• Authors:
    • Kosterna, E.
    • Zaniewicz-Bajkowska, A.
    • Jabonska-Ceglarek, R.
    • Franczuk, J.
    • Rosa, R.
  • Source: Vegetable Crops Research Bulletin
  • Volume: 70
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: The effect of three methods of soil mulching: autumn or spring ploughing and leaving mulch as a cover crop on the soil surface without incorporation till the end of cabbage growth on the contents of selected nutrients in red cabbage and onion was investigated. The following plants were used as intercropped mulches: phacelia, vetch, Serradella and oat. Mulching effects were compared to a non-mulched control as well as a farmyard manure application at the rate of 40 t.ha -1. Nutrient content in both vegetable species depended on weather conditions and varied in study years. Accumulation of dry matter in cabbage was favoured by phacelia and oat mulches, irrespective of the date of ploughing. Non-incorporated oat and autumn-incorporated phacelia increased dry matter content in onion. An increase in the protein content in cabbage was observed when following Serradella and vetch mulches. The protein content in onion cultivated in the second year following mulching did not change significantly as a result of the influence of examined factors. Among an the mulches taken into study, Serradella and oat increased the content of vitamin C in cabbage. Similarly, autumn- or spring-incorporated oat mulch and non-incorporated Serradella mulch increased the content of vitamin C in onion.
  • Authors:
    • Zheng, M.
    • Wang, T.
    • Li, Z.
    • Cai, C.
    • Guo, Z.
  • Source: Agroforestry Systems
  • Volume: 76
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Land management practices that simultaneously improve soil properties are crucial to high crop production and minimize detrimental impact on the environment. The effects of crop residues on crop performance, the fluxes of soil N 2O and CO 2 under wheat-maize (WM) and/or faba bean-maize (FM) rotations in Amorpha fruticosa (A) and Vetiveria zizanioides (V) intercropping systems on a loamy clay soil, in subtropical China, were examined. Crop performance, soil N 2O and CO 2 as well as some potential factors such as soil water content, soil carbon, soil nitrogen, microbial biomass and N mineralization were recorded during 2006 maize crop cultivation. Soil N 2O and CO 2 fluxes are determined using a closed-based chamber. Maize yield was greater after faba bean than after wheat may be due to differences in supply of N from residues. The presence of hedgerow significantly improved maize grain yields. N 2O emissions from soils with maize were considerably greater after faba bean (345 g N 2O-N ha -1) than after wheat (289 g N 2O-N ha -1). However, the cumulated N 2O emissions did not differ significantly between WM and FM. The difference in N 2O emissions between WM and FM was mostly due to the amounts of crop residues. Hedgerow alley cropping tended to emit more N 2O than WM and FM, in particular A. fruticosa intercropping systems. Over the entire 118 days of measurement, the N 2O fluxes represented 534 g N 2O-N ha -1 (AWM) and 512 g N 2O-N ha -1 (AFM) under A. fruticosa species, 403 g N 2O-N ha -1 (VWM) and 423 g N 2O-N ha -1 (VFM) under Vetiver grass. A significantly higher CO 2 emission was observed in AFM (5335 kg CO 2-C ha -1) from June to October, whereas no significant difference was observed among WM (3480 kg CO 2-C ha -1), FM (3302 kg CO 2-C ha -1), AWM (3877 kg CO 2-C ha -1), VWM (3124 kg CO 2-C ha -1) and VFM (3309 kg CO 2-C ha -1), indicating the importance of A. fruticosa along with faba bean residue on CO 2 fluxes. As a result, crop residues and land conversion from agricultural to agroforestry can, in turn, influence microbial biomass, N mineralization, soil C and N content, which can further alter the magnitude of crop growth, soil N 2O and CO 2 emissions in the present environmental conditions.
  • Authors:
    • Nagaki, M.
    • Ke, F.
  • Source: Agricultural Information Research
  • Volume: 18
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: In the arid areas of Northwest China, agriculture especially crop farming consumes most of water resource. Water-intensive and low value-added wheat is cultivated as a staple food of the local people in large scale. Because of the surface water scarcity, irrigation mainly depends on pumping the groundwater in these areas. Based on field surveys conducted in 2005 and 2006 both in the south and the north of Minqin County, Gansu province, this study is designed to study the role of groundwater irrigation on wheat production and how to improve the technical efficiencies (TEs) of wheat farmers by estimating a Stochastic Frontier Production Function (SFPF). The above information is valuable for how to save wheat water consumption and improving the food safety in the arid areas. The empirical results showed that expenditure on pumping groundwater played important role in wheat production. Meanwhile, the same expenditure played more effectively on wheat intercropping with maize in the south than that in the north. As a result, the farmers in the south are more likely to increase expenditures on pumping water than the farmers in the north. Therefore, the government should make new program to restrict wheat water consumption and to secure the farmers in both areas to use the groundwater fairly. Meanwhile, it is suggested that younger farmers can achieve a higher TE both in the south and the north. For the input-intensive intercropping in the south, a larger family, higher education of the farm managers, and coordination of their part-time jobs with agricultural production activities can also help to get higher TEs.
