• Authors:
    • Ben-Hammouda, M.
    • Errouissi, F.
    • Moussa-Machraoui, S.
    • Nouira, S.
  • Source: Soil & Tillage Research
  • Volume: 106
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: No-tillage (NT) is becoming increasingly attractive to farmers worldwide because it clearly reduces production costs relative to conventional tillage (CT) and improves soil properties and crop yield. Currently, under semi-arid conditions in North Africa, modern no-tillage techniques are being practiced on several hectares of land. The effect of NT and CT management and crop rotation on soil properties under semi-arid Mediterranean conditions was studied, over a 4-year period at two locations in northern Tunisia. Data from a short-term (2000-2004) use of both no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) at the ESAK (Tunisia) were used to evaluate the influence of the tillage systems on the physicochemical properties of soil at the 0-20 cm depth layers. Trial was set up in 2000, where the two tillage systems (CT and NT), and four crop types (durum wheat, barley, pea and oats) were implemented in two distinct sites close to two governorates: Kef (silt/clayey) and Siliana (sand/clay) in northwestern Tunisia. Four years after implementing the two different tillage systems, soil parameters (N, NO 32-, NH 4+ P, P 2O 5, K, K 2O, SOC, SOM and CEC) were determined and comparison between the two tillage systems was made. Our results showed that after 4 years the contents of some parameters for most crop types were greater under NT than under CT at 0-20 cm depth layers, the results varied depending on crop type and site. NT significantly improved soil content especially for K, K 2O, P 2O 5 and N. Under NT system SOM and SOC were enhanced, but without significant results. These enhancements were accompanied by the enhancement of the CEC and the decrease of the C/N ratio. Thus the mineralization process was slightly quicker under NT. Our results also indicate that residue cover combined with no-tillage appears to improve some agronomic parameters and biomass production (grain yield). Multivariate analyses indicate that the improvement of soil properties was dependant on tillage management, sites (climate and soil type) and crop succession (species and cover residue). It must be pointed out that a 4-year period was not sufficient to clearly establish some parameters used in the effects of the NT system on soil properties under semi-arid conditions in northwestern Tunisia.
  • Authors:
    • Kim, D.
    • Hong, Y.
    • Kim, J.
    • Park, K.
    • Seo, J.
    • Park, T.
    • Heo, H.
    • Park, H.
    • Ouk-Kyu, H.
  • Source: Korean Journal of Breeding Science
  • Volume: 41
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: A new naked oat cultivar Daeyang ( Avena sativa L.) was developed by Department of Rice and Winter Cereal Crop, NICS, RDA in 2007. It was derived from a cross between 'FLX446-1-84-Q1' and 'SO92004-B-3-3-5-7'. The FLX446-1-84-Q1, a naked oat cultivar from USA, is early heading and has good seed quality, while the SO92004-B-3-3-5-7, a covered oat breeding line, has a high yield with large grain. Subsequent generations were handled in a bulk method and pedigree selection program, and the SO97013-B-16-4 was selected based on agronomic performance in 2001. The line showed both high yield and good husking rate of seed in the yield trial tested at Suwon from 2002 to 2003, being designated as Gwiri51. The Gwiri51 was subsequently evaluated for winter hardiness, earliness, and yield in four locations, Gimje, Iksan, Jeongeup, and Jinju, from 2004 to 2007 and was designated as "Daeyang" and released. Its heading date was May 8 and maturing time was June 14 in a paddy field condition. The new cultivar Daeyang had 97 cm of culm length and 25.2 cm of spike length, 644 spikes per m 2, 65 grains per spike, 30.3 g of 1,000-grain weight, and 635 g of test weight. Daeyang showed better winter hardiness than that of the check cultivar 'Sunyang', and similar seed quality to the check cultivar in respect to percent content crude protein and beta-glucan. However, it showed higher husking rate than the check cultivar. Grain yield of Daeyang in the regional yield trial for 4 years were averaged 4.18 MT ha -1, which was 20% higher than that of the check cultivar Sunyang. Fall sowing cropping is recommended only in a south area where daily minimum mean temperatures are averaged higher than -4C in January, and should be excluded in mountain area where frost damage is presumable.
