• Authors:
    • Ali, M.
    • Javaid, Q.
    • Ullah, M.
    • Ahmad, F.
    • Abid, M.
    • Ahmed, N.
  • Source: Pakistan Journal of Botany
  • Volume: 43
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The inorganic fertilizers produce significant effects on quantity as well as quality on the produce of most of the crop plants: The productivity of cotton crop varies greatly due to addition of macro-and micro-nutrients. Among micro-nutrients, boron fertilizer holds significant importance in not only sustaining but also enhancing the yield of cotton. At the advent of excessive use of high analysis fertilizers, a wide spread deficiency of boron in soils of Pakistan is of common scene. However, research studies are limited on the quantity and the impact of boron fertilizer on production of biological yield and its chemical composition of cotton plant under irrigated conditions. The present study was therefore conducted to determine the influence of boron fertilizer on dry matter production and its interactive effects on other nutrients in plant system. The experiment was conducted on calcareous soils under irrigated conditions for two seasons 2004-2005 at Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. The treatments consisted of six levels of boron fertilizer i.e., 0.0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 kg B ha(-1) and were arranged in randomized complete block design with 4 replication. Cotton crop cv. CIM-473 was planted during the month of May and harvested in November each year. The standard production practices were followed. The results showed that application of boron fertilizer produced significant effect on enhancing biological yield of cotton. Maximum dry matter yield was achieved by addition of 3.0 kg B ha(-1). Crop planted during season 2005 produced higher quantity of biological yield compared to year 2004. The addition of various levels of boron caused substantial increase in the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, copper, iron, zinc and boron nutrients, while lowering down of calcium magnesium and manganese in different parts of the cotton plant. The enhanced assimilation of macro-nutrients resulted in greater production of biological yield and better growth and development of cotton plant.
  • Authors:
    • Munindra, B.
    • Ajanta, N.
  • Source: Journal of the Indian Society of Agricultural Statistics
  • Volume: 65
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: It is an attempt to draw a clear picture of development disparities among the districts of Assam in agriculture with the help of composite index. Eighty-three indicators are considered here which are directly related to the agriculture. On the basis of these indicators Nagaon, Borpeta, Dhubri and Kamrup are developed districts but Karbi Anglong, Hailakandi, Dhemaji and N.C. Hills are low developed districts. The developed districts cover 18.31 percent areas and 30.47 percent population of the state whereas low developed area covers 25.35 percent areas and 7.94 percent population of the state. The entire agriculture sector is divided into seven sub sectors namely Production of miscellaneous crops, Production of pulse, cereals and oil seeds, Fertilizer used, and Percentage of livestock population, Rice production, Fish production and Infrastructure facilities. In each sector developed and low developed districts have been identified. In crop production Kokrajar, Dhubri and Sonitpur are high-developed, Jorhat, N.C. Hills and Nagaon are low developed. In production of pulse, cereal and oilseeds Goalpara, Sonitpur, Bongaigaon and Karbi Anglong are developed districts and Nagaon, Tinsukia, Karimganj, Jorhat and Morigaon are low developed districts. In case of livestock population Jorhat is the developed district and Dhemaji, Hailakandi and N.C. Hills are low developed district. In fish production Nagaon, Borpeta, Cachar and Karimganj are developed districts and Karbi Anglong and N.C. Hills are low developed districts. In case of rice production Golaghat, Karimganj, Hailakandi, Sibsagar, Dibrugarh and Cachar are high developed and Bongaigaon, Borpeta, Nalbari, Dhemaji and Lakhimpur are low developed. In case of infrastructure facilities e.g. irrigation, use of electricity in agriculture etc. are availed by the districts Nagaon, Nalbari, Borpeta and Kamrup are high developed and Hailakandi, Dhemaji, N.C. Hills are low developed. From the study it also reveals that the districts, which are low developed in overall agriculture sector they are also low developed in using infrastructure facilities essential for agriculture except Karbi Anglong. For bringing the uniform development in the state, model districts and potential target for low developed districts have been identified.
