• Authors:
    • Avval, S. H. M.
    • Rafiee, S.
    • Jafari, A.
    • Mohammadi, A.
  • Source: Journal of Agricultural Technology
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The energy consumption in different operations of soybean, canola and sunflower productions in Golestan province of Iran was investigated. This study also focused sketches the environmental footprints of energy use in oilseed production. For these purpose Inquiries on 319 oilseed farms were conducted in 2009/10 production period. The results revealed that soybean gave the highest operational energy input (22235 MJ ha -1); while, total operational energy for canola and sunflower was relatively low as 8317 and 6013 MJ ha -1, respectively. Irrigation operation consumed the highest share of total operational energy in soybean and sunflower productions; it was mainly in the form of electricity energy; however, in canola production, the tillage operation was the most intensive energy consumer, followed by harvesting practice. From this study it was found that increasing energy use efficiency of water pumping systems by good repair and maintenance and employing improved tillage and harvesting practices, such as low till agriculture, could be the pathways to make oilseed productions more environmental friendly and thus reduce their environmental footprints.
  • Authors:
    • Vaseghi, E.
    • Bagheri, A.
    • Pour, A. S.
  • Source: Journal of Agricultural Economics Research
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: In this study, three irrigation methods, namely, clouding tape, sprinkler and furrow in Rozveh Agricultural Research station (Fereidan Region in Isfahan) were evaluated. This study was conducted as randomized complete blocks design as a split-split strip plot layout with three replication during two years. Three irrigation systems were considered as main plots, two planting methods (one-row planting and two-row planting) as split subplots and two potato cultivars (Marfuna and Agria) as split-split subplots. Significant difference way observed between irrigation method treatments and planting method by analyzing two years results. Results of the 1st year showed the advantage of production mean in sprinkler and tape methods comparing to furrow method while the second year results showed the advantage of sprinkler method to tape method and tape method to furrow method. Comparison of yield mean of cultivars indicated that although Agria cultivar was preferred to Marfona cultivar in the 1st year, two year comparison of yield mean showed no significant difference between Agria and Marfuna cultivars with yield means of 24083 kg. and 23233 kg., respectively. The two year comparison results of yield means using different planting methods indicated that one row planting with mean yield of 24839 kg. was preferred significantly compare to two row planting with mean yield of 22927kg. One row planting showed significant preference in the 1st and 2nd year. Two year interaction effect of treatments showed that, except cultivar * year source, other interaction effects were not significant. Tape irrigation led to highest mean of WUE equal to 4.92 kg/m3. Economic evaluation of the project was carried out using benefit-cost ratio and present value of net benefits. The results indicated that sprinkler system was more beneficial. Tape and furrow methods for potato planting stood in the next place.
  • Authors:
    • Vashist, K. K.
    • Mahey, R. K.
    • Barkodia, R.
    • Mahal, S. S.
    • Sidhu, A. S.
  • Source: Journal of Cotton Research and Development
  • Volume: 25
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: A field experiment was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during kharif, 2004. The treatments comprised of four irrigation schedules (Irrigation application at 75, 95, 115 and 135 mm of cumulative pan evaporation) and four dates of irrigation termination (10, 20, 30 September and 10, October). The treatments were replicated four times in randomized block design. Ginning outturn was not affected due to schedule of irrigation upto the last irrigation. Highest oil content (19.34%) was observed under 135 mm CPE, which was significantly higher than 75 and 95 mm CPE but was at par with 115 mm CPE. None of the quality characters were significantly influenced by different irrigation schedules as well as date of termination of last irrigation. Maximum seed cotton yield was recorded at 95 mm (16.23 q/ha) followed by 75 mm (16.22 q/ha) CPE and these two irrigation regimes being at par with one another and they were significantly superior to 115 mm (13.98 q/ha) and 135 mm (12.66 q/ha) CPE. Termination of last irrigation on October, 10 produced highest seed cotton yield (15.64 q/ha) as compared to termination on September, 10 and 20 but at par with September, 30.
  • Authors:
    • Levy, Y.
    • Raveh, E.
  • Source: Israel Journal of Plant Sciences
  • Volume: 59
  • Issue: 2/4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: During the last 50 years world irrigation has doubled while water withdrawal has tripled, leading to a global water crisis. As a result, growers around the world are forced to utilize effluent water for irrigation. In Israel the main source for such water is "SHAFDAN", i.e., tertiary-treated waste water, which is characterized by high chloride content that might increase in the future. These days about 33% of Israeli citrus orchards are irrigated with this water, yet its potential effect on citrus orchards is not clear. Citrus is one of the major fruit crops of the world and is relatively salt-sensitive. Recently it was reported that continuous application of KNO 3 might reduce chloride (Cl) uptake, and thus overcome the toxic effects of salinity. We examined the effect of KNO 3 fertilization and rootstock on grapefruit's response to salinized SHAFDAN reclaimed water over four years. Trees were grafted on five different rootstocks and fertigated with two KNO 3 regimes (118 vs. 148 mg 1 -1 NO 3), and exposed to five levels of salinized reclaimed water (from 221 to 765 mg 1 -1 Cl). During the experiment, soil electrical conductivity (EC) ranged from 2 dS m -1 (above the threshold for yield reduction) to 5 dS m -1. Leaf Cl (with the exception of trees grafted on Troyer) usually kept below toxicity level, i.e., >0.4%. Cumulative yield reduction due to salinity was 37.6, 21.3, 18.2, 17.2, and 12.6 kg per tree per dS m -1 of soil paste extract, for trees grafted on 812, SO, Volk, Gau, and Troy rootstocks, respectively, reflecting their sensitivity to the osmotic component of salt stress. Enhanced application of KNO 3 did not overcome the osmotic effect of salinity. These results indicate that while using reclaimed water, the osmotic component of salinity can be of higher significance than its toxic component, and more attention should be given in the future to the rootstock/scion combination's sensitivity to the osmotic component of salinity.
