• Authors:
    • Du, R.
    • Cai, S.
    • Geng, D.
    • Song, J.
    • Yang, Z.
  • Source: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
  • Volume: 20
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Based on the agronomic characteristics of yearly maize-wheat rotation in Huanghuaihai Plain, a new-concept no-till planter, named 2BMDF-8 no-till wheat-maize planter, has been developed by Shandong University of Technology to solve an extremely important problem, such as standing maize stubble in one pass in two-crop rotation areas of Shandong Province in China. The combine anti-blocking device that is composed of power chopping axle and the planting unit of double-disc opener was designed. The test results of field performance showed that the machine could accomplish many working procedures, such as stubble chopping, furrow opening, seeds and fertilizer placement etc, in one pass, so the operation cost could be decreased by about 30%. The machine worked well for planting wheat into fields with standing maize stubble and maize stubble shattered. The powered chopping axle resolved the anti-blockage problem that ahead of shank the double-disc opener unit reduced the blockage between planting units. Meanwhile the variations in seed depth reduced to 18.8% and 19.3% respectively. Therefore, this machine will be a good solution to no-till wheat-maize planting in two crop rotation areas.
  • Authors:
    • Shen, Y.
    • Wang, X.
    • Zheng, L.
  • Source: Acta Prataculturae Sinica
  • Volume: 20
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The research presented crop yield, phosphorus dynamic for a wheat-soybean rotation systems affected by tillage management: conventional tillage (t), tillage+ stubble retention (ts), no-till (nt), no-till+stubble retention (nts) in the Loess Plateau. Results showed that ten years tillage management implementation did not carry a yield penalty for winter wheat, soybean yield had a positive response to conservation tillage. Soil phosphorus content increased with the increasing of rotation sequences. Both total phosphorus and available phosphorus contents were increased at top 0-5 cm. Stubble retention increase crop phosphorus uptake, P contents in soybean grain under nts and ts treatment were 111% and 82% higher than that under t treatment. The results provide a local agricultural implement provides certain theoretical guidance.
  • Authors:
    • Gibson, L. R.
    • Singer, J. W.
    • Blaser, B. C.
  • Source: Agronomy Journal
  • Volume: 103
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Interseeding red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.) or alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) into winter cereals in the North Central United States can provide forage and a green manure crop. We hypothesized that winter cereal canopy traits such as leaf area index (LAI) and whole plant dry matter (DM) would influence interseeded legume establishment and productivity, yet the effect of canopy traits on resource competition in intercropping systems is not well understood. This study was conducted from 2005 to 2007 to evaluate the impact of diverse cereal canopy traits on the establishment of frost-seeded legume intercrops. In March, red clover and alfalfa were frost-seeded into three winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) and three triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) varieties selected for differences in maximum LAI, plant height, and DM. Across three growing seasons, the cereals produced a range of LAI from 2.1 to 6.2 and whole plant harvest DM of 817 to 2029 g m -2. In the 2 yr with legume data, densities were influenced by cereal 1 yr and DM was affected by cereal both years. Alfalfa and red clover densities were similar, yet DM production was 42% higher in red clover 40 d after grain harvest. The presence of a legume intercrop did not affect grain yield, but reduced weed densities and weed DM 40 d after harvest. Producers implementing this intercrop may select cereal varieties based on grain yield, but must be cautious of varieties known to produce above normal LAI values because of the potential to reduce legume productivity.
  • Authors:
    • Karagic,
    • Milosevic, B.
    • Milic, D.
    • Mikic, A.
    • Katic, S.
    • Vasiljevic, S.
    • Dusanic, N.
  • Source: Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry
  • Volume: 27
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: In order to determine an optimum ratio of vetch and wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) components in their mixture, there has been carried out a four-year trial (autumn 2005-spring 2009) aimed at the yield and quality of winter vetch haylage. The sowing rate of winter vetch was 120 kg ha -1, while the sowing rate of winter wheat was 0, 15, 20, 25 and 30 kg ha -1. An increased proportion of the cereal in its mixture with vetch significantly decreases the stand lodging, have a positive influence on forage yield, but haylage quality is of a poorer quality. Quality characteristics such as crude protein and lignin content, total digestible nutrients, dry matter intake and relative feed value were highest in monoculture common vetch followed by mixture with the lowest rate of wheat. Neutral detergent fiber content was positively affected by intercropping. There were no significant differences among treatments for acid detergent fiber content, digestible dry matter, and net energy for lactation. The most favorable balance between the haylage yield and quality, as well as the highest CP yield (1482 kg ha -1), was achieved by the mixture of 120 kg ha -1 of the vetch seed and 15 kg ha -1 of wheat.
  • Authors:
    • Tomer, M.
    • Cambardella, C.
    • Singer, J.
    • Moorman, T.
    • Kovar, J.
