• Authors:
    • Shimi, P.
    • Fereidoonpoor, M.
    • Jamali, M.
  • Source: Proceedings of 3rd Iranian Weed Science Congress, Volume 2: Key papers, weed management and herbicides, Babolsar, Iran, 17-18 February 2010
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: In order to compare efficacy of Pantera (quizalofop-P-tefuryl 4%EC) with other graminicides in canola fields of Fars province, an experiment was carried out in randomized complete block design with 4 replication and 11 treatments in Darab research station in 2008-2009. Treatments included Pantera at 1, 1.5 and 2 lha -1, Galant super (haloxyfop-R-methyl aster) at 0.75 lha -1, Focus (cycloxydim) at 2 lha -1, Treflan, (trifluralin 48% EC) at 2 lha -1, Butisan star (metazachlor 33.33%+quinmerac 8.8%) at 2.5 lha -1, Treflan at 2 lha -1+Pantera at 1.5 lha -1, Treflan at 2 lha -1+Galant super at 0.75 lha -1, Treflan at 2 lha -1+Focus 2 lha -1 and full season weed control as check. Results showed that 2 lha -1 Pantera in compare with Treflan+other graminicides as super gallant, focus and Pantera and full season weed control treatment had no significant difference and increased canola yield by 39.5-41.7%. Also, 2 lha -1 Pantera controlled wheat, barley, wild oat and ryegrass. In 100, 100, 90.97 and 92.92 percent respectively and 75.4 percent in decreasing of dry weight of grasses.
  • Authors:
    • Bayer, C.
    • Vieira, R. C. B.
    • Fontoura, S. M. V.
    • Ernani, P. R.
    • Moraes, R. P. de
  • Source: Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo
  • Volume: 34
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Little is known about the agronomic effectiveness of phosphate rocks in high-yielding crop rotation systems under no-till in the Center-South of the state of Parana, Brazil. This field study was undertaken to compare the effectiveness of rock phosphates and soluble P fertilizers to increase the yield of several annual crops grown in two consecutive triennial crop-rotation cycles under no-tillage. The experiment was carried out in an Oxisol, in Guarapuava, PR, from 2000 until 2006. Two phosphate rocks (PR - Gafsa and Arad) and a soluble P fertilizer (TSP - triple superphosphate) were broadcast over the soil surface at rates of 0, 40, 80 and 160 kg ha -1 P 2O 5, at the beginning of the first and the second rotation cycle of the triennial crops (oat, maize, wheat, soybean, barley and soybean). With exception of barley, crop yields were not affected in the first rotation cycle by any phosphate fertilizer regardless of type and rate, probably due to the high P contents available in the soil (8.7 mg dm -3 in the 0-10 cm layer). In the second rotation cycle, when soil available P was 4.1 mg dm -3; P application at oat sowing increased the yield of summer crops by 11% and of winter crops by 20%. The yield increment was lowest for maize (8%) and highest for barley (44%). In this cycle, TSP resulted in higher yield than PR, though only for winter crops (oat, wheat and barley), in a mean of 11%, with no difference between Gafsa and Arad. Water soluble fertilizer (TSP) was more efficient than phosphate rocks in soils under no-till system both in the short and long term. Nevertheless, it is not necessary to apply phosphates for high yields in soils with high available P contents under no-till, except for species with high P requirement, e.g., barley.
  • Authors:
    • Gaweda, D.
  • Source: Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Sklodowska. Sectio E, Agricultura
  • Volume: 65
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: The present research aimed at evaluating the de-weeding influence of the stubble crops including species composition, number and weight of air-dried weed in spring oats grown in monoculture. The experiment was set in four replications by means of the split-blok method on the stand after spring barley. The type of stubble crops (white mustard, fiddleneck, winter rapeseed, and a mixture of legumes: narrow-leafed lupine+field pea) annually ploughed after the oats harvest was the experimental factor. Only mechanical nursery operations were applied during the experiment; it consisted in harrowing made at 3-4 leaves stage. The highest number of weeds per 1 square meter area was recorded in oats cultivated after a mixture of legumes (narrow-leafed lupine+field pea). As compared to the mixture of legumes, the number of weeds per 1 m 2 was significantly lower after a winter rapeseed, fiddleneck and on the control object. For three experimental years, ploughed stubble crops did not significantly modify the weight of air-dried weed in oats canopy. Chenopodium album was the dominating weed on all experimental plots. The lowest number of this species was observed on the control object, while the highest in oats sown after white mustard.
  • Authors:
    • Kanae, S.
    • Inuzuka, T.
