• Authors:
    • Menzies, J. G.
    • Fetch, T. G.
    • Clayton, G. W.
    • Chong, J.
    • Kibite, S.
    • Fetch, J. W. M.
    • Turkington, T. K.
  • Source: Canadian Journal of Plant Science
  • Volume: 89
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Lee Williams is a high-yielding hulless oat ( Avena sativa L.) with good disease resistance and good straw strength. It is well adapted to all of the oat producing regions of western Canada. It carries genetic resistance to several races of crown rust (caused by Puccinia coronata Corda f. sp. avenea Eriks.) and stem rust (caused by P. graminis f. sp. avenae Pers.), loose [ Ustilago avenae (Pers.) Rostr.], and covered smut ( U. kolleri Wille), and moderate resistance to barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV). Lee Williams has protein and oil levels and a high groat to hull ratio that make it well-suited for livestock feed. Hulless oat may retain a low percentage of hulls after threshing so a high groat to hull ratio is desirable. Lee Williams was supported for registration at the Prairie Regional Recommending Committee for Grains meeting in February 2002.
  • Authors:
    • Sattler, A.
    • Faganello, A.
    • Fontaneli, R. S.
    • Vargas, L.
  • Source: Ciencia Rural
  • Volume: 39
  • Issue: 7
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Black oat ( Avena strigosa [ Avena nuda]), an important winter cover crop in south Brazil, is a weed problem in cool season grain crops as well as ryegrass. Two trials in a randomized complete block design were conducted in Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, to study different oat management methods applied on black oat at anthesis and milk stages to avoid it from becoming a weed plant in wheat cropped after soyabean. The plot area was 60 m 2. Nine treatments were tested in both trials: spray herbicide; roll plus herbicide; hay harvest; silage harvest; mowing; grinding, silage; rolling; disking; and grain harvesting. The average total biomass at anthesis was 5016 kg DM/ha and at milk stage was 6050 kg DM/ha. Soyabean cropped in the summer season yield 2080 kg/ha and it was not affected by black oat treatments. During the second year, the wheat plots sprayed herbicide before planting yielded 2472 kg/ha and spike density of 355/m 2, however, plots without herbicide yielded 836 kg/ha and had 225 spikes/m 2. On black oat milk stage managements, the yield average was 1733 kg/ha and 334 spikes/m 2, on sprayed herbicide plots before planting. In opposite, the plots without herbicide, wheat plants were completely dominated by resurgent black oat plants, due to managements applied during the previous winter. Mechanical management methods applied only in black oat development stages allowed seed germination during winter crops cycle. This problem is avoided by spraying herbicide before oat anthesis, because after that any management method tested was unsuccessful to control oat after the following winter crops, so it is necessary to spray herbicide before seeding winter cash crops.
  • 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:
    • Denardin, R. B. N.
    • Wildner, L. do P.
    • Coimbra, J. L. M.
    • Gatiboni, L. C.
  • Source: Biotemas
  • Volume: 22
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: The present study was carried out with the aim of monitoring the edaphic fauna modifications during the decomposition of cover crops straw. The experiment was carried out in the 2005/2006 spring-summer season in Chapeco/SC, Brazil. The treatments were: (1) Straw of black oat ( Avena strigosa Scrheb.); (2) Straw of black oat cultivated with addition of 50 kg ha -1 of nitrogen; (3) Straw of rye ( Secale cereale L.); (4) Straw of rye cultivated with addition of 50 kg ha -1 of nitrogen; (5) Uncovered soil. The cover crops were cultivated until flowering, when they were handled with a roll-knife. Ten evaluations of the edaphic fauna were made during the straw decomposition process (from 23/09/2005 to 03/02/2006) using pitfall traps. The first sampling was taken six days before the handling of cover crops, and the others were taken at 4, 18, 32, 46, 67, 83, 98, 112 and 127 days after handling. The results showed that the evaluated edaphic fauna groups were sensitive to the remaining amount of straw covering the soil under no tillage, and that the straw decomposition induced a decrease in fauna diversity because of the relative increase of the Collembola group.
  • Authors:
    • Albuquerque, J. A.
    • Reichert, J. M.
    • Reinert, D. J.
    • Genro Junior, S. A.
