• Authors:
    • McLean, E.
    • Dissette, N.
    • Bilski, J.
    • Soumaila, F.
  • Source: International Journal of AgriScience
  • Volume: 2
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Coal fly ash (FA) has a potential to be used as a soil amendment for growing plants. Toxicity of heavy metals present in FY, FA high salinity, and high pH of coal FA may potentially restrict or even prevent plant growth on the media with high concentration of FA. Sphagnum peat moss (SPM) shows a potential to ameliorate coal FA based plant media by improving the texture of such media, making media less harder, decreasing high pH of the media, and potentially binding heavy metals present in FA. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of growth media containing differing concentration of FA and/or sphagnum peat moss (SPM) on growth of selected plants. The following plant species have been tested: barley ( Hordeum vulgare), oats ( Avena sativa), rye ( Secale cereale), wheat ( Triticum aestivum), Regreen; a hybrid between wheatgrass ( Agropyron cristatum) and winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum), Triticale; a hybrid between wheat ( Triticum aestivum) and rye ( Secale cereale), and perennial ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum). The addition of SPM to FA based plant growth media expressed ameliorative role, allowing the growth of seedlings on such media. In addition, our results indicate that the transfer of heavy metals from coal FA to plants and possibly to a food chain either did not exist or was very low.
  • Authors:
    • Ostgarden, J.
    • McLean, E.
    • McLean, K.
    • Bilski, J.
    • Lander, M.
  • Source: Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: This study focuses on the environmentally friendly utilization of coal combustion residue, fly ash (FA) containing significant amounts of heavy metals. Knowledge about the potential use of FA as a component of growth media for plants is fragmentary. Preliminary experiments tested the possibility to grow cereal crops on media composed exclusively of FA. The analysis of seven different FA from lignite and semi-bituminous coal from North Dakota and Montana sources using inductively coupled plasma emission spectrophotometry showed high concentrations of heavy metals in coal (up to, in mg/kg): As:65, Cd:3.9, Co:38, Cr:77, Li:109, Mn:1547, Pb:106, Ni:41, V:306. Seedlings of rye, wheat, oats, barley, triticale, and regreen (hybrid between wheat and ryegrass) were planted in Petri dishes (10 cm in diameter) in growth media containing FA from lignite coal, FA from semi-bituminous coal, bottom ash, and Fargo clay soil as the control. Each treatment was performed in 3 replications, and each experiment was repeated 3 times. Germination rates, plant growth analysis, and dry matter yield were determined 2-3 weeks after planting. Germination rates and dry matter yield of oats, winter wheat and regreen were greater (10-20% above controls) in media composed of coal ash, but rye, barley, and wheat seedlings were affected by FA in media. These results show the potential for the utilization of FA as a growth media for cereal crops. Therefore, these plants might be used as green cover preventing wind erosion over the coal ash piles. However, this issue requires additional in depth investigation, including a thorough chemical analysis of plant material.
  • Authors:
    • Stehno, Z.
    • Honsova, H.
    • Konvalina, P.
    • Capouchova, I.
    • Chaloupsky, R.
  • Source: Journal of Food Agriculture & Environment
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 2 part 2
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Lately, the organic cereals field has been progressively developing. A limitation of conventional untreated seed application plays an important role there. On the other hand, there has been a longtime deficiency of certified organic seeds. Therefore, oat was experimentally used as a model crop in order to demonstrate results of the assessment of particular biological traits of various seed categories (certified organic, conventional untreated, farm). The seeds' biological traits (energy of germination, germination, energy of emergence, emergence, thousand grain weight - TGW) were assessed before seeding and the impact of the seed quality on the grown seeds was also studied. Small-plot trials including four varieties of naked and hulled (common) oat were set up in three localities in the Czech Republic between 2010 and 2011. As for the quality of the seeds serving for the establishment of the small-plot trials, the conventional untreated seeds proved the highest quality for the energy of germination (86.3%), the germination (88.3%), the energy of emergence (72.8%), the emergence (79.1%) and the TGW (31.9 g). On the other hand, as for the organic seeds, these originating from the certified organic crop stands proved the highest quality for the energy of germination (90.4%), the germination (92.6%), the energy of emergence (79.4%), the emergence (85.8%) and the TGW (30.8 g), just as these originating from the farm crop stand the energy of germination (90.2%), the germination (88.3%), the energy of emergence (79.2%), the emergence (85.4%) and the TGW (30.4 g). The energy of germination, the germination and the energy of laboratory emergence were ( p
  • Authors:
    • Moritz, T.
    • Jonsson, A.
    • Jonsson, R.
    • Brautigam, M.
    • Linden, P.
    • Chawade, A.
    • Olsson, O.
