• Authors:
    • Gillen, A. M.
    • Reddy, K. N.
    • Bellaloui, N.
    • Fisher, D. K.
    • Mengistu, A.
  • Source: American Journal of Plant Sciences
  • Volume: 2
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Information on the effect of planting date and irrigation on soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed composition in the Early Soybean Production System (ESPS) is deficient, and what is available is inconclusive. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of planting date on seed protein, oil, fatty acids, sugars, and minerals in soybean grown under irrigated (I) and non-irrigated (NI) conditions. A 2-yr field experiment was conducted in Stoneville, MS in 2007 and 2008. Soybean was planted during second week of April (early planting) and second week of May (late planting) each year. Results showed that under irrigated condition, early planting increased seed oil (up to 16% increase) and oleic acid (up to 22.8% increase), but decreased protein (up to 6.6% decrease), linoleic (up to 10.9% decrease) and linolenic acids (up to 27.7% decrease) compared to late planting. Under I conditions, late planting resulted in higher sucrose and raffinose and lower stachyose compared with early planting. Under NI conditions, seed of early planting had higher protein (up to 4% increase) and oleic acid (up to 25% increase) and lower oil (up to10.8% decrease) and linolenic acids (up to 13% decrease) than those of late planting. Under NI, stachyose concentration was higher than sucrose or raffinose, especially in early planting. Under I, early planting resulted in lower leaf and seed B, Fe, and P concentrations compared with those of late planting. Under NI, however, early planting resulted in higher accumulation of leaf B and P, but lower seed B and P compared with those of late planting. This research demonstrated that both irrigation and planting date have a significant influence on seed protein, oil, unsaturated fatty acids, and sugars. Our results suggest that seed of late planting accumulate more B, P, and Fe than those of early planting, and this could be a beneficial gain. Limited translocation of nutrients from leaves to seed under NI is undesirable. Soybean producers may use this information to maintain yield and seed quality, and soybean breeders to select for seed quality traits and mineral translocation efficiency in stress environments.
  • Authors:
    • Chenglin, M.
    • Chunsheng, L.
    • Honglei, J.
    • Lichun, W.
    • Hongjie, T.
  • Source: Soil & Tillage Research
  • Volume: 107
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: The stalk-stubble breaking and mulching process is a core technique for some conservation tillage system. Over the past 10 years, this technique has been widely adopted in the dry farming area of northern China. On the basis of analyzing the existing problems in stalk-breaking and stubble-breaking machines, we have developed a combined stalk-stubble breaking and mulching machine with two frames fixed together, the stalk and stubble-breaking blade rotors were mounted respectively on the frames. The machine can be used to break the maize ( Zea mays L.) stalk and stubble and bury about one-third of the broken stalk and stubble in the soil, preventing them being blown away by wind. This paper describes the structural features of the machine, the design of main working parts, determination of the parameters of the central position of the two blade rotors, and presents the performance test results. The tests showed that the machine had a stalk-breaking rate of 89% and the vegetation coverage rate reached 67.9%, which meets the agro-technical requirements in the dry farming area of northern China.
  • Authors:
    • Kadasrivenkata, H.
    • Kapanigowda, M.
    • Stewart, B. A.
    • Howell, T. A.
    • Baumhardt, R. L.
  • Source: Field Crops Research
  • Volume: 118
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Under dryland conditions of the Texas High Plains, maize ( Zea mays) production is limited by sparse and erratic precipitation that results in severe water stress particularly during grain formation. When plant populations are reduced to 2.0-3.0 plants m -2 to conserve soil water for use during grain filling, tillers often form during the vegetative growth and negate the expected economic benefit. We hypothesized that growing maize in clumps spaced 1.0 m apart would reduce tiller formation, increase mutual shading among the plants, and conserve soil water for grain filling that would result in higher grain yield. Studies were conducted during 2006 and 2007 at Bushland, TX. with two planting geometries (clump vs. equidistant), two irrigation methods (low-energy precision applicator, LEPA, and low-elevation spray applicator, LESA) at three irrigation levels (dryland, 75 mm and 125 mm in 2006; and dryland, 50 mm and 100 mm in 2007). For dryland plots in 2007, clump plants had only 0.17 tillers (0.66 tillers m -2) compared with 1.56 tillers per plant (6.08 tillers m -2) for equidistant spacing. Tillers accounted for 10% of the stover for the equidistant plants, but less than 3% of the grain. Clump planting produced significantly greater grain yields (321 g m -2 vs. 225 g m -2 and 454 g m -2 vs. 292 g m -2 during 2006 and 2007, respectively) and Harvest Indexes (0.54 vs. 0.49 and 0.52 vs. 0.39 during 2006 and 2007, respectively) compared with equidistant plants in dryland conditions. Water use efficiency (WUE) measurements in 2007 indicated that clumps had a lower evapotranspiration (ET) threshold for initiating grain production, but the production function slopes were 2.5 kg m -3 for equidistant treatments compared to 2.0 kg m -3 for clump treatments. There was no yield difference for method of irrigation on water use efficiency. Our results suggest that growing maize in clumps compared with equidistant spacing reduced the number of tillers, early vegetative growth, and Leaf Area Index (LAI) so that more soil water was available during the grain filling stage. This may be a useful strategy for growing maize with low plant populations in dryland areas where severe water stress is common.