  • Authors:
    • Wang, X.
    • Yang, Y.
    • Wu, F.
    • Li, Q.
  • Source: Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section B-Soil and Plant Science
  • Volume: 59
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: We studied the effects of rotation and interplanting on soil bacterial communities and crop yields using cucumber as the main vegetable. Onion and garlic were used as interplanting species, and wheat, soybean, villose (more commonly, villous) vetch, clover, and alfalfa were used as rotation plants. T-RFLP techniques were used to show the effects of rotation and interplanting systems on diversity index and richness index of cucumber rhizosphere soil bacterial communities. The results showed that both rotation and interplanting systems increased the richness index and diversity index of soil bacterial community structures, except where alfalfa was used as the rotation plant. The diversity index of the cucumber rhizosphere bacterial community structure was highest in the wheat rotation cropping system, and the richness index of soil bacteria was highest in wheat and clover rotations and in the onion interplanting system. Our results show that rotation and interplanting systems beneficially altered community structures of dominant soil bacteria, and increased cucumber yield and soil bacterial diversity. The best cultivation system to increase cucumber yield utilized onion as an interplanting species and wheat as a rotation plant.
  • Authors:
    • Manoj, K.
    • Suresh, K.
    • Yadav, S.
    • Pawan, K.
  • Source: Haryana Journal of Agronomy
  • Volume: 25
  • Issue: 1/2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: A field experiment was conducted for four consecutive years from 2002-03 to 2005-06 in pearl millet-wheat cropping system under semi-arid conditions at research farm of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India. The experiment consisted of four treatments viz., T 1: Recommended package for both the crops, T 2: Recommended package for both crops+FYM 10 t/ha to pearl millet, T 3: Recommended package for bothcrops+FYM 10 t/ha to pearl millet+30% higher seed rate and T 4: Recommended package for bot the hcrops+Intercropping of clusterbean in paired rows of pearl millet. Incorporation of FYM 10 t/ha during the kharif season in pearl millet and 30% higher seed rate alongwith recommended package of practices resulted in increased grain yield of pearl millet as well as wheat leading to maximum cropping system productivity, profitability and water productivity. Incorporation of FYM 10 t/ha during the kharif season in pearl millet also increased yield of both the crops, while intercropping of clusterbean in paired rows of pearl millet resulted in increase of pearl millet yield only.
  • Authors:
    • Tobiasz-Salach, R.
    • Bobrecka-Jamro, D.
    • Szpunar-Krok, E.
  • Source: Fragmenta Agronomica
  • Volume: 26
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: The field experiments was carried out on good wheat soil complex during 2003-2005 in Podkarpacie region (5003′ N, 2206′ E). The 2-species mixtures of naked oats Polar with cultivars of faba bean Akord - its growth pattern undefined, Albus - with low tanine content and self-completing, Titus - self-completing were not distinguishable as regards grain yield as they in most cases gave yields higher than faba bean in pure sowing and even in years with highest rainfall, it gave higher yields than oats in pure sowing. While crude protein yields of mixtures were higher than oats in pure sowing but lower than faba bean, the energy value of yields were however higher in comparison with sole-species cultivations. The content of faba bean grains damaged by Bruchus rufimanus Boh. in mixtures with naked oats did not differ significantly from those in pure sowing. The traditional Akord cultivar was characterized with less stability of yields during the period covered but its grains were infected by Bruchus rufimanus Boh. than self-completing cultivars. Having in mind prevailing conditions of Podkarpacie, it is recommended that Albus cultivar be added to mixtures with naked oats, Polar variety due to very high grain and protein yields as well as energy value of yields.
  • Authors:
    • Teixeira, H.
    • Paula Junior, T.
    • Vieira, R.
    • Vieira, C.
  • Source: CIENCIA E AGROTECNOLOGIA
  • Volume: 33
  • Issue: special issue
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: In order to evaluate the intensity of angular leaf spot ( Pseudocercospora griseola; ALS) and anthracnose ( Colletotrichum lindemuthianum; ANT) on pods, 9 genotypes of common bean were planted in 3 cropping systems in Brazil: monocrop (MC); monocrop grown on trellises (MCT); and intercrop with maize (ICM). In MC, beans were planted 0.5 m apart. Trelisses were set up with 1.8 m high bamboos and beans were sown 0.65 m apart. In ICM, beans were planted simultaneously with maize and in its rows. This cereal was sown 1.0 m apart with 4 plants/m. Each cropping system was an independent trial installed close to each other. Climbing genotypes of beans most susceptible to ALS had less diseased pods in ICM than in both MC and MCT, but the less susceptible genotypes, regardless of their growth type, as well as the susceptible bush and semi-climbing genotypes, were similarly attacked by ALS in the three systems. ANT on pods of the susceptible bean cv. Perola was less intense in MCT than in MC and less intense in ICM than in MCT. ANT seed transmission was 11, 9.1 and 4.4% when seeds came from MC, MCT and ICM, respectively.