    • Hanasaki, N.
    • Oki, T.
  • Source: Journal of Hydrology
  • Volume: 384
  • Issue: 3/4
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: The concept of virtual water, which is the volume of water consumption required to produce commodities traded to an importing or exporting nation (or any region, company, individual, etc.), is a useful complement to water resource analyses of water availability and use by region. Identifying the source of virtual water, such as precipitation (green water) and irrigation water (blue water), further enhances this concept because each differs in the level of sustainability and opportunity cost. Recent improvements in global hydrological models consisting of both physically based hydrological and anthropogenic activity modules enabled us to simulate the virtual water content of major crops consistent with their global hydrological simulation. Enhancing one of these models, called H08, we were able to assess two major sources of virtual water flow or content simultaneously: green water and blue water. Blue water was further subdivided into three subcategories ( i.e., streamflow, medium-size reservoirs, and nonrenewable and nonlocal blue water). We conducted a global hydrological simulation for 15 years from 1985 to 1999 at a spatial resolution of 0.5degrees * 0.5degrees (longitude and latitude). Total precipitation on land was 113,900 km 3 yr -1, with 72,080 km 3 yr -1 on average evaporating in the period 1985-1999. Green water evapotranspiration from rainfed and irrigated cropland and blue water evapotranspiration from irrigated cropland was estimated at 7820, 1720, and 1530 km 3 yr -1, respectively. Next, using global trade data for 2000 and the simulated virtual water content of major crops, the virtual water flow was estimated globally. Our results indicated that the global virtual water export ( i.e., the volume of water that an exporting nation consumes to produce the commodities that it trades abroad) of five crops (barley, maize, rice, soybean, and wheat) and three livestock products (beef, pork, and chicken) is 545 km 3 yr -1. Of the total virtual water exports, 61 km 3 yr -1 (11%) are blue water ( i.e., irrigation water) and 26 km 3 yr -1 (5%) are nonrenewable and nonlocal blue water.
  • Authors:
    • Gaweda, D.
    • Harasim, E.
  • Source: Annales Umcs, Agricultura
  • Volume: 65
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: The objective of the study was to assess the effect of catch crops on the yield and energetic efficiency of the main cereal crop grown under monoculture. The study was carried out in the years 2006-2008 at Uhrusk experiment farm. The trial was localized on a mixed rendzina soil, of medium depth, developed from chalk limestone. The experiment included spring cereals such as wheat, barley and oats as well as stubble catch crops: non-catch crop control, white mustard, blue phacelia, winter oilseed rape and a legume mixture - narrow-leaved lupin+field peas. The highest yield increase over the non-catch crop control (9.4%) was found when phacelia was grown as a catch crop after wheat. The lowest yield increment occurred in barley grown after legumes (ca. 8%) and in oats gown after phacelia and oilseed rape (ca. 7%). The energetic efficiency of cereal production was more related to the main cereal crop than to the catch crop. The production of barley and oats had a higher energetic efficiency (4.71 and 4.65, respectively) than that of wheat (3.84). The use of catch crops lowered but to a small degree the energetic efficiency of spring cereal production.
  • Authors:
    • Verma, R. P. S.
    • Sharma, R. K.
  • Source: Cereal Research Communications
  • Volume: 38
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: A study was undertaken at the Directorate of Wheat Research experimental station, Karnal, India, to evaluate the effect of nitrogen (30, 60 and 90 kg/ha) and irrigation (one, two and three) on yield and grain quality traits of two and six row type malt barley genotypes. The mean grain yield significantly increased from 41.9 to 45.8 q/ha with increase in nitrogen dose from 30 to 90 kg/ha and 41.8 to 45.9 q/ha with increase in irrigations from one to three. The two and six row barleys had almost similar yield potential at higher nitrogen application and irrigation frequency but the six-row type had advantage at lower nitrogen and irrigation. Varietal effects were significant for all the traits, while N significantly affected only grain yield, spikes per unit area, 1000-grain weight and husk content. Irrigation effects were significant for bulk density, grain yield, spikes per unit area, and grains per spike. Traits like grain bulk density, proportion of bold and thin grains and husk content are mainly affected by variety and less affected by management practices.
  • Authors:
    • Fortuna, A. M.
    • Kennedy, A. C.
    • Stubbs, T. L.
