• Authors:
    • Muller, C.
    • Amor, T.
  • Source: Agricultural Journal
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: In this study, we estimate agricultural technology for Tunisian peasants, accounting for the crop choice of perasants and distinguishing inputs for individual crops such as: vegetable farming cereal and fruit-trees. The study employed the use of cross-section data from distinguishable irrigated crops survey conducted on a sample of 218 farmers frome 11 regions in Tunisia. The data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire and were later analysed. The Cobb Douglass production frontier model is employed in order to analyse data collected. Among the irrigated crop farmers, the significant variables were: farmuar manuar fertiliser quantity, labor, mecanic traction and among of irrigated water applied. The estimated sigma square (sigma 2) and gamma (gamma) are widely significants for all irrigated crops and revealed that >85% of the variation in the Tunisian irrigated output among farmers in the study area are due to the differences in their efficiencies. Howerver, we find that predicted technical efficiency widely varies across farms and crops from an average of 54.7% for vegetable farming up to 80.6% for fruit-trees. The study also revealed the existing on inefficiency effects among the farmers as: education, farmer's age, irrigation techniques, lack of education, property of land.
  • Authors:
    • Nazeri, A.
    • Sharif-Alhosseini, M.
    • Asadi, H.
    • Rezaei, E.
    • Faraghati, H.
  • Source: Seed and Plant Production Journal
  • Volume: 26-2
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: To study effects of adoption rate of application of recommended technologies in irrigated wheat production systems, this study was carried out in Neishabour region in 2005. One hundred and fifty three farmers were randomly sampled. Required data were collected using questionnaire. Depertin function was employed to estimate the impact of socio-economic factors on wheat grain yield. Breakeven analysis were performed for determination of minimum price of wheat grain. Results revealed that average seed, phosphate, potassium and urea application rates were 225, 167.3, 72.5 and 221.4 kg/ha, respectively. Average application rate for herbicides and pesticides were 1.7 and 1.4 Lit./ha, respectively. Average irrigation water used in the region was 5325 m 3/ha. Average grain and straw yields were 3451 and 2887 kg/ha, respectively. Irrigation interval and frequency were 16 days and two irrigations, respectively. However, recommended irrigation interval for the region was 10-12 days. Net profit of wheat production in machine and hand harvested systems were 952000 and 633000 rials/ha respectively. Minimum price of wheat in machine and harvested systems were 462000 and 554000 rials/ha, respectively. Coefficient of determination for variables used in the model for estimation of the effect of different inputs on wheat grain yield in Neishabour region was 0.552. Wheat producers used land, seed, labor, phosphate and irrigation water, efficiently, because the estimated elasticity of production for them varied from zero to unit. Marginal value of production for land, seed, labor, phosphate and irrigated water was estimated as 38.2, 6.5, 0.42, 3.1 and 126.6 rials/ha, respectively.
  • Authors:
    • Afiuni, D.
    • Bagheri, M.
  • Source: Seed and Plant Improvement Journal
  • Volume: 26-1
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Wheat thrips, Haplothrips tritici K. (Thy.: Thripidae) is an important pest of cereals. Host plant resistance is a useful method recommended for controlling the pest. An experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with fifteen wheat cultivars and advanced line and four replications in two separate parts in Golpaygan area, Isfahan province during 2000-2002. One part of the experiment was sprayed four times with Fenitrothion (mlha -1) and the other part with water simultaneously. Sampling of the pest population in each plot was done through counting the number of adult thripses collected in ten sweep nets at flowering stage, and nymphs on ten ears at milky and ripening stages. At harvesting time, grain yield and TKW were also assessed. Combined analysis show no significant differences among cultivars for adult population and significant differences (p≤0.01) for nymph population. Shotor dandan and Roshan cultivars had the lowest and M-78-20 and Barekat had the highest density of nymphs (8.69, 8.73, 20.9 and 19.71 nymph/spike, respectively) and showed significant differences with other cultivars. Barekat cultivar, in spite of its high density of nymph/spike, had the lowest SSI for TKW, percentage of TKW loss and grain yield loss. Pishtaz cultivar having the highest quantity of mentioned factors was the most susceptible cultivar. Differences between sprayed and non-sprayed parts for yield were not significant but for TKW was significant (p≤0.01).
