341. Effect of various sources of organic manures on yield and yield attributes of irrigated maize ( Zea mays L.) Super 900M.

• Authors:
  • Pitchai, G. J.
  • Kumar, V. S.
• Source: Asian Journal of Soil Science
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 2
• Year: 2010
• Summary: Maize is the third most important cereal crop after wheat and rice grown in virtually every suitable agricultural region of the globe. Maize being an exhaustive crop responds well to higher levels of NPK. The use of organic sources had significant effect on macro and micronutrients and thus it helps in sustenance of the soil fertility. For the study, a field experiment was conducted in Malayalathanpatty village, Madurai to evaluate the response of maize (Super 900M) with different organic sources like vermicompost, sewage sludge, green leaf manures and composted coir pith combined with inorganic fertilizers. There were ten treatment combinations replicated thrice in RBD in Annaiyur soil series (Entic Haplustert). The results showed that the highest grain yield of 4402 kg ha -1 was recorded in treatment that received vermicompost @ 5 t ha -1 with 75 per cent RDF and it was found to be superior to over other treatments.

342. Managing Cranesbill across a short rotation: effects of the cultivation depth, and the type or timing of oilseed rape drilling.; Gestion des geraniums dans une rotation colza-ble-orge: effets du dechaumage et des dates et techniques de semis du colza. colza-ble-orge: effets du dechaumage et des dates et techniques de semis du colza.

• Authors:
  • Duroueix, F.
  • Sauzet, G.
  • Lieven, J.
• Source: 21ème Conférence du COLUMA. Journées Internationales sur la Lutte contre les Mauvaises Herbes, Dijon, France, 8-9 décembre, 2010
• Year: 2010
• Summary: CETIOM evaluated cultural methods during the intercropping period in the Berry region. Shallow tillage before winter oilseed rape (WOSR) or before winter barley were not effective to stimulate weed germination. Before winter wheat drilling, it gave whole satisfaction. Other results indicated a back-effect of the cultivation before WOSR establishment on the autumnal infestation of Crane's-bills. Deep cultivation (10-15 cms), realized a few weeks preceding the WOSR drilling, amplified the autumnal weed emergence, probably by bringing old seeds from depth to the surface and by breaking their dormancy. In comparison, a very shallow cultivation sharply reduced the subsequent weed infestation in the WOSR. Finally, if the interest of no-till drilling to limit the weed emergence was confirmed, that of the delayed drilling was not attested.

343. Irrigation technology in South Africa and Kenya.

• Authors:
  • Kalungu, J. W.
  • Monteiro, R. O. C.
  • Coelho, R. D.
• Source: Ciência Rural
• Volume: 40
• Issue: 10
• Year: 2010
• Summary: This paper reviews various irrigation technologies in both South Africa and Kenya that enable improvements in their socio-economic conditions. The two countries are located in semi-arid areas that experience extreme fluctuations in the availability of rain water for plant growth. Population growth exceeds the ability to produce food in numerous countries around the world and the two countries are not an exception. This experiment examined the constraints that farmers face and the role of government and nongovernmental organization in the uptake of modern technologies for irrigation. Detailed mechanisms and options to secure sustainable irrigation which are economically viable are considered. Despite the higher production of cereals and grains, fruits, and flowers also thrive in the two countries. Total irrigated area, crops grown and irrigation systems used in the two countries are discussed.

344. Western Climate Initiative

• Authors:
  • WCI
• Volume: 2010
• Year: 2010
• Summary: Welcome to the Western Climate Initiative (WCI). The WCI is a collaboration of independent jurisdictions working together to identify, evaluate, and implement emissions trading policies to tackle climate change at a regional level. This is a comprehensive effort to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, spur investment in clean-energy technologies that create green jobs and reduce dependence on imported oil.

