• Authors:
    • Mozny, M.
    • Zalud, Z.
    • Dubrovsky, M.
    • Semeradova, D.
    • Trnka, M.
    • Hlavinka, P.
  • Source: Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
  • Volume: 149
  • Issue: 3-4
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: The relationship between seasonal agricultural drought and detrended yields (within a period from 1961 to 2000) of selected crops was assessed in the conditions of the Czech Republic, which are to some extent representative of a wider area of Central Europe. Impact of water stress was analyzed using time series of yields for 8 crops (spring barley, winter wheat, grain maize, potato, winter rape, oats, winter rye and hay from permanent meadows) for 77 districts in the Czech Republic (average district area is 1025 km(2)). Relative version of Palmer's Z-index (rZ-index or rZ-i) was used as a tool for quantification of agricultural drought. The monthly values of the rZ-index for each individual district were calculated as the spatial average (only for the grids of arable land). The study showed that severe droughts (e.g., in 1981 and 2000) are linked with significant reduction in yields of the main cereals and majority of other crops through the most drought prone regions. We found a statistically significant correlation (p
  • Authors:
    • Kushwaha, S. S.
    • Gajja, B. L.
  • Source: Current Agriculture
  • Volume: 33
  • Issue: 1/2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: An attempt has been made to document the change in the cropping pattern in Rajasthan, India. The study was based on the secondary data from 1980-81 to 2006-07. There was no major change in the cropping pattern, but in some crops such as rape, mustard and soyabean a shift was recorded. The increase in irrigation facilities in the state had observed increase in irrigated crops such as cotton, groundnut in some parts, wheat, soyabean, rape and mustard while some crops had witnessed the reduction in area. This indicated some minor change in the cropping pattern. However, the cropping pattern was mainly influenced by physical, economic, technological and institutional factors such as capital and market location and price of the crop at harvest time had definite temporal changes. The crop diversification had been witnessed in favour of oilseed crops.
  • Authors:
    • Walker, A. M.
    • McKinnon, J. J.
  • Source: Canadian Journal of Animal Science
  • Volume: 89
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: McKinnon, J. J. and Walker, A. M. 2009. Comparison of canola and mustard presscake from biodiesel production as protein sources for growing cattle. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 89: 401-408. Two studies were conducted to examine in situ rumen degradation kinetics of biodiesel presscake from canola (CPC) (Brassica napa) and mustard (MPC) (Brassica hirta) relative to regular canola meal (CM) and to compare the performance of cattle fed these meals as protein supplements in backgrounding diets. In the in situ trial CPC and MPC had similar (P > 0.05) rates of DM, CP, fibre and crude fat disappearance relative to canola meal. However, CPC and MPC exhibited greater (P 0.05) in effective degradability of crude fat were observed. The feedlot trial involved 391 steers (323 +/- 24 kg) that were fed one of three experimental diets: a control diet consisting of barley silage (213 g kg(-1)) oat hulls (306 g kg(-1)), chopped straw (63 g kg(-1)), rolled barley (255 g kg(-1)) and CM (101 g kg(-1)), ora diet containing either CPC or MPC in place of CM as the protein supplement. Backgrounding performance was unaffected by treatment as no differences in DMI (P = 0.127), ADG (P = 0.679) or feed:gain (P = 0.792) were observed. Composition of gain estimated by ultrasound measurement of longissimus dorsi area and subcutaneous fat depth was unaffected by dietary treatment. It is concluded that biodiesel presscake from both canola and mustard seed provides a superior source of rumen degradable nutrients relative to CM and can be used as a protein supplement for growing cattle without any adverse affects on performance at levels up to 10% of the diet DM.
  • Authors:
    • Monteiro, J. E. B. A.