  • Authors:
    • Zhu, C.
    • He, K.
    • Pan, M.
    • Mao, G.
    • Pan, G.
    • Zheng, Y.
  • Source: Guizhou Agricultural Sciences
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: This study investigated the effects of different intercropping and interplanting patterns of green manure on soil fertility in Guizhou, China. The results showed that maize yield in improved soil fertility areas under 1:1 application ratio between organic and inorganic fertilizer averagely increased by 23.05% (102.5 kg/667m 2) compared with the conventional application pattern. The yields of the potato-green manure-maize pattern, rape-green manure-maize pattern and wheat-green manure-maize pattern increased by 51.2-66.0 kg/667m 2, 146.1 kg/667 m 2 and 146.7 kg/667 m 2, respectively compared with the conventional application pattern. The soil organic matter, total nitrogen, alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen, active P and active K content in improved soil fertility areas averagely increased by 0.23%, 0.033%, 23.23 mg/kg, 1.5 mg/kg and 17.75 mg/kg respectively and the soil fertility was increased to varying degrees. The high maize yield depends on its strong and high plants and better economic characters.
  • Authors:
    • Penfold, C. M.
    • McNeill, A. M.
  • Source: Crop and Pasture Science
  • Volume: 60
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Maintenance of available phosphorus (P) is a problem faced by both conventional and organic systems but it is exacerbated in the latter given that manufactured inorganic sources of P fertiliser are not permitted under the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements certification guidelines. The focus of this paper is a discussion of potential agronomic strategies to assist in sustainable management of the soil P resource in organic and low-input broadacre farming systems within the Australian rain-fed cereal-livestock belt. The paper considers three broad strategies for agronomic management of P in this context and draws on reported research from overseas and within Australia. An analysis of the current knowledge suggests that the option most likely to ensure that soluble P is not a limitation in the system is the importation of allowable inputs that contain P from off-farm, although for much of the Australian cereal-livestock belt the immediate issue may be access to economically viable sources. Research targeted at quantifying the economic and biological benefits to the whole-farm system associated with the adoption of these practices is required. Improving the P-use efficiency of the system by incorporating species into rotation or intercropping systems that are able to use P from less soluble sources has been a successful strategy in parts of the world with climate similar to much of the Australian cereal-sheep belt, and deserves further research effort in Australia. Agronomic management to maximise quantity and quality of pasture and crop plant residues undoubtedly builds labile soil organic matter and facilitates P cycling, but the strategy may be of limited benefit in low-rainfall areas that do not have the capacity to produce large biomass inputs. Evidence that organic or low-input systems naturally increase the numbers and diversity of soil organisms is sparse and published studies from Australian systems suggest that P nutrition is not enhanced. However, seed and soil microbial inoculants to facilitate improved P uptake have been developed and are currently being field tested in Australia. Progress in selection and breeding for cereal genotypes that are more P efficient and other plant genotypes that can use less labile P sources, is gaining momentum but still remains a long-term prospect, and may involve genetic modification which will not be acceptable for organic systems.
  • Authors:
    • Djurovic, D.
    • Dugalic, G.
    • Stevovic, V.
    • Paunovic, A.
    • Bokan, N.
  • Source: Agroznanje - Agro-knowledge Journal
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Average grain yields of maize, undoubtedly the most common field crop grown in the Balkans, are still significantly lower than its genetic and practical potential. All known cultural practices have not yet been applied sufficiently. Hence the constant need to conduct trials to confirm the necessity to employ known technological practices in the cultivation of old and novel maize hybrids. The generally low average yields of maize grown under dryland conditions can be increased by available cultural practices including the selection of drought-tolerant hybrids, adequate crop rotation, the use of the most suitable tillage system and basic fertilization, optimal plant density, interrow cultivation and fertilization. The trial was set up as a randomized block design on leached alluvial soil. The following hybrids were studied: NS 50402, NS 540, ZP 570, ZP 580 and ZP 599, being fertilized under three treatments: basic treatment (30 t/ha manure and 400 t/ha of composite 15:15:15 fertilizer prior to sowing), N1 (250 kg/ha CAN) and N2 (500 kg/ha CAN). The average yield of dry maize grain was 9.65 t/ha. Averagely for the hybrids, the low and high nitrogen application rates induced 0.32 t/ha and 0.55 t/ha yield increases, respectively. The plot fertilized every second year with manure and composite mineral fertilizer gave a satisfactory yield of 9.36 t/ha. The highest average yield of 10.61 t/ha under all treatments was produced by ZP580 hybrid. The above-average yield, achieved under non-irrigated conditions, was largely induced by combined organic and mineral fertilization, since the plants were able to better tolerate the drought conditions due to a sufficient amount of readily available nutrients.