  • Authors:
    • Tanigawa, T.
    • Yamamoto, T.
    • Al-Busaidi, A.
    • Rahman, H.
  • Source: Irrigation and Drainage
  • Volume: 60
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Water stress is the primary environmental factor that limits cereal production in Mediterranean environments, where barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the main crops. This investigation aimed at evaluating the effects of zeolite on barley growth under subsurface drip irrigation, subjected to water and heat stress. A sand dune soil was amended with Ca-type zeolite and irrigated every 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th day. The results showed that zeolite application significantly increased water-holding capacity of the soil and improved plant growth. Using subsurface irrigation with zeolite amendment helped to reduce water evaporation, kept more water in lower horizons, encouraged salt leaching, and the plants used water more efficiently. Plant growth parameters showed significant differences among treatments and were negatively affected by heat and water stress conditions. High temperatures caused accelerated evapotranspiration, water stress in plants and faster depletion of water from the root zone, causing substantial water loss and inducing water deficit conditions in plants. Using subsurface irrigation poses a better option for the reduction of evaporation and achieving higher water use efficiency. Application of zeolite together with subsurface irrigation may provide favorable conditions for crop production in water-scarce areas under warm environments.
  • Authors:
    • Jadhav, A.
    • Alse, U.
  • Source: Journal of Cotton Research and Development
  • Volume: 25
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Performance of four Bt and non Bt cotton hybrids with three irrigation levels and two water saving practices were studied during summer, 2007 and 2008 on clayey soils. The application of irrigation at 75 mm CPE significantly increased the number of sympodia and green bolls/plant. However, the monopodia and plant height was found significantly more under 50 mm CPE irrigation than 100 mm CPE. Water saving practices did not show any significant effect on morphological traits and quality parameters. Bt and non Bt cotton hybrids expressed their genetical potential. The height was significantly more in Kashinath Bt than all other cotton hybrids owing to its genetical character, while green bolls, sympodia and boll weight were significantly more in Dhroov Bt than other cotton hybrids. The maximum seed cotton was obtained in Dhroov Bt (31.46 q/ha) than Dhroov non Bt (27.48 q/ha) followed by Kashinath Bt (20.21 q/ha) and Nathbaba non Bt (24.61 q/ha). Kashinath Bt found significantly superior in quality parameters than other cotton hybrids.
  • Authors:
    • Ren, H.
    • Rosen, C.
    • Qing, C.
    • Fan, M.
    • Alva, A.
  • Source: Journal of Crop Improvement
  • Volume: 25
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) is the fourth most important food crop in the world after corn, wheat, and rice. It is adapted to a wide range of growing conditions, producing high yields with a near-optimum balance of nutrients for human consumption. China is the world's largest potato producer and continues to account for a large part of the global increase in potato production. Although the potato can be highly productive, it has a relatively shallow root system and often requires significant nutrient inputs to maintain tuber productivity and quality. Each metric ton of tubers removes approximately 3.8 kg nitrogen (N), 0.6 kg phosphorus (P), and 4.4 kg potassium (K). Proper nutrient management, therefore, is extremely important for sustaining high tuber yield and quality. Lack of adequate balanced fertilization in China is reportedly a yield-limiting factor in some areas. For example, potassium (K) is very important for producing a potato crop with high tuber yield and quality. Limited K resources in China and continued cropping have resulted in below-adequate levels of soil K in many regions of the country, which will impact potato production. On the other hand, based on U.S. experience, the high nutrient demand by potato, application of high rates of fertilizer, and production on coarser textured soils can result in nutrient losses. Nutrient best-management practices are developed with the objective of optimizing production, net returns, and minimizing environmental degradation. In general, optimal N management has had the most important impact on tuber yield and quality compared with the other essential elements. Best management practices for N fertilization include appropriate selection of rate, source, timing, and method of application. Optimal management of irrigation is also important to improve N-uptake efficiency and minimize N losses while maintaining high yields and quality. Phosphorus is another key nutrient important from both production and environmental standpoints. Adequate P is required for optimum tuber-set, while excessive rates may result in soil-P buildup and potential runoff problems. This review will focus on various management techniques to maximize nutrient-uptake efficiency by potatoes.
