• Authors:
    • Rasaily, R. G.
    • He, J.
    • Li, H.
    • Zhang, X.
  • Source: International Agricultural Engineering Journal
  • Volume: 20
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Due to the problem of residues blocking and seriously damaged bed shape during the planting of wheat in maize stubble coverage fields under the condition of permanent raised beds in irrigated agricultural region of Northwest China, the throwing stubble and renovating the bed type no-till planter for wheat was designed. This paper mainly analyzed the reshaping plough, moving cutter and throwing stubble device. Furthermore, the key parameters were analyzed and determined. The field experiment showed that through adopting the anti-blocking principle that combined moving cutter and throwing stubble device and residue-cutting by knife type opener, the machine could solve the residue and weed blocking problem effectively. It also has a good performance of passing and cutting stubble, and renovating the beds. The seeding and fertilizing depths acquired by the planter were 47.2 mm and 85.6 mm, respectively, which indicates the planter could meet the requirements of wheat no-tillage planting in permanent raised beds farming system in agricultural region of Northwest China.
  • Authors:
    • Jimenez-Munoz, J.
    • Sobrino, J.
    • Julien, Y.
  • Source: International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation
  • Volume: 13
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Several previous studies have shown that the inclusion of the LST (Land Surface Temperature) parameter to a NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) based classification procedure is beneficial to classification accuracy. In this work, the Yearly Land Cover Dynamics (YLCD) approach, which is based on annual behavior of LST and NDVI, has been used to classify an agricultural area into crop types. To this end, a time series of Landsat-5 images for year 2009 of the Barrax (Spain) area has been processed: georeferenciation, destriping and atmospheric correction have been carried out to estimate NDVI and LST time series for year 2009, from which YLCD parameters were estimated. Then, a maximum likelihood classification was carried out on these parameters based on a training dataset obtained from a crop census. This classification has an accuracy of 87% (kappa=0.85) when crops are subdivided in irrigated and non-irrigated fields, and when cereal crops are aggregated in a single crop, and performs better than a similar classification from Landsat bands only. These results show that a good crop differentiation can be obtained although detailed crop separation may be difficult between similar crops (barley, wheat and oat) due to similar annual NDVI and LST behavior. Therefore, the YLCD approach is suited for vegetation classification at local scale. As regards the assessment of the YLCD approach for classification at regional and global scale, it will be carried out in a further study.
  • Authors:
    • Muchaonyerwa, P.
    • Chiduza, C.
    • Murungu, F. S.
    • Mnkeni, P. N. S.
  • Source: Soil & Tillage Research
  • Volume: 112
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Low soil fertility and weeds reduce maize yields on most smallholder (SH) irrigation schemes in South Africa (SA). While cover cropping can increase maize productivity, benefits from different types of mulch are not well understood, leading to challenges in selecting the most appropriate cover crop species to grow. Field experiments investigating the effects of oat ( Avena sativa), grazing vetch ( Vicia dasycarpa), faba bean ( Vicia faba), Lupin ( Lupinus angustifolius) and forage pea ( Pisum sativum) mulch on maize grown at two fertilizer levels (0 and 60 kg N/ha) were undertaken in the 2007/08 and 2008/09 seasons. Plots where maize was grown without mulch were included as controls. Treatments were arranged in a randomised complete block design with three replications. Grazing vetch and forage pea mulch significantly ( P
  • Authors:
    • Alok, T.
    • Sarawgi, S.
    • Shrikant, C.
    • Singh, M.
    • Vijendra, J.
