• Authors:
    • Alagesan, V.
    • Janardhan, K.
    • Sreenivasulu, M.
  • Source: Crop Research
  • Volume: 42
  • Issue: 1/2/3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: A study was conducted with a sample of 100 respondents randomly and equally selected from two purposively selected villages based on the maximum area under Narasimha cotton variety cultivation from two different Mandals of Kurnool district. Research study revealed that the constraints of higher order significance were inadequate research on IPM in cotton (100.00%), lack of suitable pest and disease control measures at low cost (99.00%), low support price (98.00%), lack of irrigation facilities (86.00%), high cost of labour (84.00%) and inadequacy of the skilled labour (77.00%) and high order importance were inadequate research on cotton intercropping systems (54.00%) and inadequate research on INM in cotton (50.00%). The corresponding suggestions of higher order importance as perceived by the Narasimha cotton growers were development of bollworm tolerant variety (72.00%), development of drought tolerant variety (48.00%), supply of plant protection chemicals at subsidized rate (36.00%), providing financial assistance (34.00%) and good extension services (32.00%).
  • Authors:
    • Zhang, C.
    • Wu, H. B.
    • Luan, Z. T.
    • Wang, H. J.
    • Zhai, W. Q.
    • Li, J. H.
  • Source: Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences
  • Volume: 47
  • Issue: 12
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Objective: The research was conducted on some keys factors which affect the planting effectiveness of cotton-melon interplanting in order to provide theoretical basis for improvement of the planting technique. Method: This study was carried out to investigate the irrigation and fertilization of cotton and melon, the main diseases, yield and quality of the melon, when intercropping of cotton and melon, compared with the common planting ways of cotton and melon. Result: Intergrowth contradictory between crops is little in cotton-melon Interplanting model, the powdery mildew of melon is less than that of melon of common planting way, while the downy mildew is more serious than melon of common planting way. A unit Hectare produced 3 888 kg cotton, 29 670 kg melon fruit with over 90% commodity rate. Conclusion: The Cotton-melon interplanting model obviously increased yield and income of unit field, which indicates that cotton-melon interplanting is helpful for increasing production and output value in a limited field in Kashgar.
  • Authors:
    • McSorley, R.
  • Source: Nematropica
  • Volume: 41
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Studies that utilized rotation crops for management of root-knot nematodes in the southeastern United States were examined to evaluate the overall performance of rotation crops. In general, nematode-susceptible crops that followed effective rotation crops produced yields and supported nematode numbers similar to those obtained on crops treated with most standard nematicides. Fumigation with methyl bromide was an exception, and resulted in low nematode numbers up to the end of the susceptible target crop, whereas nematode numbers recovered following rotation crops. Performance of rotation crops was similar to clean fallow in most studies, and there was little evidence that rotation crops could suppress nematode numbers below levels obtained after clean fallow. Large reductions in nematode numbers often were achieved following rotation crops. In sites with relatively low initial population levels before rotation crops were used, effective rotation crops sometimes maintained relatively low nematode numbers through the following susceptible target crop, and nematode recovery was not observed until the second year of the rotation sequences. Where practical, very long rotations such as bahiagrass pastures were often effective in preventing increase in nematode numbers on subsequent susceptible crops. Rehabilitation of heavily infested sites is difficult, could require several years of rotation crops, and the benefit gained may last only through one susceptible crop.
  • Authors:
    • Gill, M. S.
    • Bhale, V. M.
    • Deshmukh, M. S.
    • Narkhede, W. N.
    • Gadade, G. D.
    • More, S. S.
  • Source: Indian Journal of Agronomy
  • Volume: 56
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: A field experiment was conducted for three consecutive years (2005-2007) at Parbhani to find out most productive and profitable cropping system. Among the different cropping systems, highest wheat [( Triticum aestivum L.) emend. Fiori & Paol] equivalent yield (19.9 t/ha) and net monetary returns (Rs 107.8*10 3/ha) were obtained from soybean [ Glycine max (L. Merr.)]-onion ( Allium capa L.) cropping system, followed by turmeric ( Curcuma domestica L.)+castor ( Ricinus communis L.) (WEY-14.0 t/ha, and NMR Rs 89.8*10 3/ha). The soybean-onion system also recorded maximum net monetary advantage per unit time (Rs 573/ha/day), employment (374 mandays) and water use efficiency (221 kg/ha-cm), followed by turmeric+castor intercropping system. The highest nutrient uptake was recorded in sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]-wheat followed by maize ( Zea mays L.)+cow-pea ( Vigna sinensis L.)-wheat and maize-wheat cropping systems. The highest soil nutrient status was observed in cotton ( Gossypium sp.)-summer groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) followed by soybean-onion cropping systems.
  • Authors:
    • Strickland, T. C.
    • Bosch, D. D.
    • Webster, T. M.
    • Truman, C. C.
    • Potter, T. L.