  • Authors:
    • Buresha, R.
  • Source: Proceedings of the 19th World Congress of Soil Science: Soil solutions for a changing world, Brisbane, Australia, 1-6 August 2010. Division Symposium 3.2 Nutrient best management practices
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Site-specific nutrient management (SSNM), as developed through more than a decade of research with rice ( Oryza sativa L.) in Asia, now provides scientific principles on nutrient best management practices for rice, maize ( Zea mays L.), and wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) in Asia. These scientific principles of SSNM enable the pre-season determination of crop needs for fertilizer nitrogen (N), the within-season distribution of fertilizer N to meet crop needs, and the pre-season determination of fertilizer phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) rates to match crop needs and sustain soil fertility. Fertilizer best management for each cereal crop is tailored to field-specific conditions for crop yield, crop residue management, historical fertilizer use, use of organic materials, and nutrient inputs through irrigation water. The widespread uptake by farmers of improved nutrient management requires transforming science-based information into locally adapted tools that enable extension workers, crop advisors, and farmers to rapidly develop and implement best management practices for specific fields and growing conditions. These tools that use information technology and other means for technology dissemination include decision support software, videos, quick guides for fertilizing rice, and the leaf color chart (LCC) for managing fertilizer N.
  • Authors:
    • Pintar, M.
    • Tratnik, M.
    • Zupanc, V.
    • Cvejic, R.
  • Source: Novi izzivi v poljedelstvu 2010. Zbornik simpozija
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Optimal use of existing irrigation systems (IS) is as important as investments in new IS. Officially there are 52 IS in Slovenia, that are actively used, however less is known about how well they are being used. The paper overviews the cultures being represented on examined IS. The research, carried out for the period 2006-2009 indicates, that the examined IS are being used below its expected potentials. On average, the groups of cultures that are normally irrigated in Slovenia (orchards, ornamental plants, vegetables) cover 27% of the surface of IS, while the cultures that are normally not irrigated (forage crops, cereals, vineyards) cover 73%. The paper identifies the possible reasons for this situation, however further field research needs to be undertaken in the future to identify the influencing factors unambiguously and find possible solutions that would result in IS being used efficiently.
  • Authors:
    • Czekaa,J.
  • Source: Journal of Research and Applications in Agricultural Engineering
  • Volume: 55
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: The distribution of nitrogen in the soil in different chemical associations is a resultant of action of many factors of which three deserve mention: plants, nitrogen fertilization and sprinkling. The main objective of this research project was to analyze the impact of these factors, acting separately as well as jointly, in conditions of long-term plant cultivation without cereals, on the content of individual soil nitrogen forms. Sequential nitrogen determination of soil nitrogen forms was applied in the experiments which allowed identification of mineral nitrogen as well as its easily-, poorly-hydrolyzed and non hydrolysable forms It was found that sprinkling exerted the strongest, significant influence on the concentration of all examined nitrogen forms with the exception of the easily hydrolysable nitrogen fraction. This impact was also noticeable in the interaction with nitrogen doses, primarily in the content of mineral nitrogen forms and easily hydrolysable nitrogen. Irrespective of the experimental treatment, no significant effect of nitrogen applied in different doses on the examined forms of the component was recorded. On the other hand, the percentage proportion of nitrogen forms in total nitrogen depended significantly, primarily, on sprinkling irrigation and only in relation to mineral nitrogen forms.
  • Authors:
    • Zhang, J.
    • Zhang, X.
    • Sun, J.
    • Kang, S.