  • Source: Journal of Environmental Quality
  • Volume: 40
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Injection of liquid swine manure disturbs surface soil so that runoff from treated lands can transport sediment and nutrients to surface waters. We determined the effect of two manure application methods on P fate in a corn ( Zea mays L.)-soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production system, with and without a winter rye ( Secale cereale L.)-oat ( Avena sativa L.) cover crop. Treatments included: (i) no manure; (ii) knife injection; and (iii) low-disturbance injection, each with and without the cover crop. Simulated rainfall runoff was analyzed for dissolved reactive P (DRP) and total P (TP). Rainfall was applied 8 d after manure application (early November) and again in May after emergence of the corn crop. Manure application increased soil bioavailable P in the 20- to 30-cm layer following knife injection and in the 5- to 20-cm layer following low-disturbance injection. The low-disturbance system caused less damage to the cover crop, so that P uptake was more than threefold greater. Losses of DRP were greater in both fall and spring following low-disturbance injection; however, application method had no effect on TP loads in runoff in either season. The cover crop reduced fall TP losses from plots with manure applied by either method. In spring, DRP losses were significantly higher from plots with the recently killed cover crop, but TP losses were not affected. Low-disturbance injection of swine manure into a standing cover crop can minimize plant damage and P losses in surface runoff while providing optimum P availability to a subsequent agronomic crop.
  • Authors:
    • Kim, H.
    • Kim, K.
    • Choi, J.
    • Kim, T.
    • Park, J.
    • Kim, Y.
    • Yoo, J.
    • Lee, M.
  • Source: Korean Journal of Crop Science
  • Volume: 56
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Varietal and annual variations in the contents of beta-glucan fractions per weight grain samples were examined in sixteen covered and eighteen naked barley and five oat cultivars developed in Korea. Also, the effect of pearling on beta-glucan content was investigated. Average contents of total, soluble and insoluble beta-glucan fractions were 5.25, 3.72, and 1.53%, respectively, in covered barley, and 5.86, 3.51, and 2.35%, respectively, in naked barley. Soluble beta-glucan content was higher in covered barley, though total beta-glucan content higher in naked barley. The total and insoluble beta-glucan contents were higher in pearled grains. Total beta-glucan content was higher in waxy barley than in non-waxy barley. Duwonchapssalbori, a two-rowed and waxy naked barley cultivar, was highest in total, soluble and insoluble beta-glucan contents. Highly significant positive correlations were observed between total beta-glucan and soluble beta-glucan contents both in covered and naked barley. There were significant annual variations in total beta-glucan content in barley. Average contents of total, soluble and insoluble beta-glucans of oat cultivars were 4.33, 3.44, and 0.89%, respectively. Contents of all fractions of beta-glucans were higher in barley than in oat. These results would be useful for the breeding of high beta-glucan variety and also for the use barley and oat as value-added food ingredients.
  • Authors:
    • Burdick, B. A.
    • Massey, R. E.
    • Nelson, K. A.
  • Source: Agronomy Journal
  • Volume: 103
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Early-seeded soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] relay intercropped into standing wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) using soybean seed-coat technology may allow profitable wheat production in the Midwest on highly erodible soils. Dry conditions in mid- to late June have reduced relay intercropped soybean stands and yield in some years. We hypothesized that using glyphosate as a wheat harvest aid would reduce the impact of wheat interference on relay intercropped soybean grain yield and increase gross margins. Field research conducted over four site-years in upstate Missouri evaluated timings for application of glyphosate as a harvest aid on wheat and relay intercropped soybean. The cost effectiveness of these cropping systems was compared to full-season soybean, double-cropped wheat-soybean, and wheat-only production systems. Glyphosate applied to wheat 1 wk before harvest, after late dough, in a relay intercrop production system with coated-soybean maintained wheat grain yields similar to nontreated wheat, and increased soybean grain yields 290 to 770 kg ha -1 compared to nontreated wheat relay intercropped or double-cropped with soybean. Earlier glyphosate application timings (2-3 wk before wheat harvest) reduced wheat grain yields 10 to 25% and grain density 3 to 13%, but soybean yield increased 430 to 520 kg ha -1 compared to nontreated wheat in a relay intercrop system. A relay intercrop system with seed coat technology and glyphosate as a harvest aid may allow farmers to maintain wheat in their crop rotation while minimizing risk associated with early fall frost or dry conditions at seeding that may otherwise decrease double-crop soybean yields.
  • Authors:
    • Liu, M.
    • Zhai, H.
    • Shi, C.
    • Dong, B.
    • Ruan, F.
    • Qiao, Y.
