• Authors:
    • Kennedy, A. C.
    • Schillinger, W. F.
    • Young, D. L.
    • Paulitz, T. C.
  • Source: Field Crops Research
  • Volume: 115
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Field burning of residue is a traditional management tool for irrigated wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) production in the Inland Pacific Northwest of the United States (PNW) that can result in reduced air quality. A 6-year no-till field experiment to evaluate two complete cycles of a 3-year irrigated crop rotation of winter wheat-spring barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.)-winter canola ( Brassica napus L.) was sown (i) directly into standing residue of the previous crop, (ii) after mechanical removal of residue and, (iii) after burning of residue. The traditional practice of continuous annual winter wheat sown after burning residue and inverting the topsoil with a moldboard plow was included as a check treatment. Over-winter precipitation storage efficiency (PSE) was markedly improved when residue was not burned or burned and plowed after grain harvest. Grain yield of winter wheat trended higher in all no-till residue management treatments compared to the check treatment. Average grain yields of spring barley and canola were not significantly different among the no-till residue management treatments. Winter canola failed in 5 of 6 years due to a combination of a newly identified Rhizoctonia damping-off disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-2-1 and cold temperatures that necessitated replanting to spring canola. Six-year average net returns over total costs were statistically equal over all four systems. All systems lost from $358 to $396 ha -1. Soil organic carbon (SOC) increased linearly each year with no-till at the 0-5 cm depth and accumulated at a slower rate at the 5-10 cm depth. Take-all of wheat caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici was most severe in continuous annual winter wheat. The incidence and severity of Rhizoctonia on roots of wheat and inoculum of R. solani AG-8, was highest in the no-till treatments, but there was no grain yield loss due to this disease in any treatment. Residue management method had no consistent effect on Rhizoctonia root rot on barley. The annual winter grass downy brome ( Bromus tectorum L.) was problematic for winter wheat in the standing and mechanically removed residue treatments, but was controlled in the no-till residue burned and the burn and plow check. Another winter annual grass weed, rattail fescue ( Vulpia myuros L.), infested all no-till treatments. This was the first comprehensive and multidisciplinary no-till irrigated crop rotation study conducted in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Authors:
    • Singh, R.
  • Source: AMA-Agricultural Mechanization in Asia, Africa and Latin Ameria
  • Volume: 41
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: India has emerged as the second largest producer of wheat in the world, close on the heels of China. Development and adoption of improved farm technologies has helped boost yields, provide resistance to important pests and diseases and other undesirable traits, spread of irrigation, storage, transport, processing and marketing, coupled with congenial price policies, all helping enhance the production and productivity of wheat. The transition in technology and agricultural development has brought in a shift in the choice of energy resources under use. The use of non-renewable energy sources has been increasing in the process. Adoption of an energy-efficient cultivation system would help in energy conservation and better resource allocation. For the wheat crop, data were collected from 780 irrigated farms spread over Tarai and Bhabar regions of Uttar Pradesh and five agro-climatic zones of the Punjab State. All the farms had the combination of tractor power and diesel engine and electric motor pumps as stationary power sources. The energy consumption patterns of these farms were studied and linear programming technique applied to determine optimal energy resource allocation for maximum yield obtainable under business-as-usual and improved cultivation practices. The results indicated that 16,635 MJ/ha of energy is presently consumed for an average yield of 3,646 kg/ha. Fertiliser provided 41 percent of the energy, followed by diesel, electricity, seed, farmyard manure, human, machinery and agro-chemicals. Based on the performance of the farms, optimal energy resource allocation suggests that 38.50 percent additional yield can be obtained without any major change in energy use pattern. Energy saving of 8.30 percent is also feasible with optimal energy resource allocations. Since the optimisation is based on actual performance of the sample size, it appears that the energy resource management by the majority of farmers has been sub-optimal. The results also suggest that by adopting improved cultivation practices and recommended seed and fertiliser application rates, the yield level can increase to 5,792 kg/ha with an investment of 17,230 MJ/ha of total energy. The optimized energy use requires 17.40 percent higher fertiliser, and 60.72 percent higher machinery energy for timely sowing of the crop with improved sowing implements and timely completion of time bound operations. Energy productivity in the process would increase to 0.336 kg/MJ from 0.219 kg/MJ presently being obtained by the farmers. The estimate of optimized energy resource allocation (using improved practices) required for attaining the potential yield level observed in research farms indicate that investment of 22,378 MJ/ha would be required for a yield level of 6,000 kg/ha. When compared with optimal energy resource allocation for business-as-usual approach, fertiliser use would increase by about 48 percent for the increase in yield by 19 percent. Diesel energy use would increase by 54 percent. As a consequence, electricity and human energy use would reduce by about 10 and 19 percent, respectively. The total energy consumption (using improved practices) increases with increase in productivity. The share of indirect energy increases faster than direct energy due to fertiliser consumption pattern. Energy productivity would improve to 0.426 kg/MJ, the rate of improvement being higher till yield level of 2,500 kg/ha. The total direct energy consumption in business-as-usual practice is, however, more than in the improved practice, the difference being more pronounced at lower productivity levels. The pattern is governed by the consumption pattern of direct commercial energy. The potential of saving of human energy and electricity in the process would provide a better energy management option for cultivation of the crop.