  • Source: CIENCIA RURAL
  • Volume: 39
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of crop succession and rotation on the crop yields and physical properties of an oxisol (clayey Haplortox) under no-tillage system, in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The treatments included four cropping sequences, used from 1998 to 2001: (1) succession wheat/soyabean; (2) rotation corn/oat/corn + Cajanus cajan/wheat/soyabean/wheat; (3) rotation Cajanus cajan/wheat/soyabean/wheat/soybean/oat; and (4) rotation Crotalaria juncea/wheat/soyabean/oat/corn/wheat. In October 2000 and 2001, soil samples were collected to determine the physical properties, and in all years, crop yields were measured. The oxisol under no-tillage had a high degree of compaction with the greater soil bulk density and lower macroporosity than the critical limit for clay texture. The largest limitations were observed below the layer of 0-0.03 m, because in the uppermost layer, soil mobilization by successive operations of fertilizer application and sowing increased soil porosity and reduced soil density. Thus, greater volume of pores was observed between soil saturation and field capacity, responsible for soil aeration, and between field capacity and wilting point, responsible for storage of plant available water. The use of cover crops once every three years was not efficient to reduce soil compaction. The yield of the subsequent crops was positively influenced in the rotation with Crotalaria juncea, while the other cropping systems did not differ from crop succession.
  • Authors:
    • Hirata, T.
    • Hoshino, Y.
    • Hane, S.
    • Hajime, A.
  • Source: Horticulture Environment and Biotechnology
  • Volume: 50
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: More than 70% of fresh tomato is produced in plastic high tunnel or greenhouse and much fertilizer and agricultural chemicals have been applied for tomato production. Cover crop is one of the important tools for sustainable agro-production because of improving soil properties. Effect of cover cropping on soil properties and tomato production in plastic high tunnel was examined in Sapporo, Japan, snow cover region. Plastic high tunnel was set before snow-melting, late in March, 2007. Two cover crops, legume (hairy vetch; Vicia villosa R.) and non legume (wild oat; Avena sterigosa L.), were planted each alone or mix-planted in the plot (0.8 m in width and 3.5 m in length) early in April. Seeding density in mono-culture was 5 kg/10a in hairy vetch and 10 kg/10a in wild oat. For bi-culture, density was 3.5 kg/10a in hairy vetch and 5 kg/10a in wild oat. Above ground biomass (dry weight) was shown 445 kg/10a in hairy vetch and 982 kg/10a in wild oat late in May. However, in mix-culture, it was 190 kg/10a in hairy vetch and 602 kg/10a in wild oat. Cover crops were killed for residue mulch just before tomato planting. Seedlings of tomato 'Momotaro' were planted in the plots covered with cover crop residue and 12 kg/10a N fertilizer application (12 kg N/10a) and bare plot with 12 kg/10a or 24 kg/10a N fertilizer (24 kg N/10a) application. Nitrate concentration of the petiole sap in the leaf just below the first fruit cluster was higher in the tomatoes grown in bare plot with 24 kg N/10a and in hairy vetch mulch with 12 kg N/10a at 40 days after transplanting. Large yield was shown in bare plot with 24 kg N/10a (7.9 t/10a) and in hairy vetch plot with 12 kg N/10a (7.8 t/10a). The yield in bare plot with 12 kg N/10a and Mix plot with 12 kg N/10a was 6.9 t/10a. The yield in wild oat plot with 12 kg N/10a was the smallest (6.1 t/10a). Soil carbon in the plots with cover crop mulch became higher than that of bare plots after tomato production. It will be possible to obtain current yield and to increase soil carbon in cover cropping with reduction of N fertilizer. This technique will lead the organically grown system in plastic high tunnel production.
  • Authors:
    • Il'in, A.
  • Source: Kormoproizvodstvo
  • Issue: 10
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Climate of the Republic of Yakutia is very severe and continental with winter temperatures below minus 40degreesC. Horses of the Yakutian breed are well adapted for cold winters and used to winter tebenevka, when they get forage from under snow. Usage of oat as winter forage for the Yakutian horse breed was studied in the Republic of Yakutia, Russia. Oat could be covered by snow during autumn frosts when plants are still green if sown at optimal time in Yakutia. Yield of green mass conserved under snow is 7.5 t/ha and horses can get 35-45% of this during single tebenevka and 70-75% when tebenevka is repeated. Dry matter of winter oat contains 11, 2 and 33% of protein, fat and cellulose, respectively. Detailed data are provided in 5 tables. Winter oat is recommended as forage for horses of Yakutian breed.
  • Authors:
    • Ngouajio, M.
    • Kaya, E.
    • Isik, D.