  • Source: Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture
  • Volume: 19
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Ridge planting and intercropping of winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) are important cropping systems in the North China Plain (NCP), in which there exists an acute shortage of water resources especially for crop production. This study analyzed water use efficiency ( WUE) of winter wheat in wheat||spinach-tomato cropping system using both traditional and ridge cultivation as the control practices. Traditional cultivated spinach ( Spinacia oleracea L.) and tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Miller) system was the control cropping practice for the spinach||tomato intercropping system. The results showed that wheat grain yield under ridge planting and intercropping was 11% less than under traditional cultivation (401 kg.667 m -2). The reduction in grain yield was attributed to low tiller number as ridge-edge effect was not fully exploited. Tiller numbers of ridge-planted ridge-intercropped wheat were 13.2% and 8.2% less than traditional cultivated wheat system. Row tiller number was much less in either ridge-planted or ridge-intercropped systems than in traditional cultivation system. Comparisons among the three cropping systems suggested that traditional wheat cropping had the highest WUE (1.039 kg.667 m -2.mm -1), and that intercropping had the lowest WUE (0.868 kg 667 m -2.mm -1). Ridge cultivation had a smaller WUE (0.944 kg.666.7 m -2.mm -1) than traditional cultivation system because between-ridge water was not fully utilized. Yield of spinach was, however, not affected by wheat. Yields of intercropped and traditional cultivation spinach systems were 826 kg.667 m -2 and 851 kg.667 m -2, respectively, with a difference not statistically significant. However, tomato growth was greatly hampered under the intercropping system. Stem diameter and biomass per plant under intercropped tomato was respectively 27% and 37% less than that under traditional cultivation system. This suggested that after spinach harvest, tomato transplanting should be postponed as long as possible so as to shorten crop symbiosis and make the cropping system more manageable. It was therefore concluded that wheat||spinach-tomato cropping system facilitated di-season vegetable and food production, provided that the wheat and vegetable cultivars were properly selected and cultivated.
  • Authors:
    • Cociu, A. I.
    • Alionte, E.
  • Source: Analele Institutului National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare Agricola Fundulea
  • Volume: 79
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Grain yields of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), maize ( Zea mays L.), and soybean [ Glycine max. (L.) Merr], in rotation were significantly influenced by soil deep loosening and tillage system, depending on water supply (irrigation application). Scientific literature regarding the influence of these agronomic factors on the yield quality of the respective three crops, in rotation, is quite limited. For this study, a field experiment was carried out at Fundulea, which is located in the eastern part of the Danube Plain, on a cambic chernozem soil type. One of the main objectives was to determine how the grain yield quality of winter wheat, maize and soybean is influenced by different reduced tillage systems, in comparison with the traditional (conventional) one, as well as by the direct seeding in non-worked ground, or in strip till, with and without soil deep loosing, under different irrigations. Regarding the maize, the water provisioning * tillage system interaction was very significant (P0.05). Under the three water provisions applied, protein content had values between 40.0%, recorded when the normal irrigation rate was used, at no till system, and 41.5%, recorded for the dry conditions, also at no till system. The 1,000 kernel weight varied between 120 g, registered for the dry conditions at no till variant, and 159 g, registered for normal irrigation rate, also at no till system. The results of this research do not make evident a certain tendency of protein content, but show clearly that the fat content increases concomitantly with grain yield growing. As concerns the winter wheat crop, the water provisioning * tillage system interaction was not significant (P>0.05). Protein content was comprised between 13.2%, registered when the normal irrigation rate was applied at no till system variant, and 15.7%, under dry conditions, at the traditional tillage system. The minimum value of 1,000 kernel weight was 37 g, recorded for dry conditions at chisel tillage variant, and the highest value, of 47 g, was obtained when normal irrigation rate was applied to no till variant.
  • Authors:
    • Kuai, D.
    • DianXiong, C.
    • XiaoMing, Z.
    • Yan, W.
    • QuanSheng, Z.
    • DingChen, Z.
    • ZongHui, F.
    • XiaoHong, X.
    • XiaoBin, W.
  • Source: Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering
  • Volume: 27
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: A six-year experiment (2003 to 2008) was conducted in Shouyang Dryland Farming Experimental Station in Shanxi Province to study the effect of different tillage practices (no-tillage, reduced tillage and conventional tillage) with three nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P 2O 5) fertilizer rates (105, 179 and 210 kg/hm2; N:P 2O 5=1:1) on spring corn yield and water use efficiency. The results showed that at the recommended fertilizer rate of 105 kg/hm 2, the average yield and water use efficiency (WUE) were about 5 234 kg/hm 2 and 12.4 kg/(hm 2.mm), respectively, under conventional tillage (CT), and about 5 751 kg/hm 2 and 13.6 kg/(hm 2.mm), respectively, under reduced tillage (RT). The average yield and WUE under RT increased by about 9.9% and 9.7%, respectively, compared to CT. Under no-tillage (NT), the average yield and WUE, at the fertilizer rate of 179 kg/hm 2, were highest, about 5 336 kg/hm 2 and 13.2 kg/(hm 2.mm), respectively, which were about 6.1% and 9.7% higher than those under CT. The NT increased soil water contents, resulting in higher yields in dry years, compared to CT. Among three tillage practices, the average yield and WUE were ranked as RT >NT >CT.