  • Authors:
    • Hoogmoed, W. B.
    • Cai, D.
    • Wu, X.
    • Zhao, Q.
    • Zhang, X.
    • Wang, Y.
    • Dai, K.
    • Wang, X.
    • Oenema, O.
  • Source: Agricultural Water Management
  • Volume: 97
  • Issue: 9
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Rainfed crop production in northern China is constrained by low and variable rainfall, and by improper management practices. This study explored both the impact of long-term rainfall variability and the long-term effects of various combinations of maize stover, cattle manure and mineral fertiliser (NP) applications on maize ( Zea mays L.) yields and water use efficiency (WUE) under reduced tillage practices, at Shouyang Dryland Farming Experimental Station in northern China from 1993 onwards. The experiment was set up according to an incomplete, optimal design, with 3 factors at five levels and 12 treatments including a control with two replications. Grain yields were greatly influenced by the amount of rain during the growing season, and by soil water at sowing. Annual mean grain yields ranged from 3 to 10 t ha -1 and treatment mean yields from 4.2 to 7.2 t ha -1. The WUE ranged from 40 in treatments with balanced nutrient inputs in dry (weather/or soil) years to 6.5 kg ha -1 mm -1 for the control treatments in wet years. The WUE averaged over the 15-year period ranged from 11 to 19 kg ha -1 mm -1. Balanced combination of stover (3000-6000 kg), manure (1500-6000 kg) and N fertiliser (105 kg) gave the highest yield and hence WUE. It is suggested that 100 kg N per ha should be a best choice, to be adapted according to availability of stover and manure. Possible management options under variable rainfall conditions to alleviate occurring moisture stress for crops must be tailored to the rainfall pattern. The potentials of split applications, targeted to the need of the growing crop (response nutrient management), should be explored to further improve grain yield and WUE.
  • Authors:
    • Daniel, H.
    • King, K.
    • Williams, A.
    • Martin, B.
  • Source: Proceedings of the 19th World Congress of Soil Science: Soil solutions for a changing world, Brisbane, Australia, 1-6 August 2010. Symposium 3.1.2 Farm system and environment impacts
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: No-till farming in Australia has revolutionised the way many farmers crop. Some of the moisture retention advantages of no-till farming have resulted in a reduced reliance of in-crop rain as well as increasing yields and profitability. Less clear is the effect on biological properties. Early results of a survey of the no-till cropping soils of the central west of NSW showed that most no-till cropping areas have lower soil carbon levels and lower microbial activity than nearby uncropped soils. This indicates that many no-till cropping soils may not be as sustainable as first thought. A long-fallow field trial was conducted on "Magomadine" near Coonamble NSW Australia using surface applied amendments (straw, compost, feedlot manure, biochar and zeolite) to investigate their effect on biological, chemical and physical soil properties. Early results are suggesting that the application of 10t/ha of straw can significantly ( P<0.05) increased soil moisture (24%), microbial respiration (50%), microbial biomass (21%), and mean weighted diameter of soil aggregates (75%). This research has highlighted the importance that high stubble residues have in improving these soil properties during a long-fallow.
  • Authors:
    • Li, S.
    • Chen, X.
    • Liu, Y.
    • Zhu, L.
    • Xu, H.