  • Source: Journal of Soils and Crops
  • Volume: 21
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Field experiment was conducted on different intercropping under irrigated condition during rabi season of 2009-10 at Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur to evaluate the yield, economics and to undertake weed studies of intercropping in rabi cereal, legume, oilseeds and spices in rice based cropping system in inceptisols. Maximum wheat equivalent yield, (65.55 q ha -1) of rabi crops was recorded in onion+coriander system over all the other intercropping treatment. Wheat+fenugreek intercropping was next in order which has also recorded significantly higher WEY (36.58 q ha -1) overwheat followed by rice, the existing cropping system (30.61 q ha -1), castor+lentil (32.78 q ha -1) and wheat+lentil (28.18 q ha -1). The highest net returns (Rs.65,292 ha -1) from rabi crops were recorded with onion+coriander because of higher value of the produce. The highest B:C ratio of rabi intercrops was recorded in onion+coriander (1.98) followed by mustard+lentil (1.90) and wheat (1.89). On the other hand, the highest weed population (172.33 and 147.00 m -2) and dry matter production (7.8 and 194 g m -2) was observed in mustard+lentil at 30 and 60 DAS. The lowest weed dry production was found in onion+coriander (1.8 g m -2) at 30 DAS, and under wheat+fenugreek (82.07 g m -2) at 60 DAS. On an average, the available N, P, K and organic carbon content were increased by 6.1, 3.6, 11.8, and 4.2%, respectively over initial values in soil after the harvest of the rabi crop.
  • Authors:
    • [Anonymous]
  • Source: Australian Cottongrower
  • Volume: 32
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: This issue is divided into 10 sections covering various aspects of the Australian cotton industry, such as production, irrigation and drainage, research and extension and processing and marketing. The various national and regional organizations and the companies that service the Australian cotton industry are also pointed out.
  • Authors:
    • [Anonymous]
  • Source: Soils Newsletter
  • Volume: 34
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Through an IAEA technical cooperation project, the Turkish Atomic Energy Agency, in cooperation with the Nigde Potato Research Institute and the Soil and Fertilizer Research Institute, an innovative drip fertigation technology was implemented to improve water and nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency in potato production in the Nigde-Nevsehir Region. This technology reduced the amount of irrigation water needed by 50% and nitrogen fertilizer use by 40%, from 1000 to 600 kg N/ha. Drip fertigation technology increased water and nitrogen use efficiency by applying water and nitrogen directly to the immediate vicinity of the plant roots through a network of pipes and water emitters. Considering the magnitude and importance of potato production in the arid and semiarid areas of Turkey, the 50% reduction in crop water requirements through drip fertigation has a major impact on agricultural production and water management strategies in these areas. It was calculated that a transition from sprinkler irrigation to drip fertigation requires an initial investment cost of up to US $200/ha, depending on the sophistication of the drip fertigation system. This investment can be balanced against projected savings in time, energy, fertilizer and labour costs amounting to an estimated US $2000/ha/year. As a consequence, interest in drip fertigation has been remarkable among potato farmers in the region, so that in only three years the area under drip fertigation has increased from humble beginnings of 500 ha in 2005 to 4000 ha in 2007 and to nearly 7000 ha in 2010.
  • Authors:
    • [Anonymous]
  • Source: Agricultural Information Research
  • Volume: 20
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: This special section contains four papers dealing with the establishment of the field server applications for high-quality mandarin orange production in Japan. It covers soil moisture measurement to support production of high-quality oranges for information and communication technology application, field datalogger system using mobile phones and a web-based interface, a new tool utilizing silicone rubber balls for fruit hardness determination, and agro-environmental monitoring using wireless sensor network.
  • Authors:
    • Gamar, Y.
    • Abdalla, H.