345. Soil nitrous oxide and methane fluxes are low from a bioenergy crop (canola) grown in a semi-arid climate.

• Authors:
  • Butterbach-Bahl, K.
  • Kiese, R.
  • Murphy, D. V.
  • Barton, L.
• Source: GCB Bioenergy
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 1
• Year: 2010
• Summary: Understanding nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) fluxes from agricultural soils in semi-arid climates is necessary to fully assess greenhouse gas emissions from bioenergy cropping systems, and to improve our knowledge of global terrestrial gaseous exchange. Canola is grown globally as a feedstock for biodiesel production, however, resulting soil greenhouse gas fluxes are rarely reported for semi-arid climates. We measured soil N2O and CH4 fluxes from a rain-fed canola crop in a semi-arid region of south-western Australia for 1 year on a subdaily basis. The site included N fertilized (75 kg N ha−1 yr−1) and nonfertilized plots. Daily N2O fluxes were low (−1.5 to 4.7 g N2O-N ha−1 day−1) and culminated in an annual loss of 128 g N2O-N ha−1 (standard error, 12 g N2O-N ha−1) from N fertilized soil and 80 g N2O-N ha−1 (standard error, 11 g N2O-N ha−1) from nonfertilized soil. Daily CH4 fluxes were also low (−10.3 to 11.9 g CH4-C ha−1 day−1), and did not differ with treatments, with an average annual net emission of 6.7 g CH4–C ha-1 (standard error, 20 g CH4-C ha-1). Greatest daily N2O fluxes occurred when the soil was fallow, and following a series of summer rainfall events. Summer rainfall increased soil water contents and available N, and occurred when soil temperatures were >25 °C, and when there was no active plant growth to compete with soil microorganisms for mineralized N; conditions known to promote N2O production. The proportion of N fertilizer emitted as N2O, after correction for emissions from the no N fertilizer treatment, was 0.06%; 17 times lower than IPCC default value for the application of synthetic N fertilizers to land (1.0%). Soil greenhouse gas fluxes from bioenergy crop production in semi-arid regions are likely to have less influence on the net global warming potential of biofuel production than in temperate climates.

346. Global warming contributions from wheat, sheep meat and wool production in Victoria, Australia. A life cycle assessment.

• Authors:
  • Biswas, W. K.
  • John, M. B.
  • Kelly, K.
  • Graham, J.
• Source: Journal of Cleaner Production
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 14
• Year: 2010

347. Simulation of N2O emissions from an irrigated dairy pasture treated with urea and urine in Southeastern Australia

• Authors:
  • Li, Y.
  • Kelly, K.
  • Eckard, R.
  • Chen, D.
• Source: Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
• Volume: 136
• Issue: 3-4
• Year: 2010

348. Influence of nitrification inhibitors on nitrification and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission from a clay loam soil fertilized with urea

• Authors:
  • Chen, D.
  • Suter, H. C.
  • Islam, A.
  • Edis, R.
• Source: Soil Biology and Biochemistry
• Volume: 42
• Issue: 4
• Year: 2010

349. Soil carbon sequestration rates and associated economic costs for farming systems of South-Eastern Australia

• Authors:
  • Antle, J.
  • Ogle, S.
  • Paustian, K.
  • Basso, B.
  • Grace, P. R.
• Source: Australian Journal of Soil Research
• Volume: 48
• Issue: 8
• Year: 2010

350. Soil nitrous oxide and methane fluxes are low from a bioenergy crop (canola) grown in a semi-arid climate

• Authors:
  • Barton, L.
  • Murphy, D. V.
  • Kiese, R.
  • Butterbach-Bahl, K.
• Source: GCB Bioenergy
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 1
• Year: 2010
• Summary: Understanding nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) fluxes from agricultural soils in semi-arid climates is necessary to fully assess greenhouse gas emissions from bioenergy cropping systems, and to improve our knowledge of global terrestrial gaseous exchange. Canola is grown globally as a feedstock for biodiesel production, however, resulting soil greenhouse gas fluxes are rarely reported for semi-arid climates. We measured soil N2O and CH4 fluxes from a rain-fed canola crop in a semi-arid region of south-western Australia for 1 year on a subdaily basis. The site included N fertilized (75 kg N ha−1 yr−1) and nonfertilized plots. Daily N2O fluxes were low (−1.5 to 4.7 g N2O-N ha−1 day−1) and culminated in an annual loss of 128 g N2O-N ha−1 (standard error, 12 g N2O-N ha−1) from N fertilized soil and 80 g N2O-N ha−1 (standard error, 11 g N2O-N ha−1) from nonfertilized soil. Daily CH4 fluxes were also low (−10.3 to 11.9 g CH4-C ha−1 day−1), and did not differ with treatments, with an average annual net emission of 6.7 g CH4–C ha−1 (standard error, 20 g CH4–C ha−1). Greatest daily N2O fluxes occurred when the soil was fallow, and following a series of summer rainfall events. Summer rainfall increased soil water contents and available N, and occurred when soil temperatures were >25 °C, and when there was no active plant growth to compete with soil microorganisms for mineralized N; conditions known to promote N2O production. The proportion of N fertilizer emitted as N2O, after correction for emissions from the no N fertilizer treatment, was 0.06%; 17 times lower than IPCC default value for the application of synthetic N fertilizers to land (1.0%). Soil greenhouse gas fluxes from bioenergy crop production in semi-arid regions are likely to have less influence on the net global warming potential of biofuel production than in temperate climates.