  • Authors:
    • Qin, L.
    • Shuang, L.
    • Wenquing, H.
    • Xurong, M.
    • Hoogenboom, G.
    • Changrong, Y.
    • Jiantao, D.
    • Ahmad, M.
    • Nangia, V.
  • Source: International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: In the dryland regions of North China, water is the limiting factor for rainfed crop production. Conservation agriculture (featuring reduced or zero tillage, mulching, crop rotations and cover crops) has been proposed to improve soil and water conservation and enhance yields in these areas. Conservation agriculture systems typically result in increased crop water availability and agro-ecosystem productivity, and reduced soil erosion. To evaluate the potential of conservation agriculture to improve soil water balance and agricultural productivity, the DSSAT crop model was calibrated using the data of a field experiment in Shouyang County in the semi-arid northeastern part of the Yellow River Basin. The average annual precipitation at the site is 472 mm, 75% of which falls during the growing season. The site had a maize-fallow-maize rotation, data from two crop seasons (2005 and 2006) and four treatments for calibration and analysis were used. The treatments were: conventional tillage (CT), no-till with straw mulching (NTSM), all-straw incorporated (ASRT) and one-third residue left on the surface with no-till (RRT). The calibration results gave satisfactory agreement between field observed and model predicted values for crop yield for all treatments except RRT treatment, and for soil water content of different layers in the 150 cm soil profile for all treatments. The difference between observed and predicted values was in the range of 3%-25% for maize yield and RMSE was in the range of 0.03-0.06 cm 3/cm 3 for soil water content measured periodically each cropping season. While these results are encouraging, more rigorous calibration and independent model evaluation are warranted prior to making recommendations based on model simulations. Medium-term simulations (1995-2004) were conducted for three of the treatments using the calibrated model. The NTSM and ASRT treatments had similar or higher yields (by up to 36%), higher crop water productivity by up to 28% and reduced runoff of up to 93% or 43 mm compared to CT treatment.
  • Authors:
    • Rensburg, L. D. van
  • Source: South African Journal of Plant and Soil
  • Volume: 27
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: This is the third soil physics review to be published in South African Journal of Plant and Soil. In the previous reviews the focus was broad and covered almost every aspect of the subject, providing a comprehensive list of contributions in soil physics. For the 25th year anniversary celebration of South African Journal of Plant and Soil, I have chosen to narrow the scope and focus on advances in soil physics in relation to irrigation and dryland agriculture. From a bio-physical viewpoint, South African researchers have made a major contribution to the body of scientific knowledge about irrigation and its application, expressed mainly in the form of irrigation or crop models such as PUTU, SWB and BEWAB. Attention was also given to modern ways of irrigation scheduling based on continuous soil water monitoring. Several irrigation scheduling service providers have adapted their businesses accordingly, with the result that South Africa is probably the leading country in Africa with respect to soil water monitoring and associated communication technology. In contrast, the review has shown that at farm and irrigation scheme level, salt management requires urgent attention. This is necessary as a precautionary measure to protect our natural resources. In the second part of the review the contribution of soil physics in relation to tillage practices is explored, and in particular how these have modified the field water balance components in order to enhance yield and rain water productivity. Based on the results of field experiments, new relationships were established, viz. rainfall and maize yield; water storage and yield; runoff and surface coverage by crop residue mulches; tillage depth, texture and yield relationships. Lastly, the review also showed how the water balance on clay and duplex soils in semi-arid zones can be modified through in-field rainwater harvesting to increase their rain water productivity. This technology has enhanced the livelihoods of many communal families who have applied the technique in their homesteads.