  • Authors:
    • Vargas, L.
    • Nohatto, M.
    • Amarante, C.
    • Mafra, A.
    • Pelizza, T.
  • Source: REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE FRUTICULTURA
  • Volume: 31
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Soil cover is one of the options for weed management in the orchard but this might affect fruit trees development. The objective of this work was to evaluate apple trees growth during the orchard establishment stage by using different materials and soil cover plants. The experimental apple orchard was planted in 2003, in Vacaria, RS, Southern of Brazil, with the cv. Galaxy managed under organic system. The experiment followed the randomized block design, with three replications. The treatments were applied in the tree rows, as follows: control (without weed management), manual weeding, black plastic film, black net, pinus sawdust, pinus needle mulch, Andropogon sp. mulch, annual ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum), black oat ( Avena strigosa), black oat+common vetch ( Vicia sativa), black oat+fodder radish ( Raphanus sativus), annual ryegrass+white clover ( Trifolium repens)+spontaneous plant cover, weed mowing. The soil covered by weeds was monthly measured, during the spring/summer season, over the second and third years of the orchard establishment, and this was related to the apple trees growth. The treatments with manual weeding, black plastic film, pinus needle and Andropogon mulch maintained the soil cover by weeds below 20%. The apple tree height and diameter decreased with the increase of soil cover by weeds, reflecting weeds competition with apple trees.
  • Authors:
    • Antonkiewicz, J.
    • Poradowski, R.
    • Pisulewska, E.
    • Witkowicz, R.
  • Source: Journal of Elementology
  • Volume: 14
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Among the cereals grown in Poland, oat grain contains the highest amount of ash, composed of macro- and microelements. It has been suggested that applying increased levels of mineral fertilization, to newer cultivars of oat could have an impact on their grain yield and mineral composition. A two-factorial (2*2) field experiment was conducted for three years (1999-2001) in the south of Poland. The experiment involved two cultivars of oat, i.e. the covered cultivar Dukat and the naked cultivar Akt, and two fertilization levels, i.e. low (30 kg N, 30 kg P 2O 5 and 45 kg K 2O ha -1) and high (60 kg N, 60 kg P 2O 5 and 90 K 2O ha -1). There was no significant difference in grain yield between the studied cultivars. On the other hand, the high NPK level increased the content of Mg and Fe in the grain of Akt. At the same time, there were no significant differences in the grain content of Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn between Dukat and Akt. Overall, the high level of mineral fertilizing decreased the grain content of microelements as a result of dilution effect. The content of Cu and Zn in oat grain was suitable for human consumption according to the IUNG-PIB standards. Generally, it was shown that cv. Akt was richer in mineral elements, especially in P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe and Zn, than cv. Dukat.
  • Authors:
    • Komecki, T. S.
    • Balkcom, K. S.
    • Raper, R. L.
    • Arriaga, F. J.
    • Price, A. J.
    • Reeves, D. W.