    • Du, T.
  • Source: Agricultural Water Management
  • Volume: 97
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Water shortage is the major bottleneck that limits sustainable development of agriculture in north China. Crop physiological water-saving irrigation methods such as temporal (regulated deficit irrigation) and spatial (partial root zone irrigation) deficit irrigation have been tested with much improved crop water use efficiency (WUE) without significant yield reduction. Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of (1) spatial deficit irrigation on spring maize in arid Inland River Basin of northwest China during 1997-2000; (2) temporal deficit irrigation on winter wheat in semi-arid Haihe River Basin during 2003-2007 and (3) temporal deficit irrigation on winter wheat and summer maize in Yellow River Basin during 2006-2007. Results showed that alternate furrow irrigation (AFI) maintained similar photosynthetic rate ( Pn) but reduced transpiration rate ( Tr), and thus increased leaf WUE of maize. It also showed that the improved WUE might only be gained for AFI under less water amount per irrigation. The feasible irrigation cycle is 7d in the extremely arid condition in Inner River Basin of northwest China and less water amount with more irrigation frequency is better for both grain yield and WUE in semi-arid Haihe River Basin of north China. Field experiment in Yellow River Basin of north China also suggests that mild water deficit at early seedling stage is beneficial for grain yield and WUE of summer maize, and the deficit timing and severity should be modulated according to the drought tolerance of different crop varieties. The economical evapotranspiration for winter wheat in Haihe River Basin, summer maize in Yellow River Basin of north China and spring maize in Inland River Basin of northwest China are 420.0 mm, 432.5 mm and 450.0 mm respectively. Our study in the three regions in recent decade also showed that AFI should be a useful water-saving irrigation method for wide-spaced cereals in arid region, but mild water deficit in earlier stage might be a practical irrigation strategy for close-planting cereals. Application of such temporal and spatial deficit irrigation in field-grown crops has greater potential in saving water, maintaining economic yield and improving WUE.
  • Authors:
    • Abbaspour, K.
    • Schulin, R.
    • Yang, H.
    • Faramarzi, M.
  • Source: Agricultural Water Management
  • Volume: 97
  • Issue: 11
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: In most parts of Iran, water scarcity has been intensifying and posing a threat to the sustainability of agricultural production. Wheat is the dominant crop and the largest irrigation water user in Iran; hence, understanding of the crop yield-water relations in wheat across the country is essential for a sustainable production. Based on a previously calibrated hydrologic model, we modeled irrigated and rainfed wheat yield ( Y) and consumptive water use ( ET) with uncertainty analysis at a subbasin level in Iran. Simulated Y and ET were used to calculate crop water productivity ( CWP). The model was then used to analyze the impact of several stated policies to improve the agricultural system in Iran. These included: increasing the quantity of cereal production through more efficient use of land and water resources, improving activities related to soil moisture conservation and retention, and optimizing fertilizer application. Our analysis of the ratio of water use to internal renewable water resources revealed that 23 out of 30 provinces were using more than 40% of their water resources for agriculture. Twelve provinces reached a ratio of 100% and even greater, indicating severe water scarcity and groundwater resource depletion. An analysis of Y-CWP relationship showed that one unit increase in rainfed wheat yield resulted in a lesser additional water requirement than irrigated wheat, leading to a larger improvement in CWP. The inference is that a better water management in rainfed wheat, where yield is currently small, will lead to a larger marginal return in the consumed water. An assessment of improvement in soil available water capacity ( AWC) showed that 18 out of 30 provinces are more certain to save water while increasing AWC through proper soil management practices. As wheat self-sufficiency is a desired national objective, we estimated the water requirement of the year 2020 (keeping all factors except population constant) to fulfill the wheat demand. The results showed that 88% of the additional wheat production would need to be produced in the water scarce provinces. Therefore, a strategic planning in the national agricultural production and food trade to ensure sustainable water use is needed. This study lays the basis for a systematic analysis of the potentials for improving regional and national water use efficiency. The methodology used in this research, could be applied to other water scarce countries for policy impact analysis and the adoption of a sustainable agricultural strategy.