  • Source: Plos One
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Our long-term goal is to develop a Swedish winter oat ( Avena sativa). To identify molecular differences that correlate with winter hardiness, a winter oat model comprising of both non-hardy spring lines and winter hardy lines is needed. To achieve this, we selected 294 oat breeding lines, originating from various Russian, German, and American winter oat breeding programs and tested them in the field in south- and western Sweden. By assaying for winter survival and agricultural properties during four consecutive seasons, we identified 14 breeding lines of different origins that not only survived the winter but also were agronomically better than the rest. Laboratory tests including electrolytic leakage, controlled crown freezing assay, expression analysis of the AsVrn1 gene and monitoring of flowering time suggested that the American lines had the highest freezing tolerance, although the German lines performed better in the field. Finally, six lines constituting the two most freezing tolerant lines, two intermediate lines and two spring cultivars were chosen to build a winter oat model system. Metabolic profiling of non-acclimated and cold acclimated leaf tissue samples isolated from the six selected lines revealed differential expression patterns of 245 metabolites including several sugars, amino acids, organic acids and 181 hitherto unknown metabolites. The expression patterns of 107 metabolites showed significant interactions with either a cultivar or a time-point. Further identification, characterisation and validation of these metabolites will lead to an increased understanding of the cold acclimation process in oats. Furthermore, by using the winter oat model system, differential sequencing of crown mRNA populations would lead to identification of various biomarkers to facilitate winter oat breeding.
  • Authors:
    • Wesoowski, M.
    • Makarska, E.
    • Cioek, A.
    • Cierpiaa, R.
  • Source: Journal of Elementology
  • Volume: 17
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: The success of organic farming results from the need to produce top-quality food and, additionally, to protect the natural environment by applying eco-friendly agricultural practices and abandoning synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of organic and conventional production systems on the content of minerals and fatty acids in grain of oat, wheat and hulled and naked barley. Wheat grain from organic farming was characterized by a higher content of Mn and by significantly higher content of Fe, Zn, Ca and Mg when compared to grain originating from conventional farming. The increased availability of potassium in soil, caused by the applied potassium salt fertilization, was reflected in a higher content of this macronutrient in grain of all cereals from conventional cultivation. The tillage system was found not to exert the same effect on the content of Ca and Mg in all the cereals examined. Lower content of iron and zinc was determined in organic grains of barley and oat. Grain from the conventional cropping system (except naked barley) proved to be richer in lipids. Crude oil of organic cereals was richer in the most valuable polyunsaturated fatty acids than that of the conventionally-grown crops The study demonstrated a stronger dependency between the level of the elements examined and cereal species than between the level of elements and cultivation system.
  • Authors:
    • Nita, S.
    • Borcean, A.
    • David, G.
  • Source: Research Journal of Agricultural Science
  • Volume: 44
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Autumn oat is a plant more and more cultivated in many regions of the world. The lands where more than 50% of the cultivation area is cultivated with autumn oat are England, Scotland, France, and in other lands, such as Germany, Sweden, or USA, the surface cultivated with autumn oat is of more than 30% of the total cultivated area. South America and Australia also report surfaces cultivated with autumn oat. The expansion of autumn varieties is justified, as they give us the following advantages: are more productive as the spring varieties, are precocious, tolerate the drought, are more resistant to diseases and pests and have god quality characteristics. The disadvantage of the autumn oat varieties is their lower resistance to low winter temperatures as compared to autumn wheat, rye, triticale and barley. The first research on autumn oat done in Romania started in 1949-1950 at the research station in Cenad, but only in 1987 the autumn oat variety called Florina, created at SCA Lovrin, could be homologated and cultivated in the regions with gentle winters. In the Official Catalogue of Varieties is registered today the Lovrin 27 autumn oat variety. The yields obtained for Lovrin 27 during the experimental period were 12% higher than the ones obtained for the variety Florina. This paper presents the crop results and the data regarding the evolution of the weight characteristics (weight of 1000 grains and the hectolitre mass) and of the quality (the content of protein and fat and the observations regarding to the pests and diseases attacks on the autumn oat varieties (Lovrin 27, Lowi and Mirabel) as well as two spring oat varieties (Jeremy and G.K. Pilago). The obtained autumn oat yields are of between 5226 kg/ha (Lovrin 27) and 5651 kg/ha (Mirabell) as compared to the reference spring variety yield, Jeremy, which was of 3960. In the researched area the content of protein varied between 13,0% (Mirabell) and 14,1% Lowi) and the content of fat varied between 2,7% (G.K. Pilago) and 3,3% Lowi.
  • Authors:
    • Fetere, V.