    • Mennan, H.
  • Source: Crop Protection
  • Volume: 28
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Weed control is a major constraint for organic production around the world. Field studies were conducted in pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.) from 2004 to 2006 at the Black Sea Agricultural Research Institute experimental field in Turkey to determine the weed suppressive effects of winter cover crops. Treatments consisted of ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum L.), oat ( Avena sativa L.), rye ( Secale cereale L.), wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), gelemen clover ( Trifolium meneghinianum Clem.), Egyptian clover ( Trifolium alexsandrinum L.), common vetch ( Vicia sativa L.), hairy vetch ( Vicia villosa Roth.) and a bare fallow with no cover crop. Weed density and total weed dry biomass were assessed at 14, 28, and 56 days after incorporation to quantify effects of cover crops during a subsequent pepper crop. Cover crop establishment was similar in both growing seasons and individual species produced in the range of 1800-3500 kg/ha biomass. Ryegrass produced the greatest biomass compared with other species. Weed dry biomass production just before cover crop incorporation varied with year and cover crop species. Hairy vetch, ryegrass, oat and common vetch were the most competitive cover crops based on total weed dry biomass. Hairy vetch was the most promising cover crop and reduced weed density by 73% and 70% at 28 and 56 DAI, respectively. Pepper yields were higher following all cover crops except Egyptian clover. The highest yield was obtained from hairy vetch plots in both years. This research indicates that cover crops such as hairy vetch, ryegrass, oat and common vetch could be used in integrated weed management programs to reduce weed infestation in organic pepper.
  • Authors:
    • Mann, D.
    • Ranjan, R.
    • Kahimba, F.
  • Source: Applied Engineering in Agriculture
  • Volume: 25
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Soil freezing and thawing processes and soil moisture redistribution play a critical role in the hydrology and microclimate of seasonally frozen agricultural soils. Accurate simulations of the depth and timing of frost and the redistribution of soil water are important for planning farm operations and choosing rotational crops. The Simultaneous Heat and Water (SHAW) model was used to predict soil temperature, frost depth, and soil moisture in agricultural soils near Carman, Manitoba. The model simulations were compared with three years of field data collected from summer 2005 to the summer 2007 in four cropping system treatments (oats with berseem clover cover crop, oats alone, canola, and fallow). The simulated soil temperatures compared well with the measured data in all the seasons (R 2=0.96-0.99). The soil moisture simulations were better during the summer (RMSE=9.1-12.0% of the mean) compared to the winter seasons (RMSE=17.5-19.7% of the mean). During the winter, SHAW over-predicted by 0.02 to 0.10 m 3 m -3 the amount of total soil moisture below the freeze front and under-predicted by 0.02 to 0.05 m 3 m -3 the soil moisture in the upper frozen layers. The model was revised to account for the reduction in effective pore space resulting from frozen water to improve the winter soil moisture predictions. After this revision, the model performed well during the winter (RMSE=14.4% vs. 17.5%; R 2=0.74 vs. 0.67 in vegetated treatments, and RMSE=12.9% vs. 19.7%; R 2=0.73 vs. 0.52 in fallow treatments). The modified SHAW model is an enhanced tool for predicting the soil moisture status as a function of depth during spring thawing, and for assessing the availability of soil moisture at the beginning of the subsequent growing season.
  • Authors:
    • Debiasi, H.
    • Trein, C.
    • Levien, R.
    • Kamimura, K.
    • Conte, O.
  • Source: ENGENHARIA AGRICOLA
  • Volume: 29
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: The continuous and inadequate machine traffic on soils under direct drilling has been changing the soil physical and mechanical properties, influencing therefore crop productivity. The experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Research Station of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Eldorado do Sul, RS, Brazil) on Typic Paleudlt. The main aim of the work was to measure coulter draft requirements and physical attributes under black oats ( Avena strigosa Schieb) and common vetch (CV) ( Vicia sativa L.) partially decomposed. The experimental design was carried out in randomized blocks, with split-split-plots and three repetitions. The main treatments were plots with different amount of residues of the winter crop (0, 1,3; 2,6; 3,2; 3,8 and 5,1 Mg ha -1), sub-plots were two working depth of the driller chisel-type furrow opener, and two traffic conditions (combine and tractor wheel traffic). The physical characteristics of the soil were influenced by the traffic tracks. The whole tractor-drill was influenced by the depths of fertilizer shanks and traffic of traffic tracks and combine.