  • Source: Agrometeorologia dos cultivos: o fator meteorológico na produção agrícola
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: This book brings together a broad base of information on 32 major Brazilian agricultural crops and their relations with climate. The focus of the book is not on the methodologies and applications of agrometeorology per se, but rather restricts its focus to crops and traits that determine yield as a function of the environment. The crops included are rice, castor oil, sunflowers, pineapples, soyabeans, triticale, maize, potatoes, barley, peanuts, oats, onions, canola, wheat, cotton, beans, sugarcane, Pinus, black wattle ( Acacia mearnsii), tropical and temperate grapes, coconuts, citrus, bananas, sisal, cocoa, coffee, apples, Jatropha, Eucalyptus and the fodder plants Cynodon, Brachiaria and Panicum. The contents of the book are divided into three main parts, I. Introduction, II. Temporary crops and III. Permanent crops, with each chapter within parts II and III dedicated to a particular crop, and covering: (1) the main features of farming and phenology; (2) agrometeorological productivity constraints - water availability, temperature, solar radiation, photoperiod and wind; and (3) adverse events - hail and rainstorms, droughts and dry spells, winds and gales, frost, and too much rain and over-prolonged drought. The book was organized by the National Institute of Meteorology and had the collaboration of 105 researchers from 37 Brazilian institutions (federal and state), research centres, institutes and universities.
  • Authors:
    • Jauhiainen, L.
    • Peltonen-Sainio, P.
    • Hakala, K.
  • Source: Agricultural and Food Science
  • Volume: 18
  • Issue: 3-4
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: As the northern hemisphere will experience the greatest increases in temperature and indications of climatic change are already visible in the north (in the 2000s average temperatures exceeded the long-term mean), we sought to establish if there are already signs of increased variability in yield and quality of the major field crops grown under the northernmost European growing conditions: spring and winter cereals (barley Hordeum vulgare L., oat Avena saliva L., wheat Triticum aestivum L., rye Secale cereale L.), spring rapeseed (turnip rape Brassica rapa L., oilseed rape B. napus L.), pea (Piston sativum L.) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). We used long-term yield datasets of FAO for Finland (1960s to date) and MTT Agrifood Research Finland (MTT) Official Variety Trial datasets on yield and quality of major field crops in Finland since the 1970s. Yield variability was exceptionally high in the 1980s and 1990s, but previously and subsequently national yields were clearly more stable. No progressive increase in yield variability was recorded. No marked and systematic changes in variability of quality traits were recorded, except for rapeseed, which exhibited reduced variability in seed chlorophyll content. This may at least partly attribute to the differences in intensity of input use and thereby responsiveness of the crops before and after 1980 and 1990 decades. We also noted that in the 2000s average temperatures were higher than in earlier decades and this was the case for all months of the growing season except June, which represents, however, the most critical phase for yield determination in most of the field crops in Finland. Also in the 2000s precipitation increased in the first three months of the growing season and thereafter decreased, but without signs of significantly increased numbers of heavy showers (extreme rain events). Hence, in general constant, increased average temperatures during the growing seasons of the 2000s were identified, but with reduced yield variability, which was partly attributable to the diminished use of inputs, especially fertilisers.
  • Authors:
    • Hou, S. Y.
    • Riley, I. T.
    • Chen, S. L.
  • Source: Cereal Cyst Nematodes: Status, Research and Outlook: Proceedings of the First Workshop of the Cereal Cyst Nematode Initiative, 21-23 October, 2009, CIMMYT, Ankara, Turkey
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Cereal cyst nematode (Heterodera avenae) population densities were determined in spring cereals at harvest in two high-altitude villages in Qinghai, China in order to examine the effect of crop rotations. The two rotational systems sampled were wheat with rapeseed, broad bean and/or potato, and barley with rapeseed and/or oat. The previous season's crop, including fields where two host crops had been grown in succession, did not appear to influence the final nematode density. A high degree of variation in population density appeared to be strongly influenced by the occurrence of hyperparasites, thus masking any possible crop rotation effects. Nevertheless, a third of the fields had final egg densities greater than 10 eggs/g soil, creating a risk of yield loss if an intolerant host was to be grown in the next year. From the findings, it is suggested that future research should focus on developing locally adapted resistant cultivars and examining factors that determine the efficacy of natural biocontrol.
  • Authors:
    • Zudilin, S. N.