  • Source: Journal of Cotton Science
  • Volume: 13
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: An integral component of conservation agriculture systems in cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) is the use of a high-residue winter cover crop; however, terminating cover crops is an additional expense and planting into high-residue can be a challenge. An experiment was conducted using black oat ( Avena strigosa Schreb.), rye ( Secale cereale L.), and wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) cover crops established in early November at three locations. In mid-April each year all winter cover crops were flattened with a straight-blade mechanical roller-crimper alone or followed by three rates of glyphosate (0.84, 0.42, 0.21 kg ae/ha). Additionally, glyphosate alone at each rate and a non-treated check were included to complete the factorial treatment arrangement. Cotton was then planted 3 weeks after treatments were administered following in-row sub-soiling at E.V. Smith and direct seeding at Tennessee Valley and Robertsdale. Results showed that rolling followed by reduced glyphosate rates as low as 0.42 kg ae/ha can effectively and reliably terminate mature cereal winter cover crops; thus maintaining cotton population and protecting growth. Additionally, reduced glyphosate rates applied as low as 0.84 kg ae/ha alone can effectively terminate immature cereal covers while conserving soil moisture. Rolling mature winter cereal cover crops will likely conserve more soil moisture compared to standing covers; however, rolling immature cereal cover crops provides no benefit. In 2005 at E.V. Smith and at Tennessee Valley in 2006, increasing glyphosate rate increased cotton yield likely due to less mature cereal covers at time of treatment application. However, the inclusion of glyphosate did not increase cotton yield for any other comparison.
  • Authors:
    • Gundersen, H.
    • Nielsen, H. H.
    • Rasmussen, J.
  • Source: WEED SCIENCE
  • Volume: 57
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: POST weed harrowing and other cultivation methods to control weeds in early crop growth stages may result in crop damage due to low selectivity between crop and weeds. Crop tolerance to cultivation plays an important role but it has not been clearly defined and analyzed. We introduce a procedure for analyzing crop tolerance on the basis of digital image analysis. Crop tolerance is defined as the ability of the crop to avoid yield loss from cultivation in the absence of weeds, and it has two components: resistance and recovery. Resistance is the ability of the crop to resist soil covering and recovery is the ability to recover from it. Soil covering is the percentage of the crop that has been buried because of cultivation. We analyzed data from six field experiments, four experiments with species of small grains, barley, oat, wheat, and triticale, and two experiments with barley cultivars with different abilities to suppress weeds. The order of species' tolerance to weed harrowing was triticale > wheat > barley > oat and the differences were mainly caused by different abilities to recover from soil covering. At 25% soil covering, grain yield loss in triticale was 0.5%, in wheat 2.5%, in barley 3.7%, and in oat 6.5%. Tolerance, resistance, and recovery, however, were influenced by year, especially for oat and barley. There was no evidence of differences between barley cultivars in terms of tolerance indicating that differences among species are more important than differences among cultivars. Selectivity analysis made it possible to calculate the crop yield loss due to crop damage associated with a certain percentage of weed control. In triticale, 80% weed control was associated with 22% crop soil cover on average, which reduced grain yield 0.4% on average in the absence of weeds. Corresponding values for wheat, barley, and oat were 23, 21, and 20% crop soil cover and 2.3, 3.6, and 5.1% grain yield loss.
  • Authors:
    • Miquelluti, D. J.
    • Oliveira, O. L. P. de
    • Ferreira, E. Z.
    • Nohatto, M. A.
    • Mafra, A. L.
    • Rosa, J. D.
    • Cassol, P. C.
    • Medeiros, J. C.
  • Source: REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIA DO SOLO
  • Volume: 33
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of phytomass management forms of different cover crop species on soil chemical properties related to organic matter, nutrient availability, and on grapevine yields. The experiment was carried out in Embrapa Uva e Vinho, in Bento Goncalves, Rio Grande do Sul, in Southern Brazil, on a Haplic Cambisol, in a vineyard established in 1989, using White and Rose Niagara grape in a horizontal overhead trelling system. The treatments established in 2002 were three cover crops: spontaneous native species, black oat ( Avena nuda), and a mixture of white clover ( Trifolium repens) + red clover ( Trifolium pratense) + annual ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum); and two management systems: desiccation by herbicide spraying and mechanical mowing, performed each autumn prior to cover crop resowing. The experiment had a completely randomized block design, with three replications. Soil acidity and nutrient contents were little influenced by the plant cover. In comparison with the mowed management, herbicide application increased exchangeable Ca and Mg, extracted P, and organic C levels in the soil. The grape yield in the seasons 2004 and 2006 was low in view to the cultivar potential, probably affect by climatic limitations, but was higher when black oat was used as plant cover instead of the mixture of plant covers.