  • Authors:
    • Evangelista, A.
    • Silva, T.
    • Silva, C.
    • Folegatti, M.
    • Alves Junior, J.
  • Source: Engenharia Agricola
  • Volume: 31
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different irrigation levels on canopy and root growth, productivity, and fruit quality of young Tahiti acid lime trees. The experiment was installed in Piracicaba, Brazil in a 1.0-ha orchard plot with 'Tahiti' acid lime trees, grafted on Swingle citrumelo rootstock and carried out from August of 2002 to May 2005. Each treatment was assigned to a drip irrigation level, based on ETc as follows: (T1) non-irrigated, (T2) 25%, (T3) 50%, (T4) 75% and (T5) 100% of ETc determined by weighing lysimeter presented in the orchard plot. Trunk diameter and tree height were evaluated monthly. The roots were evaluated when the trees were 30 and 48 months old. The yield and fruit quality was evaluated in 2004 and 2005. The results showed that irrigation did not influence root distribution in depth, and trees irrigated with 75% and 100% ETc showed horizontal root distribution concentrated until 0.6 m from the trunk. Irrigation did not improve the quality of fruit. Yield increased in all irrigated treatment, but the most efficient yield mean per unit of water applied was the 25% ETc treatment.
  • Authors:
    • Batista, C.
    • Lima, T.
    • Neves, J.
    • Oliveira, R.
    • Berger, P.
    • Aquino, L.
  • Source: REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE ENGENHARIA AGRICOLA E AMBIENTAL
  • Volume: 15
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The objective was to evaluate the application of phosphorus doses in parcels in the cotton crop in the systems of cultivation under irrigation and rainfed, being aimed the higher efficiency of phosphate fertilization, in comparison to the traditional application, only at sowing. The experiment was carried out in Quartzanic Neossoil, in the North region of Minas Gerais. The adopted design was randomized blocks, with three replicates. The treatments were the doses of 50 and 120 kg ha -1 of P 2O 5 applied in four ways: PS, P1, P2 and P3 [100/0; 75/25; 50/50; 25/75% of the dose of phosphate fertilizer applied, respectively at the sowing and at 35 days after the emergence (DAE)], in the irrigated and rainfed crops. Two additional treatments, without P, in the crop without and with irrigation, completed the eighteen studied treatments. The increase of the P doses increased the dry mass of aerial part and the number of reproductive structures at 80 DAE, the relative efficiency of the phosphate fertilization and the productivity of cotton in bull. The response to P doses occurred only under irrigation. The parceled application of the phosphate fertilizer did not increase the efficiency of the fertilization in the cotton farm in Quartzanic Neossoil.
  • Authors:
    • Tadesse, D.
    • Sisay, F.
    • Mitiku, H.
    • Solomon, H.
    • Araya, A.