  • Source: Kormoproizvodstvo
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Productivity of fodder crop rotation was studied in the Samara Region, Russia in 1993-2004. The fodder crop rotation consisted of 7 following combinations: (1) rape and radish; (2) winter wheat; (3) pea; (4) maize; (5) vetch and oat; (6) pea and barley and (7) goat's-rue. The most productive crop was goat's-rue which showed green mass yield of 20.27 t/ha. Rape, maize, vetch and oat mix had green mass yield of 19.78, 20.11 and 16.42 t/ha, respectively. Winter wheat and pea produced 2.4 and 1.18 t/ha of grain, respectively. Application of mineral fertilizers increased yield by 25-40%. Detailed data are presented in 2 tables.
  • Authors:
    • Gladders, P.
    • Ellis, S.
    • Cook, S.
    • Berry, P.
    • Twining, S.
    • Wynn, S.
    • Clarke, J.
  • Source: HGCA Research Review
  • Issue: 70
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: This report reviews the most important scenarios that could affect the availability of pesticides (fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and rodenticides) for use in wheat, winter barley, spring barley, oats and oilseed rape, and describes the effects of reduced pesticide availability as an outcome of the revision of Directive 91/414/EEC on weeds, pests and diseases they control, and on the resultant level of production and value that the crop could achieve. The analysis focused on changes in yield and quality, and the area affected, taking into account simple changes in management to mitigate the problems, such as changes in cultivation, cultivars, sowing rate and planting date.
  • Authors:
    • Christensen, D. A.
    • McKinnon, J. J.
    • Gozho, G. N.
    • Racz, V.
    • Mutsvangwa, T.
  • Source: Journal of Animal Science
  • Volume: 87
  • Issue: 10
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestion, and flows to the duodenum in growing cattle fed differently produced canola protein supplements were studied in a 4 x 4 Latin square design using Speckle Park heifers (initial BW = 451 +/- 26 kg). Canola protein supplement treatments consisted of the following: 1) 8.78% regular canola meal (RCM); 2) 9.25% RCM plus 1.80% canola oil (RCMO); 3) 11.1% canola press-cake from biodiesel oil extraction (CPC); and 4) 8.14% high ruminally undegradable protein (RUP) canola meal (RUCM) plus 1.32% canola oil (RUCMO). Experimental diets also contained 39.9, 40.2, 39.9, and 39.9% barley grain; 31.7, 31.4, 31.2, and 31.4% barley silage; and 17.5, 15.2, 15.6, and 16.5% oat hulls for the RCM, RCMO, CPC, and RUCMO diets, respectively. Feeding the CPC, RCMO, and RUCMO diets decreased (P
  • Authors:
    • Clayton, G. W.
    • Turkington, T. K.
    • Irvine, R. B.
    • O'Donovan, J. T.
    • Harker, K. N.
  • Source: Weed Science
  • Volume: 57
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Wild oat causes more crop yield losses and accounts for more herbicide expenditures than any other weed species on the Canadian Prairies. A Study was conducted from 2001 to 2005 at four Canadian Prairie locations to determine the influence of repeated cultural and herbicidal management practices on wild oat Population density, biomass, and seed production, and on barley biomass and seed yield. Short or tall cultivars of barley were combined with normal or double barley seeding rates in continuous barley or a barley-canola-barley-field-pea rotation under three herbicide rate regimes. The same herbicide rate regime was applied to the same plots in all crops each year. In barley, cultivar type and seeding rate were also repeated on the same plots year after year. Optimal Cultural practices (tall cultivars, double seeding rates, and crop rotation) reduced wild oat emergence, biomass, and seed production, and increased barley biomass and seed yield, especially at low herbicide rates. Wild oat seed production at the quarter herbicide rate was reduced by 91, 95, and 97% in 2001, 2003, and 2005, respectively, when call barley cultivars at double seeding rates were rotated with canola and field pea (high management) compared to short barley cultivars at normal seeding rates Continuously planted to barley (low management). Combinations of favorable cultural practices interacted synergistically to reduce wild oat emergence, biomass and seed production, and to increase barley yield. For example, at the quarter herbicide rate, wild oat biomass was reduced 2- to 3-, 6- to 7-, or 19-fold when optimal single, double, or triple treatments were combined, respectively. Barley yield reductions in the low-management scenario were somewhat compensated for by full herbicide rates. However, high management at low herbicide rates often produced more barley than low management in higher herbicide rate regimes.