  • Source: International Journal of AgriScience
  • Volume: 1
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is the most important cereal crop in Sudan in terms of consumption and total acreage under production. However recent climatic changes, have affected productivity. Cultivation has been constrained by the detrimental effect of drought which has often caused food shortages resulting in famine. Almost 90% of the total sorghum cropped area is rain-fed, and 60% of that is in drought prone soil conditions. A series of experiments were conducted to develop elite early maturing and combinable open pollinated varieties with good grain quality. Seven superior pure lines from an adapted drought tolerant land race commercial Arf'a' Gadamak (CAG,) were selected and tested under irrigation for three seasons at Gezira Research Station (GRS). Based on high yield potential and early maturity, AG-17 line was selected and advanced together with AG-8, AG-15, Wad Ahmed and CAG as checks for multi-location testing under intermediate and high rainfall areas (400-900/mm). Eight specific rain-fed environments were chosen as sites for standard variety trials, over three seasons (2006 to 2009). Results revealed that lines AG-17 flowered 12 days earlier by 50%, than Wad Ahmed. This early maturity coupled with very high yield potential, highlights drought tolerance making it an adaptable and stable crop across a wide range of rainfall environments. Like the released sorghum variety AG-8, the AG-17 line has exceptionally high protein content, 23% and 33% more than the checks, CAG and Wad Ahmed, respectively. This line also possesses the best grain quality, white, large and preferred by the market in addition to other attractive, physical grain characteristics. It was also evident that this line has high bread (kisra) making qualities.
  • Authors:
    • Norris, B.
    • Harkins, H.
    • Burmester, C.
    • Santen, E.
    • Curtis, L.
    • Dougherty, M.
    • Fulton, J.
    • AbdelGadir, A.
  • Source: Crop Management
  • Issue: August
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Fluctuations in dryland cotton yield in the Tennessee Valley region of northern Alabama are common and are usually related to irregular drought periods during the growing season. Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) has gained popularity as a water delivery system for small, irregular-shaped cotton fields. A seven-year study was conducted with the objective to determine the response of seed cotton yield to SDI tape orientation relative to crop row direction and different irrigation rates under dryland conditions of the Tennessee Valley. Seven treatments were tested in a randomized incomplete block design which consisted of three irrigation treatments (33%, 66%, and 99% pan evaporation), two SDI tape orientations (parallel and perpendicular), and a dryland control. All SDI treatments produced yields significantly higher than non-irrigated, dryland cotton in four out of seven years. Maximum yield was obtained at a median pan evaporation water replacement value of 74%. No statistical differences were observed between SDI tape orientations on seed cotton yield in all years except in 1999 when parallel out yielded perpendicular at lower irrigation rates. Results confirm the long-term efficacy of supplemental irrigation to increase seed cotton yield irrespective of SDI tape placement during sporadic periods of drought. These results are applicable only for fields with the same soil type or with similar water movement characteristics.
  • Authors:
    • Benismailc, M.
    • El-Otmanic, M.
    • Fadlc, A.
    • Hammoutib, B.
    • Salghia, R.
    • Abouatallaha, A.
    • Eljaouharic, N.
    • Kabousc, E.
    • Zianic, A.
  • Source: Der Pharma Chemica
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Capacitance probes were tested in a young citrus orchard for irrigation water saving; Cumulative water received by the plot reached 334 mm and 398 mm for the first and second year period respectively (irrigation+useful rain). Irrigations were made in 521 interventions when the lowest dose of 1.05 mm was used and in 210 interventions when the highest dose of 2.6 mm was applied. Capacitance probes were giving values statistically different compared to the gravimetric method, but with, however, a meaningful interrelationship; A good correlation was then obtained between real values and reading from capacitance probes, a value of 16% showed by the C-probe is equivalent to 22%. The parameters of growth, trunk diameter microvariations probes (LVDT) and components of yield are well correlated with Soil moisture and Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD). Treatment 1 (T1) was better in cold period (December, January and February), while Treatment 4 (T4) was more efficient from flowering (March) and developed deep roots (more than 50 cm). Leaf water potential and LVDT showed the sensitivity of T1 towards climate changes during high evaporative demand days. Analysis of soil moisture data showed that the field capacity was maintained at not more than 30 cm soil depth for T1, which developed very superficial roots (45% at only 10 cm). The number of roots was significantly different between treatments, T4 was distinguished by a greater concentration of roots (8843), compared to T1 (4104). After 27 months from plantation, the Yield showed a performance of 46 T/ha recorded for the dose of 2.1 mm, when the fruit size was 70% of Size 1-3; water saving was about 50% and valuated at 105 l/kg produced.