  • Authors:
    • Wise, M.
    • Schmitt, M.
  • Source: Cereal Chemistry
  • Volume: 86
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: beta-Glucan from cereal (barley and oat) grain and malt is easily determined using Calcofluor fluorescence in a microplate fluorimetre. The method is sensitive and scalable to cover a wide range of beta-glucan concentrations by simply adjusting the aliquot size used in the 96-well microplates. The microplate assay uses inexpensive reagents and commonly available instrumentation, obviating the need for investment in flow injection analysis instrumentation or commercial reagent kits, providing an attractive alternative to enzymatic kits or flow injection analysis systems.
  • Authors:
    • Mihalik, D.
    • Gregova, E.
    • Sudyova, V.
    • Slikova, S.
  • Source: Cereal Research Communications
  • Volume: 37
  • Issue: Suppl. 1
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Oat has been more often used in human nourishment in recent years for any rational diet. Grains contaminated with Fusarium spp. are unsuitable for both human and animal consumption because of the adverse health effects of fusariotoxins. The aim of this work was to examine the reactions of covered oats to artificial infection with Fusarium culmorum (W. G. Smith) Sacc. and the accumulation of deoxynivalenol mycotoxin in seeds. Covered cultivars registered in Slovakia (Zvolen, Auron, Atego, Flamingsstern, Kanton, Viktor, Zlat'ak, Euro and Ardo) were inoculated during flowering in 2006 and 2007 with conidial suspensions of aggressive isolate of F. culmorum Sacc. After ripening, twenty panicles were harvested manually from each plot of blocks (block 1. inoculated, block 2. uninoculated). The threshed seeds were then manually cleaned and hulled. The reduction in 1000-kernel weight (R-TKW) was calculated. The kernel samples were also analysed for deoxynivalenol (DON) content by a commercial ELISA kit for quantitative analysis of DON in cereals. The differences between the oat cultivars were observed in R-TKW and DON contents. A high RTKW was discovered in Flamingsstern and a low reduction in Euro, Ardo and Zlat'ak. The average range of DON accumulation was from 3.45 mg kg -1 to 19.05 mg kg -1. From the oat cultivars a mean high DON accumulation (in 2006 and 2007 years) was found in Kanton and Ardo cultivars, a low one in seeds of Zlat'ak, Euro and Auron. This is the first piece of information on reduction in 1000-kernel weight and concentrations of DON in covered oat cultivars in Slovakia after artificial infection with Fusarium culmorum.
  • Authors:
    • Cao, E.
    • Andrigueti, M.
    • Carvalho, P.
    • Anghinoni, I.
    • Costa, S.
    • Souza, E.
  • Source: REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIA DO SOLO
  • Volume: 33
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: The potential for adopting crop-livestock systems in southern Brazil is high, especially in untilled soybean areas with cover crops in the winter season. The long-term use of this system at different grazing intensities will result in different carbon and nitrogen stocks in the soil due to the different plant and animal residues. This research was conducted to evaluate alterations in total carbon and nitrogen pools and in organic matter fractions in a soil under different grazing intensities under no-tillage. The experiment on a Rhodic Hapludult (Oxisol) was initiated in 2001, after soybean harvest. The treatments were different cattle grazing (black oat+ryegrass) pressures (10, 20 and 40 cm sward height) and an ungrazed treatment in the winter and soybean in the summer, in a randomized block design. Soil samples were taken at the beginning of the experiment (May, 2001), after three years (May, 2004) and after six years (May, 2007) to evaluate the content and stocks of organic carbon and nitrogen. Moderate grazing intensities (20 and 40 cm plant height) resulted in an increase of total carbon and nitrogen and in the organic matter particulate fraction, similarly to the ungrazed area. However, at the most intensive grazing pressure (10 cm plant height) there were losses in the stocks of these elements and reduction in soil organic matter quality.