  • Source: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
  • Volume: 59
  • Issue: 14
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Intensive glyphosate use has contributed to the evolution and occurrence of glyphosate-resistant weeds that threaten production of many crops. Sustained use of this highly valued herbicide requires rotation and/or substitution of herbicides with different modes of action. Cotton growers have shown considerable interest in the protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitor, fomesafen. Following registration for cotton in 2008, use has increased rapidly. Environmental fate data in major use areas are needed to appropriately evaluate risks. Field-based rainfall simulation was used to evaluate fomesafen runoff potential with and without irrigation incorporation in a conventional tillage system (CT) and when conservation tillage (CsT) was practiced with and without cover crop residue rolling. Without irrigation incorporation, relatively high runoff, about 5% of applied, was measured from the CT system, indicating that this compound may present a runoff risk. Runoff was reduced by >50% when the herbicide was irrigation incorporated after application or when used with a CsT system. Data indicate that these practices should be implemented whenever possible to reduce fomesafen runoff risk. Results also raised concerns about leaching and potential groundwater contamination and crop injury due to rapid washoff from cover crop residues in CsT systems. Further work is needed to address these concerns.
  • Authors:
    • Nichols, R. L.
    • Kelton, J. A.
    • Culpepper, S. A.
    • Balkcom, K. S.
    • Price, A. J.
    • Schomberg, H.
  • Source: Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
  • Volume: 66
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Conservation tillage reduces the physical movement of soil to the minimum required for crop establishment and production. When consistently practiced as a soil and crop management system, it greatly reduces soil erosion and is recognized for the potential to improve soil quality and water conservation and plant available water. Adoption of conservation tillage increased dramatically with the advent of transgenic, glyphosate-resistant crops that permitted in-season, over-the-top use of glyphosate (N-[phosphonomethyl] glycine), a broad-spectrum herbicide with very low mammalian toxicity and minimal potential for off-site movement in soil or water. Glyphosate-resistant crops are currently grown on approximately 70 million ha (173 million ac) worldwide. The United States has the most hectares (45 million ha [99 million ac]) of transgenic, glyphosate-resistant cultivars and the greatest number of hectares (46 million ha [114 million ac]) in conservation tillage. The practice of conservation tillage is now threatened by the emergence and rapid spread of glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri [S.]Wats.), one of several amaranths commonly called pigweeds. First identified in Georgia, it now has been reported in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Another closely related dioecious amaranth, or pigweed, common waterhemp (Amaranthus rudis Sauer), has also developed resistance to glyphosate in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and. Missouri. Hundreds of thousands of conservation tillage hectares, some currently under USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service conservation program contracts, are at risk of being converted to higher-intensity tillage systems due to the inability to control these glyphosate-resistant Amaranthus species in conservation tillage systems using traditional technologies. The decline of conservation tillage is inevitable without the development and rapid adoption of integrated, effective weed control strategies. Traditional and alternative weed control strategies, such as the utilization of crop and herbicide rotation and integration of high residue cereal cover crops, are necessary in order to sustain conservation tillage practices.
  • Authors:
    • Price, A. J.
    • Balkcom, K. S.
    • Arriaga, F. J.
    • Schwab, E. B.
    • Raper, R. L.
    • Kornecki, T. S.
  • Source: Transactions of the ASABE
  • Volume: 54
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The southeastern U.S. has a tremendous potential to grow a biomass crop during winter months when cash crops are not normally produced. These cover crops have proven to be extremely valuable to reduce soil erosion and improve soil quality. However, an opportunity to potentially harvest a portion of the cover crop for bioenergy purposes exists and needs to be considered to maximize the production potential of southeastern soils. An experiment was performed to determine if harvesting these cover crops could adversely affect soil properties or subsequent cash and cover crop yields. The experiment also included the effects of conducting an in-row subsoiling operation at different times of the year Results from cone index measurements indicated that soil strength was significantly increased when the cover crop was harvested and not left on the soil surface to decompose. Not surprisingly, cotton and peanut cash crop yields declined by an average of 9% when the cover crop was harvested. Succeeding cover crop yields were also reduced by 17% due to the harvesting of previous cover crops. Conducting an in-row subsoiling operation in the fall of the year prior to planting the cover crop increased cover crop biomass by more than 18% over spring in-row subsoiling but had little impact on cash crop yields. Recommendations from this study should include a caution to producers who may want to consider their cover crops as a potential bioenergy crop. Reductions in both cash and cover crop production can result if cover crops are harvested instead of left on the surface to enhance soil quality. Additionally, scheduling a necessary in-row subsoiling operation in the fall of the year instead of waiting until the spring will improve cover crop yields.
  • Authors:
    • Thakare, S. S.
    • Shende, N. V.