  • Source: Scientia Agricultura Sinica
  • Volume: 43
  • Issue: 14
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Objective: A field experiment was carried out on typical Hap-Ustic Isohumisol soil on dry highland of loess plateau to study the absorption and translocation of nitrogen in different farmland water management patterns under the same N fertilizer rate, therefore, the result would have good application values in guiding high yield cultivation of maize. Method: Four field water management practices, including supplementary irrigation, rain-fed, corn straw mulching and plastic film mulching, were adopted in spring maize Xianyu 335. The amount and proportion of N from different management practices at 6 growing stages (seedling, jointing, tasseling, blister, dough and maturity) were measured. Result: The experimental results showed that with the growing stage increasing, N absorption increased. After tasseling stage, with the center of growth changing the absorption quantity of organs absorbing N was changed. In every growing stage the N amount in supplementary irrigation treatment was higher than other three treatments, followed by plastic film mulching treatment, rain-fed treatment and corn straw mulching treatment. In supplementary irrigation treatment, the amount of organs N translocation was 235.5 kg.hm -2, higher than other three treatments, followed by 225.3 kg.hm -2 in plastic film mulching treatment; straw mulching treatment was higher than rain-fed treatment, but the difference was not significant. Supplementary irrigation treatment and plastic film mulching treatment were significantly higher than other two treatments. Conclusion: Under the conditions of this experiment, in dry highland of loess plateau area, different farmland water management patterns had significantly effects on spring maize nitrogen absorption, distribution and translocation. The management patterns which can increase the yield, the water utilization efficiency and the nitrogen utilization efficiency can also increase the N absorption and the grain N content. Supplementary irrigation treatment and plastic film mulching treatment were better treatments in this experiment. As for the comprehensive water saving and rainfall use efficiency, the recommended management practice should be the plastic film mulching treatment based on the results of this experiment.
  • Authors:
    • Li, G.
    • Luo, C.
    • Wang, X.
    • Niu, Y.
    • Gao, C.
    • Nan, Z.
    • Shen, Y.
    • Yang, J.
  • Source: Acta Prataculturae Sinica
  • Volume: 19
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: The effects of conventional tillage (t), conventional tillage with stubble retention (ts), no-tillage (nt), and no-tillage with stubble retention (nts) treatment on crop yield, soil total nitrogen and carbon, total organic carbon, oxidizible organic carbon, and carbon pool management index (CPMI) were investigated within a maize-wheat-soy rotation system in the western Loess Plateau. Total crop yield for ten harvests during the years 2001 to 2007 under ts and nts treatments increased by 3.63 and 1.62 g/kg compared with conventional tillage, but decreased by 2.48 g/kg on the nt treatment. Total nitrogen contents under nts treatment were 15.4%, 30.2% and 16.2% higher than t, ts and nt treatments. Total carbon under nts treatment was significantly increased by 2.04 g/kg and total organic carbon were 2.50, 1.56 and 1.70 g/kg higher than under t, ts and nt treatment, respectively. Easily oxidized organic carbon under nts was 2.13 g/kg higher than under t treatment. TN/TC decreased by 12.75%, 15.97%, 6.87% and 24.16% under t, ts, nt and nts treatments. The CPMI under ts, nt and nts were 12.6%, 20.1% and 46.6% higher than under t, both stubble retention and no-till were beneficial to increasing the soil organic carbon content and improving the quality of the carbon pool.
  • Authors:
    • Bagwan, N.
  • Source: International Journal of Plant Protection
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Crop root exudates of 20 crops like groundnut, soybean, pigeonpea, green gram, black gram, chickpea, pea, cowpea, mustard, cotton, castor, sunflower, safflower, sesamum, sorghum, pearl millet, maize, wheat, onion, and garlic were used in this study. Large variations of inhibitory effect of root exudates on S. rolfsii were observed. Low concentrations of root exudates (5% and 10%) had no effect on inhibition of mycelial growth and germination of sclerotia while, at high concentration (20%) inhibited the mycelial growth and germination of sclerotia. Mycelial growth, dry mycelium weight and sclerotial germination were recorded lowest in root exudates of sunflower, maize, pearl millet, sorghum, safflower, garlic, and onion. Mycelial growth, dry mycelium weight and sclerotial germination was recorded highest in root exudates of soybean, groundnut, green gram, black gram, pigeonpea, chickpea, pea and cowpea. It was observed that the root exudates of maize, sunflower and pearl millet showed a highest percentage of inhibition of mycelial growth and sclerotial germination. Another interesting of thing was observed that root exudates of groundnut, soybean and pea stimulate the mycelial growth and germination of sclerotia as compared to control. The results of this study suggested that the intercropping or crop rotation of safflower, maize, pearl millet, sorghum, sunflower, garlic, and onion with groundnut may be useful for the management of stem rot of groundnut and also for reduction of soil population of S. rolfsii in groundnut field. Similarly intercropping or crop rotation of soybean, green gram, black gram, chickpea, pea and cowpea with groundnut should be avoided. Based on these findings, it is hypothesized that root exudates of some crops contain antifungal compounds, while other stimulate the growth of fungal pathogens. Cultivation of safflower, maize, pearl millet and sorghum with groundnut could lead to a reduction in the occurrence of stem rot disease, especially when chemical control is not effective and economically costly. However, further investigation is necessary for isolation and identification of antifungal compounds in root exudates related to host-pathogen interaction.
