the rationalization of the fertilization as well as the soil exploitation in the north of the country are better valorised by the supported farmers.
  • Authors:
    • Osman, E.
    • Abdullah, R.
    • El-Latif, K. M. A.
    • El-Kader, N. A.
  • Source: Advances in Applied Science Research
  • Volume: 2
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Two field experiments on potato ( Solanum tuberosum, L.) crop were carried out at El-Qanater Horticultural Research station, Kalubiya, Governorate, Egypt for two successive seasons 2009 and 2010. The study concerned the use of different rates of potassium fertilization (72, 96 and 120 kg K 2O/fed.) under different irrigation schedulings (40, 60 and 80% from available water) on potato crop in alluvial soil. Generally, in most cases, the treatment of the medium or/and highest soil moisture level (60 and 80% from available water) gave the highest significant values for plant height, dry matter and K content of potato plant at 90 days from planting and potato yield tuber ton/fed N, P and K contents in tuber in addition to, total soluble solids and protein content in tuber as well as consumptive use. While the lowest one were recorded when the lowest soil moisture level (40% from available water) was applied. Generally, all k rates gave the highest significant values for all parameters under study. The second level of potassium 96 kg K 2O/fed. achieved the highest significant values of dry matter, content of N and K at 90 days from planting as well as N content in tuber. Whereas, the high values of tuber yield, protein content, water use efficiency and consumptive use were obtained when 120 kg K 2O/fed. was applied. In most cases, the high levels of potassium under 80% from available water gave highest significant values for all parameters under study in both seasons.
  • Authors:
    • El-Wakeel, F.
    • Eid, M.
  • Source: Journal of American Science
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: This study was carried out through two successive seasons (2008 and 2009) in a private orange orchard in Qalubia governorate Egypt in a three years old Navel orange trees budded on sour orange rootstock on clay loam soil (Typic Torriorthents). Planting distance was 2.55* meters apart and flood irrigation was used by river Nile water. Two nitrogen rates were used 150 and 300 g N/tree/y in three forms 100% mineral nitrogen (M.N.) as ammonium nitrate, 100% organic nitrogen (O.N.) as compost and mixed (50% M.N.+50% O.N.) each of these treatments with or without K humate addition (6 kg/feddan). All fertilization treatments were divided into equal five doses added every two months from February to October during the two seasons. The obtained results showed that the highest stem thickness increment percentage was recorded by mixed nitrogen form (50% M.N.+50% O.N.). Mixed nitrogen form with K-humate recorded the highest significant value of plant height increment percentage in the first season, but in the second season, using nitrogen form at 150 g N/tree/y without K-humate recorded the highest significant value. Leaf N content had higher significant values with M.N. treatments. Leaf P content showed insignificant differences among treatments. Mixed N source at 300 g N/tree/y without K-humate recorded a higher significant value of leaf K content, in the second season compared with other treatments. Leaf Ca content showed a higher significant value by organic and mixed N form treatments in the first season. Leaf Mg, Fe, Mn and Zn contents increased significantly with M.N. treatments in the first season. While in the second season leaf Fe content had a higher significant value with O.N. treatments. Leaf Mn content illustrated the lowest significant mean level by using N form at 150 g N/tree/y treatment. While, leaf Zn content recorded a higher significant value with mixed nitrogen source at 150 g N/tree/y with K-humate addition compared with all other treatments. From this results we recommended that the mixed sources of N fertilizer (50% M.N.+50% O.N.) at 150 g N/tree/y is the best N fertilizer, and the application of K-humate or humic acid at commercial rate is not recognized for the young Navel orange trees in clay loam (Typic Torriorthents) soil.
  • Authors:
    • Goel, V.
  • Source: Acta Horticulturae
  • Issue: 895
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: This study discusses how asset positions, cane cultivable practices and chain coordination mechanisms for sugar cane growers vary in Punjab (India). The study is based upon field surveys of cane farmers classified on the basis of cane cultivated area - Group I (below five acres), Group II (five to ten acres) and Group III (above ten acres). Across the three groups of cane growers little variation has been observed in their farm asset positions except for land size and cane cultivable practices. All cane growers enter into informal verbal contracts with several upstream chain partners to lease land, hire labour and purchase operational inputs. In contrast, they all enter into formal written contracts with their downstream chain partners i.e. sugar mills for cane disposal. Upward chain coordination ensures that farmers have sufficient land to achieve some economies of scale for the optimal utilization of complementary farm assets, timely availability of labour and timely availability of other operational inputs. However, owing to frequent and unexpected power cuts, farmers turn to diesel operated pump sets to ensure timely irrigation and open markets for the purchase of fertilizers because cooperative societies are not always able to ensure timely and adequate supplies. Downward chain coordination ensures timely cane disposal for farmers while regular and timely cane supplies to mills. However, cooperative sugar mills often fail to make timely cane payments to farmers. Thereupon, Group II and III sized cane farmers have a propensity to shift to private sugar mills for cane disposal and to divert some part of their land holdings to alternative field crops i.e., paddy/cotton. In contrast, Group I farmers shift to the cultivation of alternative crops.