  • Source: The Asian economic review: journal of the Indian Institute of Economics
  • Volume: 53
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: In this study an attempt has been made to study the structural changes in cost of cultivation of selected crops in Vidarbha. The study is based on estimates of cost of cultivation of four selected crops viz. Cotton, Soybean, Sorghum and Paddy of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. The study used cross sectional cum time series data of Vidarbha region for selected crops for ten years from 1999-00 to 2008-09. The total cost of cultivation of cotton, soybean, sorghum and paddy has been depicting an increase by 1.82,1.86, 1.17 and 1.42 times during the period of study respectively. It was revealed that the share of operational cost to total change in cost of cultivation has been almost same for cotton, soybean and paddy crops indicating that the operational cost and fixed cost increased over time in a commensurate manner for these crops except sorghum crop. For all selected crops, the cost of cultivation has increased at a faster rate as compared to increase in prices of their output. The study also revealed that, during 1999-00, the return over cost A was highest for paddy crop followed by sorghum and cotton and lowest for soybean. The return over cost C was highest for paddy followed by sorghum but the return over cost C for soybean and cotton found negative. There for paddy crop had comparative economic advantage as compared to other selected crops of Vidarbha in 1999-00. During 2008-09, return over cost A was highest for cotton crop followed by paddy, soybean and sorghum. The return over cost C was highest for cotton followed by soybean and paddy crop. There for cotton crop had comparative economic advantage among the selected crops of Vidarbha in 2008-09. Cotton and paddy are the important crops of Vidarbha. These crops are more profitable as compared to other crops of Vidarbha, but now the area under cotton was replaced by soybean due to high cost of cultivation of cotton. Hence cotton area is likely to dominate day by day.
  • Authors:
    • Xu, W. L.
    • Feng, Y. Z.
    • Jang, Y. L.
    • Rao, X. J.
    • Wang, Z. G.
  • Source: Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences
  • Volume: 48
  • Issue: 12
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Objective: The purpose of this project is to study the effects of different irrigation models of jujube-cotton intercropping in ecological areas on the temperature and humidity and determine the ecological result of different irrigation models to the environment in order to provide some scientific basis for optimum water-saving irrigation model for jujube-cotton intercropping. Method: Three EL-USB automatic measuring system of temperature and humidity was established in the different positions in treatment 1 - jujube garden, treatment 2 - double water pipes in one line, treatment 3 - spray, treatment 4 - ditch irrigation, treatment 5 - cotton, EL-USB automatic measuring system of temperature and humidity of different distances from tree row to be monitored for 3 days in a row. Result: Effects of east-to-west jujube row on micro-ecological areas temperature are: the south of Jujube > the north of Jujube > Jujube row, and humidity: jujube row > The north of Jujube > The south of jujube; There was a negative linear correlation between humidity and temperature. Effects of different irrigation models on micro-ecological areas temperature of Jujube-cotton intercropping are: treatment 5 > treatment 1 > treatment 4 > treatment 3 > treatment 2, and humidity: treatment 2 > treatment 3 > treatment 4 > treatment 1 > treatment 5. Conclusion: Results showed that the crown shading of a east-to-west jujube row affected micro-ecological area temperature and humidity differently with different directions from tree row. Generally, temperature is the south of Jujube > the north of jujube > jujube row. There was a negative linear correlation between humidity and temperature. The temperature of jujube-cotton intercropping is lower than that of the single cotton model, but the humidity is higher. The treatment of spray and the treatment of double water pipes influence temperature and humidity greatly, which was advantageous to increase the jujube fruit setting rate.
  • Authors:
    • Tyler, D. D.
    • Jaja, N.
    • McClure, M. A.
    • Yin, X. H.
    • Hayes, R. M.
  • Source: Agronomy Journal
  • Volume: 103
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The relationship between corn ( Zea mays L.) yield and plant height has been poorly documented in major corn production systems. This study was conducted to assess the relationship of corn yield with plant height under four major corn production systems at Milan, TN from 2008 through 2010. Six N treatments at rates of 0, 62, 123, 185, 247, and 308 kg N ha -1 with four replications were evaluated in a randomized complete block design in the following corn production systems: nonirrigated corn after corn, nonirrigated corn after soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.], nonirrigated corn after cotton [ Gossypium hirsutum (L.)], and irrigated corn after soybean. The regression of corn yield with plant height was significant and positive at 6-leaf growth stage (V6), 10-leaf growth stage (V10), and 12-leaf growth stage (V12), and mostly became stronger as plant growth progressed from V6 to V10 and to V12 under an exponential model in the four corn production systems for all 3 yr. In general, corn yield was strongly related with plant height measurements made at V10 and V12. Factors affecting the responses of plant height measured at V6, V10, and V12 or/and yield to the N treatments may have contributed to the variations of determination coeffient ( R2) values across years. In conclusion, corn yield may be predicted with plant height measurements collected during V10 to V12. This prediction provides a physiological basis for the utilization of high resolution plant height measurements to guide variable-rate N applications within the field on corn at around V10 and to more accurately estimate yield for earlier grain marketing purposes.