  • Authors:
    • Irshad, M
    • Ahmad, R
  • Source: Soil & Environment
  • Volume: 30
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Boron (B), one of the essential micronutrients, plays vital role in plant growth. Thirty one field experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of wheat, rice and cotton to B application throughout Pakistan during 2005-08. Boron was applied at 1 kg ha -1 as Borax decahydrate (11.3% B) at different times along with recommended doses of N, P and K. The results revealed that B application at sowing time to wheat increased significantly the number of tillers plant -1 (15%), number of grains spike -1 (11%), 1000-grain weight (7%) and grain yield (10%) over control. Among the treatments, B application at sowing time showed best results followed by B application at 1st irrigation and at booting stage. In rice (coarse), B application before transplanting substantially increased number of tillers hill -1 (21%), plant height (3%), panicle length (10%), and number of paddy grains panicle -1 (17%), 1000-grain weight (11%) and paddy yield (31%) over control. Response of fine rice to B application was similar for all yield parameters as in coarse rice. In cotton, B application considerably increased plant height (3%), number of mature bolls plant -1 (12%), seed weight boll -1 (8%) and seed cotton yield (9%) over control. Although, B application at all stages significantly increased yield parameters tested but B application at sowing time was best among all treatments.
  • Authors:
    • Zhang, T. Z.
    • Yusuf, Z.
    • Nabila, T.
    • Ihsan, U.
    • Guo, W. Z.
    • Mehboob-ur-Rahman
    • Saeed, M.
  • Source: Electronic Journal of Biotechnology
  • Volume: 14
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Increasing scarcity of irrigation water is a major threat to sustainable production of cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.). Identifying genomic regions contributing to abiotic stress tolerance will help develop cotton cultivars suitable for water-limited regions through molecular marker-assisted breeding. A molecular mapping F 2 population was derived from an intraspecific cross of the drought sensitive G. hirsutum cv. FH-901 and drought tolerant G. hirsutum cv. RH-510. Field data were recorded on physiological traits (osmotic potential and osmotic adjustment); yield and its component traits (seedcotton yield, number of bolls/plant and boll weight); and plant architecture traits (plant height and number of nodes per plant) for F 2, F 2:3 and F 2:4 generations under well-watered versus water-limited growth conditions. The two parents were surveyed for polymorphism using 6500 SSR primer pairs. Joinmap3.0 software was used to construct linkage map with 64 polymorphic markers and it resulted into 35 markers mapped on 12 linkage groups. QTL analysis was performed by composite interval mapping (CIM) using QTL Cartographer2.5 software. In total, 7 QTLs (osmotic potential 2, osmotic adjustment 1, seedcotton yield 1, number of bolls/plant 1, boll weight 1 and plant height 1) were identified. There were three QTLs ( qtlOP-2, qtlOA-1, and qtlPH-1) detected only in water-limited conditions. Two QTLs ( qtlSC-1 and qtlBW-1) were detected for relative values. Two QTLs ( qtlOP-1 and qtlBN-1) were detected for well-watered treatment. Significant QTLs detected in this study can be employed in MAS for molecular breeding programs aiming at developing drought tolerant cotton cultivars.
  • Authors:
    • Javaid, A.
    • Mahmood-ul-Hassan
    • Alam, S. S.
    • Saleem, M.
  • Source: Pakistan Journal of Botany
  • Volume: 43
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Significant effect of different irrigation schedules and integrated nutrition levels was determined on fraction of intercepted radiation (Fi) in cotton. The treatments were four irrigation schedules viz, six irrigations (I-1), three irrigations (I-2), irrigation at 25 mm deficit (I-3) and irrigation at 50 mm deficit (14), and seven integrated nutrition levels i.e. control (No), 75-37.5-37.5 kg NM ha(-1) (N-1), 75-37.5-37.5 kg NPK ha(-1) + FYM (farm yard manure) @ 20 t ha(-1) (N-2), 75-37.5-37.5 kg NPK. ha-(1) + wheat straw@ St ha(-1) (N3), 150-75-75 kg NPK ha(-1) (N-4), 150-75-75 kg NM + FYM @20 t ha(-1) (N-5), 150-75-75 kg NPK ha(-1) + wheat straw @ 5 t ha(-1) (N-6). Positive and linear relationships were established between Fi and total dry flatter (TDM); and Fi and seed cotton yield. Significantly higher Fi values were attained when the crop was planted at N-5 with any of three irrigation schedules viz. I-1, or I-3 or I-4. The highest values of Fi (0.914 in first year and 0.913 in second year of study) were recorded with I4N5 which were followed by I3N5 and I1N5. The interactions I4N5, I3N5 and I1N5 harvested 23.51, 23.38 and 20.27 % greater Fi to I2N0.