  • Authors:
    • Xanthoulis, D.
    • Heens, B.
    • Fonder, N.
  • Source: Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement
  • Volume: 14
  • Issue: S1
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Experiments were performed over four years, testing five cultivations to optimise mineral nitrogen fertilisation when irrigation with wastewater occurs. The experimental site was located inside an irrigated perimeter around the agro-food industry Hesbaye Frost, producing frozen vegetables, in Belgium. Depending on the crop rotation adopted by the farmer, four vegetable cultivations (spinach, bean, carrot and broad bean) and one cereal (winter wheat) were tested. Because of the time required for implementation of the experiment and meteorological conditions, the irrigation factor was not tested for spinach (1999) and wheat (2000) cultivations. The two experimental factors were three fertilisation levels, with comparison to a reference without any mineral nitrogen supply, and irrigation with or without wastewater. These factors were assessed for their impacts on crop yields and mineral nitrogen residues in the soil after harvest. The three vegetable cultivations of bean, carrot and broad bean were irrigated and systematically presented statistically higher yields with wastewater irrigation supply than without. The fertilisation factor also significantly improved all the yields, or protein rate for cereal cultivation, except for carrot and broad bean where differences were not significant, even for the zero fertilisation rate. The nitrogen residues in the soil after harvest were acceptable and regular as long as the fertilisation advice was not exceeded; the maximum fertilisation level tested, 50% higher than the recommendation, systematically left unacceptable nitrogen residues in the soil, harmful for the environment. Mainly located on the top surface horizon layers, the nitrogen residues could be held back by a catch crop classified as a nitrogen trap, with the condition to be set on late summer, with fall being considered as too late to have any influence to avoid nitrogen leaching. For all fertilisation levels, nitrogen residues were too high for the broad beans cultivation because of the phenomenon of surface mineral nitrogen release, due to meteorological conditions and the wastewater high nitrogen load brought by irrigation. The nitrogen residues under conditions of no irrigation were higher than under irrigation. Irrigation allowed better nitrogen solubility, easier for uptake by the plants and thus left fewer residues in the soil.
  • Authors:
    • Iqbal, N.
    • Goher, M.
    • Hameed, A.
  • Source: Cereal Research Communications
  • Volume: 38
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Detection of genotypic variation in response to water stress at seedling stage could help in escalating selection intensity in breeding drought tolerant varities. Nine genotypes were tested for seedling survivability under drought stress. Four genotypes, i.e. 'Sarsabz', 'Sitta', 'Fareed' and 'FD-83', showed complete survival on resumption of irrigation after drought stress. These genotypes were late dying as they withered slowly under drought. Percent wilting and percent survival on resumption of irrigation were negatively correlated. Six genotypes were selected on the basis of seedling survivability (late and early dying) and evaluated for seedling growth response under drought. Root length and dry weight increased significantly under stress in 'Sitta', 'FD-83' and 'Fareed'. Drought stress also increased the root-to-shoot length ratio in 'FD-83' and 'Fareed'. However, seedling fresh and dry weight significantly reduced in 'Nesser' and 'Inqalab-91' under stress. In 'FD-83', seedling fresh and dry weight increased over control under stress. Results indicated that seedling survivability, root-to-shoot length ratio, root length and dry weight were most important traits for screening drought tolerance at seedling stage. On the basis of these indices, 'Sitta', 'Fareed' and 'FD-83' were classified as drought tolerant, 'Sarsabz' and 'Nesser' as moderately tolerant and 'Inqalab-91' as sensitive genotypes. Collectively, results suggested that selection by combining seedling survivability, growth response, RWC and leaf water potential can be efficiently used for rapid evaluation of drought tolerance in wheat breeding.