  • Source: Zinatniski praktiskas konference, "Zinatne Latvijas Lauksaimniecibas Nakotnei: Partika, Lopbariba, Skiedra un Energija", Jelgava, Latvia, 23-24 February 2012
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: The aim of studies was to define the impact of pre-sown crop winter rye and buckwheat on the plant growth, yield and grain quality of spring cereals. During research there were evaluated the traits characterizing the yield and grain quality of wheat 'Uffo' and barley 'Rasa'. The soil of biological crop rotation within the period of two years on average was processed with 20.1 t ha -1 of buckwheat green manure or 5.4 t ha -1 buckwheat dry matter and 4.2 t ha -1 rye straws or 2.5 t ha -1 dry matter of rye straws. According to the chemical analysis, the buckwheat dry matter contained nitrogen and phosphorus, which was three times higher than dry matter of rye straws, potassium and calcium was two times higher, but magnesium - five times higher than dry matter of rye straws. Spring wheat 'Uffo' (4.36 t ha -1) and spring barley 'Rasa' (3.23 t ha -1) provided significantly (p
  • Authors:
    • Ochodzki, P.
    • Goral, T.
    • Bulinska-Radomska, Z.
  • Source: Biuletyn Instytutu Hodowli i Aklimatyzacji Roslin
  • Issue: 263
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: The aim of the study was to determine Fusarium head blight resistance of spring type genotypes from the genera Triticum, Avena and Hordeum, and to determine the content of Fusarium mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol - DON and its derivatives) in grain. Head and kernel infection of barley was low and amounted 7.3% and 8.3%, respectively. However, barley accumulated 1.23 ppm of DON in grain. As for oat varieties, 26.5% of panicles showed FHB symptoms. Fusarium kernel damage was low and amounted 6.0%. Oat accumulated low amounts of DON in grain (0.44 ppm). Significant variation was found in genotypes of the genus Triticum in head infection (1.0-34.7%), kernel damage (0.7-30.1%) and accumulation of deoxynivalenol in grain (0.26-6.61 ppm). The cultivars of bread wheat were the most susceptible. There was also a significant intraspecific diversity of resistance in wheat, spelt and emmer. Fusarium head blight resistant and medium-resistant genotypes were identified.
  • Authors:
    • Zie, J.
    • Hagenblad, J.
    • Leino, M.
  • Source: Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution
  • Volume: 59
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Landrace accessions have long been recognized as an important source of genetic diversity for crop species, and landraces are stored in genebanks across the world as genetic resources for future crop development. Landraces are also an important part of the human cultural heritage and as such they have been used for genetic studies to make inferences about historical agriculture. However, surprisingly little is known about the within-accession diversity of landrace crops of different species. In order to evaluate the diversity of Swedish landraces we used microsatellite markers to genotype accessions of four species (barley, pea, oats and rye), both extant genebank material and 114-year-old seed samples of similar geographic origin and type. We found consistently high levels of within-population genetic diversity in the historical material, but varying and often lower diversity levels in the genebank accessions. We also make tentative conclusions about how representative the genebank material is to what was originally cultivated in its reported area of origin and suggest that the true identity of the genebank accessions is unclear and that historical seed collections should be a more appropriate material for the study of historical agriculture.
  • Authors:
    • Rickard, I.
    • Holopainen, J.
    • Helama, S.
  • Source: Holocene
  • Volume: 22
  • Issue: 8
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Climate and weather variation affect agricultural productivity, with consequences for both overall food availability and the wider economy. Knowledge of these processes has implications for understanding historical demography and predicting effects of climate change on societies. We studied the relationships between ambient temperature and the yields and prices of principle grains (wheat, rye, barley oats) in Sweden from 1803 to 1914. We found that the annual general crop index (a measure of overall crop yield) correlated negatively with the annual average price of the four grains. Overall temperature during the period of crop growth was related positively to general crop index and negatively to average crop price. At the level of month of crop growth, when the relationship between temperature and general crop index was most positive, that between temperature and average crop price was most negative. This strong structured relationship was found to be consistent when yields of each crop were considered separately, and indicates that the relationships between crop yield and crop price were to a large extent due to the influence of ambient temperature. Price correlations between pairs of crop species were in all cases greater than the correlation of yields. Within individual crops, correlations between price and yield were stronger for those crops for which imports were not available, and which were therefore subject to the weakest influence from rising globalisation. Our analyses demonstrate the sensitivity of historical agriculture to climatic factors, and the extent to which this affected the wider economy. It is likely that the susceptibility of agriculture to climatic risks was ascended by the concomitant climate regime, the 'Little Ice Age'. Moreover, our study period spans the period of rising globalisation, and suggests a weakening influence of prevailing weather on crop prices.