  • Authors:
    • Mal'tsev, N.
    • Tsybikov, B.
    • Korshunov, V.
    • Batudaev, A.
  • Source: Russian Agricultural Sciences
  • Volume: 36
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: The performance of the following rotation systems with various types of fallow was evaluated at the steppe zone of Transbaikalia, Russia, during 1997-2007: clean fallow [fallow without ground cover]-wheat-oat-oat for biomass (T1); fallow with yellow sweet clover [ Melilotus officinalis]-wheat-clean fallow-yellow sweet clover (T2); fallow with yellow sweet clover-wheat-clean fallow-wheat + yellow sweet clover (T3); fallow with yellow sweet clover-wheat-oat-oat + yellow sweet clover for biomass (T4); fallow with oilseed radish-wheat-oat-oat for biomass (T5); oat for biomass-wheat-oat-oat for biomass (T6); and wheat-wheat-oat-clean fallow (T7). Spring wheat yields and productivity values recorded for fallow with yellow sweet clover (T2, T3 and T4) were as high as those registered for clean fallow (T1). The highest profitability values were obtained with T2 (172.0%) and T4 (170.0%).
  • Authors:
    • Yaduraju, N. T.
    • Das, T. K.
    • Tadesse, B.
  • Source: Weed Biology and Management
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Parthenium is widely distributed across the uncropped areas of the tropics. It has slowly encroached into many crops and causes considerable yield loss. It heavily infests sorghum, which is widely cultivated by the resource-poor farmers in Africa and Asia. Its interference and management in sorghum in these cropping systems is not well understood. Therefore, this experiment was undertaken to determine the appropriate parthenium management techniques to use in sorghum crops. All the studied weeds, in combination with parthenium, offered greater competition to sorghum than parthenium alone. Similarly, under a composite stand of weeds, parthenium was inferior in competitiveness to the other weeds until 60 days after sowing (DAS); by 90 DAS, it could accumulate a higher dry weight due to its consistent growth. A pre-emergence treatment of atrazine (0.75 kg ha -1) with wheat straw mulch (5.0 t ha -1) brought about a consistent and significant reduction in the parthenium growth and, consequently, increased the sorghum yield by 90.8%. Cowpea intercropping with and without pendimethalin (1.0 kg ha -1) as a pre-emergence treatment could not control parthenium between 0 and 60 DAS, but could reduce the parthenium growth during the later period of 60-90 DAS, which resulted in a significant increase in sorghum growth. These intercropping treatments increased the sorghum grain yield by 156.2% and 142.4%, respectively, over the unweeded control and by 18.5% and 12.1%, respectively, over the weed-free control. These treatments also promoted a higher uptake of N, P, and K by the sorghum crop. Thus, cowpea intercropping was the most effective method for parthenium management vis-a-vis sorghum yield improvement, followed by cowpea intercropping with pendimethalin and then by atrazine as a pre-emergence treatment with wheat straw mulch.
  • Authors:
    • Amri, M.
    • Fernandez-Aparicio, M.
    • Kharrat, M.
    • Rubiales, D.
  • Source: Crop Protection
  • Volume: 29
  • Issue: 7
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Mycosphaerella pinodes is a serious pea disease of worldwide distribution. The increasing interest of sustainable tools for disease control, together with the lack of sufficient levels of genetic resistance has brought our interest in the use of intercropping as a tool for management of this disease. Effect of intercropping on M. pinodes severity was studied in field experiments performed in Spain and Tunisia, in which a susceptible pea cultivar was grown as monocrop and as two species mixed intercrop with either faba bean, barley, oat, triticale or wheat. Disease was significantly reduced in terms of both percent of diseased tissue per plant and vertical progress of lesions when pea was intercropped. Faba bean and triticale intercropped with pea showed the highest suppressive ability with above 60% of disease reduction. Oat, barley and wheat showed low to moderate M. pinodes suppressive effects. Suppressive effects can be ascribed to a combined reduction of host biomass, altered microclimate and physical barrier to spore dispersal.