  • Authors:
    • Sainju, U. M.
    • Jabro, J. D.
    • Caesar-TonThat, T.
  • Source: Journal of Environmental Quality
  • Volume: 39
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Management practices are needed to reduce dryland sod CO(2) emissions and to increase C sequestration We evaluated the effects of tillage and cropping sequence combinations and N fertilization on dryland crop biomass (stems + leaves) and sod surface CO(2) flux and C content (0- to 120-cm depth) in a Williams loam from May to October, 2006 to 2008, in eastern Montana. Treatments were no-tilled continuous malt barley (Hordeum vulgaris L) (NTCB), no-tilled malt bailey pea (Pivot; sativum L) (NTB-P), no-tilled malt barley fallow (NTB-F), and conventional-tilled malt barley fallow (CTB-F), each with 0 and 80 kg N ha(-1) Measurements were made both in Phase I (malt barley in NTCB, pea in NTB-P, and fallow in NTB-F and CTB-F) and Phase II (malt barley in all sequences) of each cropping sequence in every year Crop biomass varied among years. was greater in the barley than in the pea phase of the NTB-P treatment, and greater in NTCB and NTB-P than in NTB-F and CTB-F in 2 out of 3 yr Similarly biomass was greater with 80 than with 0 kg N ha(-1) in 1 out of 3 yr. Soil CO(2) flux increased from 8 mg C m(-2) h(-1) in early May to 239 mg C m(-2) h(-1) in mid-June as temperature increased and then declined to 3 mg C m(-2) h(-1) in September. October Fluxes peaked immediately following substantial precipitation (>10 mm). especially in NTCB and NTB-P Cumulative CO(2) flux from May to October was greater in 2006 and 2007 than in 2008, greater in cropping than in fallow phases, and greater in NTCB than in NTB-F. Tillage did not influence crop biomass and CO(2) flux but N fertilization had a variable effect on the flux in 2008. Similarly, soil total C content was not influenced by treatments Annual cropping increased CO(2) flux compared with crop fallow probably by increasing crop residue returns to sods and root and rhizosphere respiration Inclusion of peas in the rotation wills malt barley in the no-till system, which have been known to reduce N fertilization rates and sustain malt barley yields, resulted in a CO(2) flux similar to that in the CTB-F sequence
  • Authors:
    • Sandhya, V.
    • Ali, S. Z.
    • Grover, M.
    • Reddy, G.
    • Venkateswarlu, B.
  • Source: Plant Growth Regulation
  • Volume: 62
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Drought is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting yield of dryland crops. Rhizobacterial populations of stressed soils are adapted and tolerant to stress and can be screened for isolation of efficient stress adaptive/tolerant, plant growth promoting rhizobacterial (PGPR) strains that can be used as inoculants for crops grown in stressed ecosystems. The effect of inoculation of five drought tolerant plant growth promoting Pseudomonas spp. strains namely P. entomophila strain BV-P13, P. stutzeri strain GRFHAP-P14, P. putida strain GAP-P45, P. syringae strain GRFHYTP52, and P. monteilli strain WAPP53 on growth, osmoregulation and antioxidant status of maize seedlings under drought stress conditions was investigated. Drought stress induced by withholding irrigation had drastic effects on growth of maize seedlings. However seed bacterization of maize with Pseudomonas spp. strains improved plant biomass, relative water content, leaf water potential, root adhering soil/root tissue ratio, aggregate stability and mean weight diameter and decreased leaf water loss. The inoculated plants showed higher levels of proline, sugars, free amino acids under drought stress. However protein and starch content was reduced under drought stress conditions. Inoculation decreased electrolyte leakage compared to uninoculated seedlings under drought stress. As compared to uninoculated seedlings, inoculated seedlings showed significantly lower activities of antioxidant enzymes, ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) under drought stress, indicating that inoculated seedlings felt less stress as compared to uninoculated seedlings. The strain GAP-P45 was found to be the best in terms of influencing growth and biochemical and physiological status of the seedlings under drought stress. The study reports the potential of rhizobacteria in alleviating drought stress effects in maize.
  • Authors:
    • Saseendran, S. A.
    • Nielsen, D. C.
    • Ma, L. W.
    • Ahuja, L. R.
    • Vigil, M. F.