  • Authors:
    • Abusuwar, A.
    • Omer, E.
  • Source: Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America
  • Volume: 2
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: A field experiment was carried out for two consecutive seasons (2005/2006 and 2006/2007) in the Demonstration Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture at Shambat, University of Khartoum, Sudan, to study the effect of intercropping, phosphorus application and Rhizobium inoculation on the performance of some leguminous and cereal forage crops. The treatments used were pure stand, a mixture of Clitoria, lablab and Sudangrass, phosphorus fertilizer and Rhizobium inoculation. They were laid out in a completely randomized block design with three replications. Yield and quality were measured. Land equivalent ratio (LER) was calculated to evaluate intercropping versus monocropping. The results of the field experiment showed that, sole crop yield was higher than when grown in a mixture. The mixtures especially legume/legume combinations, gave more total forage yield than the sole crops. Nearly all the intercropping treatments had land equivalent ratio (LER) above one which indicated the advantage of intercropping over monocropping. Rhizobium inoculation and phosphorus application improved forage quality by increasing crude protein content. Intercropping and phosphorus fertilization decreased crude fiber percentage in the plant tissues.
  • Authors:
    • Lehane, K.
    • Orange, D.
    • Holmes, C.
    • King, A.
    • Weston, E.
    • Dalal, R.
    • Thomas, G.
  • Source: Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
  • Volume: 35
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Rainfed grain production in semi-arid, subtropical south-west Queensland in north-east Australia is marginal, because of low and variable rainfall and low soil fertility. Current cropping systems are based around winter cereals, with a summer fallow period essential for storing soil water to reduce risk. Increasing the soil water storage and the efficiency of water and nitrogen use is essential for sustainable crop production in this region. The effects on crop production and economic returns of various crop rotations involving winter crops - wheat ( Triticum aestivum), chickpea ( Cicer arietinum), faba bean ( Vicia faba) and canola ( Brassica napus); summer crops - grain sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor) and mung bean ( Phaseolus mungo); and fertilizer N application to wheat, canola and grain sorghum were studied from 1996 to 2005 on a grey Vertisol. Annual rainfall was above the long-term average in 6 of these 10 years and below average in 4 years. Crops were either not sown or failed due to drought in 3 years during this period. Under the seasonal conditions and grain prices that occurred during this experiment, mean annual gross margin was $100/ha greater for a 2-year chickpea-wheat rotation, $20/ha greater for a faba bean-canola-wheat rotation and $45/ha greater for an alternate cereal-grain legume rotation involving grain sorghum, mung bean, wheat and chickpea than for continuous wheat ($40/ha), where no nitrogen fertilizer was applied to wheat, canola or grain sorghum. Where nitrogen fertilizer was applied to target prime hard grain protein in wheat and maximize yield in canola and grain sorghum, chickpea-wheat ($170/ha) was the only rotation to result in greater gross margin than continuous wheat ($110/ha). Chickpea generally yielded well and resulted in a mean yield increase of 22% in the following wheat crop compared with continuous wheat, where no nitrogen fertilizer was applied in wheat and of 11% where N fertilizer was applied in wheat to target prime hard grain protein. On average, the grain legumes, chickpea and faba bean, provided soil nitrogen benefits of 20 and 40 kg N/ha, respectively, thereby reducing nitrogen fertilizer requirements for following cereal crops and canola. Therefore, the profitability and sustainability of crop production in this semi-arid, subtropical environment can be improved, compared with continuous winter cereal cropping, by appropriate crop rotations and nutrient management.
  • Authors:
    • Zhang, F. S.
    • Sun, J. H.
    • Li, L.
  • Source: Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
  • Volume: 57
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Intercropping two species at different growth stages is common in temperate and tropical areas. An apparent recovery of growth is observed in late-maturing species after early-maturing species have been harvested, but the mechanism remained unclear. This study tested the hypothesis that the roots of late-maturing species occupy greater below-ground space at later growth stages. The monolith method was employed to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of maize grown alone (no interspecific interactions), maize intercropped with wheat (asymmetric interspecific facilitation before wheat harvesting), and maize intercropped with faba bean (symmetric interspecific facilitation) on August 8, September 2 and September 30, after harvesting of wheat (July 15) or faba bean (August 2). The results show that maize intercropped with wheat occupied more below-ground space at late growth stages than at early growth stages when the two crops grew at the same time, thus supporting our hypothesis. Furthermore, we also found that interspecific interactions during the co-growth stage of the two species led to a longer root life span in both maize intercropped with wheat and faba bean compared to the maize grown alone. The findings may partly explain the recovery of late-maturing species found in intercropping systems between two crop species with different growth stages and the complementary effect on the relationship between plant biodiversity and productivity.