  • Source: Momona Ethiopian Journal of Science
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: An experiment was carried out in 2010 at Mekelle, in northern Ethiopia, to measure the evapotranspiration, to estimate barley crop coefficient ( kc), and to evaluate the water productivity taking into account the major crops grown under the present pond irrigation system. Four locally made lysimeters were installed in the middle of barley field to measure barley evapotranspiration. The single crop coefficient approach was used to estimate barley crop coefficient. The average seasonal evapotranspiration of barley was 375 mm which is similar to many other cereal crops in the region. The single crop coefficient values for early, vegetative, mid and late crop stages were 0.6-0.8, 0.6-1.0; 1.0-1.05 and 0.3-0.4 respectively. The result showed that these crop coefficient values obtained in this experiment were similar to the crop coefficient values obtained in the past except for kc initial. Therefore, the assumption that local barley crop coefficient values differ from that of the documented values was incorrect. Furthermore, the major reason for mismanagement of irrigation water in barley fields was not due to use of wrong crop coefficient values but could be due to inadequate irrigation technical skill and knowledge of the farmer. The average economic water productivity (EWP) of barley for the very wet, wet, normal, dry and very dry seasons scenario were 0.99, 0.7, 0.65, 0.57, and 0.44 USD m -3, respectively, whereas the corresponding crop water productivity (CWP) values for grain were 1.53, 1.08, 1.0, 0.88 and 0.68 kg m -3, respectively. The EWP and CWP of barley were compared with onion and tomato under pond water irrigation at the five climatic scenarios. The crop water productivity for tomato and onion were 85-87% and 76-78% higher than that of barley, respectively. The corresponding economic water productivity for tomato and onion were 87-89% and 81-82% higher than that of barley, respectively. We concluded that growing tomato and onion would bring more income or yield per m 3 of pond water supplied than growing barley. The implication is that as supply and demand determines the price of products, farmers and extension workers need to balance the crop area coverage per irrigation scheme so that undesirable price falls and rises could be avoided. Evaluation of crops based on their water productivity would improve the productivity of irrigation schemes and ultimately improve food security in the arid and semi-arid areas where water scarcity is critical problem and irrigation is a necessity for crop production.
  • Authors:
    • Mohamed, M.
    • Azam, A.
  • Source: Bulletin of Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University
  • Volume: 62
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The present study aimed at identifying the knowledge level of potato farmers regarding export conditions of potatoes to the European Union (EU), to determine the differences between the knowledge degrees of the farmers in two villages to identify farmer opinions regarding the environmental effects of the agricultural part of the Egyptian-European convention, and to identify the problems facing farmers since the implementation of the Egyptian-European convention. The study was conducted in the village of "Sayedna Solomon" in Nobariya area, Beharia Governorate as one of the largest areas inside the Pest Free Area (PFA), and the village of "Talia", Menofia Governorate as one of the largest areas outside the Pest Free Area (PFA). A random sample of 50 farmers was chosen from Sayedna Solomon village and 100 farmers from Talia village. Data were collected through personal interviews with respondents by using pre-tested questionnaires prepared specifically to achieve the study objectives. Frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, in addition to "t" test were used to present and analysis of the obtained data. The most important results of the study were 1 - There was significant differences at 0.05 level between farmers' level of knowledge in the two studied villages regarding the export conditions of potatoes to the (EU). 2 - There was an increase in the negative environmental effects on small farmers resulting from applying the Egyptian-European convention as the investigated farmers expressed, and the differences between the two studied villages were significant at 0.01 level. 3 - There were main problems facing small farmers in the "Sayedna Solomon" village concerning the market of the crop locally, the low export prices, and the shortage of irrigation water in the summer, while the main problems in "Talia" village were concerning the lack of input supply and the high prices of the inputs, the irrigation problem, and the problem of marketing the crop locally.
  • Authors:
    • Latif, M.
    • Azhar, A.
  • Source: Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences
  • Volume: 21
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: This study was conducted during 2001-04 in which four subsurface drainage projects viz; Mardan SCARP Project (MSP), Fourth Drainage Project, Faisalabad (FDP), Chashma Command Area Development Project (CCADP) and Mirpurkhas Tile Drainage Project (MTDP) were assessed for their impact on crop yield in irrigated areas of Pakistan. Quantitative comparison made on the change in pre- and post-project conditions revealed that crop yield significantly improved due to project implementation at all sites. The yield increased from 13 to 94% for most crops. The exception was rice, where it decreased by 23% at MTDP due to shortage of irrigation supplies. Maximum yield increase was observed in CCADP for cotton (80%), sugarcane (94%), wheat (67%); and at MSP for rice (46%). For chilli the maximum increase (147%) was observed at MTDP study site. Low increase in the yield was attributed to the shortage of irrigation supplies during the post-project periods. Limited sub-irrigation resulting from the operation of subsurface drainage systems was also observed to be another factor for low crop yields. Overall quantitative comparison indicated a positive impact of drainage system installation in terms of crop yield improvements.