  • Source: Agronomy Journal
  • Volume: 102
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Long-term crop rotation effects on crop water use and yield have been investigated in the Central Great Plains since the 1990s. System models are needed to synthesize these long-term results for making management decisions and for transferring localized data to other conditions. The objectives of this study were to calibrate a cropping systems model (RZWQM2 with the DSSAT v4.0 crop modules) for dryland wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), corn ( Zea mays L.), and proso millet ( Panicum miliaceum L.) production in the wheat-corn-millet (WCM) rotation from 1995 to 2008, and then to evaluate the model from 1992-2008 for two additional rotations, wheat-fallow (WF) and wheat-corn-fallow (WCF) on a Weld silt loam soil under no-till conditions. Measured biomass and grain yield for the above three rotations were simulated reasonably well with root mean squared errors (RMSEs) ranging between 1147 and 2547 kg ha -1 for biomass, and between 280 and 618 kg ha -1 for grain yield. Corresponding index of agreement (d) ranged between 0.70 and 0.95 for biomass, and between 0.87 and 0.97 for grain yield. The validated model was further used to evaluate two additional crop rotations: wheat-millet-fallow (WMF) and wheat-corn-millet-fallow (WCMF) (1993-2008) without prior knowledge of the two rotations. We found that the model simulated the mean and range of yield and biomass of the three crops well. These results demonstrated that RZWQM2 can be used to synthesize long-term crop rotation data and to predict crop rotation effects on crop production under the semiarid conditions of eastern Colorado.
  • Authors:
    • Hanan, J.
    • Qu, S.
    • Doherty, A.
    • Song, Y.
    • Birch, C.
  • Source: Plant Production Science
  • Volume: 13
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: It is essential to provide experimental evidence and reliable predictions of the effects of water stress on crop production in the drier, less predictable environments. A field experiment undertaken in southeast Queensland, Australia with three water regimes (fully irrigated, rainfed and irrigated until late canopy expansion followed by rainfed) was used to compare effects of water stress on crop production in two maize ( Zea mays L.) cultivars (Pioneer 34N43 and Pioneer 31H50). Water stress affected growth and yield more in Pioneer 34N43 than in Pioneer 31H50. A crop model APSIM-Maize, after having been calibrated for the two cultivars, was used to simulate maize growth and development under water stress. The predictions on leaf area index (LAI) dynamics, biomass growth and grain yield under rainfed and irrigated followed by rainfed treatments was reasonable, indicating that stress indices used by APSIM-Maize produced appropriate adjustments to crop growth and development in response to water stress. This study shows that Pioneer 31H50 is less sensitive to water stress and thus a preferred cultivar in dryland conditions, and that it is feasible to provide sound predictions and risk assessment for crop production in drier, more variable conditions using the APSIM-Maize model.
  • Authors:
    • Hoogmoed, W. B.
    • Cai, D.
    • Wu, X.
    • Zhao, Q.
    • Zhang, X.
    • Wang, Y.
    • Dai, K.
    • Wang, X.
    • Oenema, O.
  • Source: Agricultural Water Management
  • Volume: 97
  • Issue: 9
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Rainfed crop production in northern China is constrained by low and variable rainfall, and by improper management practices. This study explored both the impact of long-term rainfall variability and the long-term effects of various combinations of maize stover, cattle manure and mineral fertiliser (NP) applications on maize ( Zea mays L.) yields and water use efficiency (WUE) under reduced tillage practices, at Shouyang Dryland Farming Experimental Station in northern China from 1993 onwards. The experiment was set up according to an incomplete, optimal design, with 3 factors at five levels and 12 treatments including a control with two replications. Grain yields were greatly influenced by the amount of rain during the growing season, and by soil water at sowing. Annual mean grain yields ranged from 3 to 10 t ha -1 and treatment mean yields from 4.2 to 7.2 t ha -1. The WUE ranged from 40 in treatments with balanced nutrient inputs in dry (weather/or soil) years to 6.5 kg ha -1 mm -1 for the control treatments in wet years. The WUE averaged over the 15-year period ranged from 11 to 19 kg ha -1 mm -1. Balanced combination of stover (3000-6000 kg), manure (1500-6000 kg) and N fertiliser (105 kg) gave the highest yield and hence WUE. It is suggested that 100 kg N per ha should be a best choice, to be adapted according to availability of stover and manure. Possible management options under variable rainfall conditions to alleviate occurring moisture stress for crops must be tailored to the rainfall pattern. The potentials of split applications, targeted to the need of the growing crop (response nutrient management), should be explored to further improve grain yield and WUE.