  • Source: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
  • Volume: 58
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Residue from cultivars of spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), winter wheat, and spring barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) was characterized for fiber and nutrient traits using reference methods and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Calibration models were developed for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), carbon (C), sulfur (S), nitrogen (N), and C:N. When calibrations were tested against validation sets for each crop year, NIRS was an acceptable method for predicting NDF (standard error of prediction (SEP) 0.90) and ADF (SEP0.92) and moderately successful for ADL in 1 year of the study (SEP=0.44; R2=0.81) but less successful for C, S, N, and C:N ( R2 all <0.57). These results indicate that NIRS can predict the NDF and ADF of cereal residue from dryland cropping systems and is a useful tool to estimate residue decomposition potential.
  • Authors:
    • Bartosik, R.
  • Source: Julius-Kühn-Archiv
  • Issue: 425
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Concerning grain production, South America is divided in two main regions: (1) the Mercosur region (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay) which produces more than 250 million tonnes of grains and oilseeds, and (2) the Andes Mountain region countries, which are net importers of these products. The main challenges related to grain postharvest that South America is facing are to minimize the quality and quantity losses; improve the food safety; enhance the capability for segregation and traceability of identity preserved (IP) grains; and incorporate technology to maintain the overall efficiency of the postharvest system. Among the critical points affecting the efficiency of the system are the shortage of permanent storage capacity; large storage structures which affects the segregation of IP grains; deficient transportation system (roads and railroads); poor management of integrated pest control system; and unsatisfied demand of formal and informal education in suitable grain postharvest technologies and practices. However, the region remains highly competitive in producing and delivering food for the rest of the world and it has demonstrated high capacity for incorporating cost efficient grain handling technologies. As a result, one of the main changes in the region was the appearance of the silobag system for temporary storage of dry grain and oilseeds. Each silobag can hold approximately 200 tonnes of wheat and with the available handling equipment is quite simple to load and unload. During the 2008 harvest season, more than 33 million tonnes of grain were stored in these plastic bags in Argentina (including corn, soybean, wheat, sunflower, malting barley, canola, cotton seed, rice, lentils, sorghum, beans and even fertilizers). The silobag technology is also being adopted not only in neighbor countries, but also in countries around the world such as the USA, Mexico, South Africa, Australia, Russia and Ukraine, among others.
  • Authors:
    • Friedl, A.
    • Amon, B.
    • Boesch, P.
    • Leonhartsberger, C.
    • Bauer, A.
    • Amon, T.
  • Source: Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Currently an increasing demand for renewable energy can be observed. A part of this demand could be covered by the production of energy from agrarian biomass. Due to the limited availability of arable land, food and feed production are starting to compete for agrarian resources. A way out of this dilemma is to develop concepts that are based on otherwise unused agrarian biomass like straw and include new technologies for the fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass. In this paper, the energy potentials of two different cropping systems are compared. In the energy-based crop rotation system all crops were used either for biogas or ethanol production. In the biorefinery-based approach, the various crops were used in cascades for the production of food as well as feed. Experimental laboratory work and field trials were combined to calculate energy and biomass yields of the crops under investigation. The results demonstrate that steam explosion pretreatment of wheat straw led to a 30% increase in the specific methane yield. The calculated energy output of the biorefinery-based crop rotation system amounted to a total of 126 GJ ha(-1) year(-1). Extrapolating this energy output to the total arable land of the EU-27 member states, 13,608 PJ of energy could be produced. Therefore, biorefinery-based crop rotation systems could provide approximately three times more energy to the European population than energy-based crop rotation systems.
  • Authors:
    • Maghirang, R. G.
    • Casada, M. E.
    • Boac, J. M.
    • Harner, J. P.,III
  • Source: Transactions of the ASABE
  • Volume: 53
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Experimental investigations of grain flow can be expensive and time consuming, but computer simulations can reduce the large effort required to evaluate the flow of grain in handling operations. Published data on material and interaction properties of selected grains and oilseeds relevant to discrete element method (DEM) modeling were reviewed. Material properties include grain kernel shape, size, and distribution; Poisson's ratio; shear modulus; and density. Interaction properties consist of coefficients of restitution, static friction, and rolling friction. Soybeans were selected as the test material for DEM simulations to validate the model fundamentals using material and interaction properties. Single- and multi-sphere soybean particle shapes, comprised of one to four overlapping spheres, were compared based on DEM simulations of bulk properties (bulk density and bulk angle of repose) and computation time. A single-sphere particle model best simulated soybean kernels in the bulk property tests. The best particle model had a particle coefficient of restitution of 0.6, particle coefficient of static friction of 0.45 for soybean-soybean contact (0.30 for soybean-steel interaction), particle coefficient of rolling friction of 0.05, normal particle size distribution with standard deviation factor of 0.4, and particle shear modulus of 1.04 MPa.