• Authors:
    • Tyrankiewicz-Czaplewska, M.
    • Jaskulski, D.
    • Rudnicki, F.
  • Source: Fragmenta Agronomica
  • Volume: 25
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2008
  • Summary: The effect of some natural and economic and organizational factors on the share of fodder crops in the crop structure on the Kujawy and Pomorze Province, Poland. The research covered 127 municipalities and communes for which the analysis of spatial distribution of 4 species of fodder cereals (oat, triticale, cereal mixtures and maize grown for grain) and groups of fodder crops was made. It was observed that the share of fodder crops in the cropland structure in the communes of the Kujawy and Pomorze Province varied significantly. The greatest spatial variation was observed for the cultivation of maize and oat and lowest for triticale and fodder crops. The greatest share of oat in the cropland structure was recorded in the regions of low soil quality and, at the same time, low livestock density and relatively high farm acreage. Triticale and cereal mixtures in the cropland structure occurred especially on soils of lower agricultural quality, located in the regions of better-developed animal farming, mostly pigs. Fodder crops occur on arable land more abundantly wherever cattle farming was more developed and where, at the same time, the farms were relatively large. The soil quality, however, does not define the regions for this group of crops, similarly as the cultivation of maize for grain.
  • Authors:
    • Fares, A.
    • Ryder, M.
  • Source: Journal of the American Water Resources Association
  • Volume: 44
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2008
  • Summary: A study was conducted to determine the effects of three land covers (sunn hemp - Crotalaria juncea, sudex, a sorghum-sudangrass hybrid - Sorghum bicolor * S. bicolor var. sudanese, and common oats - Avena sativa) planted as vegetative filter strips on the reduction of sediment and nutrient loading of surface runoff within the Kaika-Waialua watershed on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Runoff samples were collected and analyzed for total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), phosphorous, and three forms of nitrogen (nitrate, ammonium, total nitrogen). Study results show that during seven out of 10 runoff events, the three cover crop treatments significantly reduced TSS as compared to the fallow treatment. Average removal efficiencies were 85, 77, and 73% for oats, sunn hemp, and sudex, respectively, as compared to the fallow treatment. Nutrient concentrations were low with phosphorous concentrations, lower than 1 (g/ml) for all treatments, and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations below 7 (g/ml) except in the sunn hemp treatment, where TN concentrations were less than 10 (g/ml). Results of analysis of TDS showed that the cover crop treatments did not decrease dissolved solids concentrations in comparison with the fallow treatment. Analysis of nutrient concentrations in runoff samples did not detect any significant decreases in phosphorous, nitrogen, ammonium, or TN concentrations in comparison to the fallow treatment. However, a significant increase in TN concentrations in the sunn hemp treatment was detected and showed the nitrogen fixing capacity of sunn hemp. No treatment effects on runoff volume were detected, and runoff volumes were directly correlated with rainfall amounts showing no crops significantly impacted soil infiltration rates. These results were attributed to extremely low soil hydraulic conductivities (0.0001-7 cm/day at the soil surface, 15 and 30 cm below the soil surface). This study showed that cover crops planted as vegetative filters can effectively reduce sediment loads coming from idle and fallow fields on moderately steep volcanically derived highly weathered soils.
  • Authors:
    • Scudamore, K.
  • Source: World Mycotoxin Journal
  • Volume: 1
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2008
  • Summary: The cereal food chain covers events from the sowing of the seed until the point of ingestion of a food by the consumer. Mycotoxins may develop prior to harvest or through inadequate storage. Most mycotoxins are inherently stable natural chemicals but cleaning, milling and different methods of processing can change their concentrations. Legislation is necessary to protect the consumer so it is important to consider, among other things, the relationship between concentrations of mycotoxins in the raw grains and those in the product purchased by the consumer, especially where different limits are specified at successive stages in manufacture. Recent studies of the fate of fusarium mycotoxins in the cereal food chain carried out alongside industry in the UK have examined changes in the concentrations of deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin and zearalenone in wheat, maize and oats and the fumonisin mycotoxins in maize at key stages in the cereal chain. For example, fumonisin concentrations in maize grits after milling were reduced by about 75% compared with the raw maize, but remained similar to the maize in the flour and were increased (*3 to *5) in the bran and meal. Maize flour and grits were then processed into a range of food products such as breakfast cereals, cornflakes, extruded snack products and tortillas and the changes in concentrations were established. Simple extrusion of flour or grits reduced fumonisins by a further 30-70% depending on the process. Deoxynivalenol and zearalenone were found to be more stable than fumonisins during most processes.
  • Authors:
    • Gallandt, E.
    • Reberg-Horton, S.
    • Shearin, A.
  • Source: Weed Science
  • Volume: 56
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2008
  • Summary: Cover crop systems were investigated in 2004 and 2005 for their effects on the activity-density (a function of movement and density) of a promising group of weed biological control organisms, the ground beetles collectively known as carabids, with particular emphasis on a beneficial carabid species Harpalus rufipes. Marked H. rufipes released into pea/oat-rye/vetch cover crop plots were more than twice as likely to be recaptured within the same plots as beetles released in nonvegetated fallow plots (18 and 8%, respectively). Marked beetles released into fallow plots were more than twice as likely to leave their plots and be recaptured in pea/oat-rye/vetch plots as vice versa (13 vs. 5%), indicating a clear preference for habitat with vegetative cover. Overall recapture rates were not different between treatments. Unmarked H. rufipes activity-density was also higher in pea/oat-rye/vetch compared to fallow plots. Additionally, five cover crop systems, including the fallow and pea/oat-rye/vetch treatments, and two residue management methods (conventional and zone tillage) were investigated from June to August in 2005 for their effects on H. rufipes activity-density. Maize was planted in 2005 into residues of the five cover crop systems grown in 2004. H. rufipes activity-density was higher in zone and conventionally tilled maize planted in pea/oat-rye/vetch residues and conventionally tilled maize planted in red clover/oat residues than in any other cover crop and residue management combination. Pea/oat-rye/vetch cover crop systems are apparently beneficial for H. rufipes during the cover crop year as well as in subsequent crops planted into this cover crop's residues. This system was not the least disturbed system but, based on the number of tillage events, represented a medium level of disturbance among the various systems. Thus, some level of disturbance might be beneficial for H. rufipes, but how and when that soil disturbance occurs requires further research to determine the best means of conserving this species.
  • Authors:
    • Jandrey, D.
    • Strieder, M.
    • Minetto, T.
    • Silva, P.
    • Silva, A.
    • Endrigo, P.
  • Source: Ciencia Rural
  • Volume: 38
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2008
  • Summary: The growing of winter crop species results in benefits on soil characteristics, and can present economic advantages. Thus, it is important to introduce winter species that, besides straw, produce grains to increase the performance and the sustainability of agricultural activity. The objective of this research was to evaluate, in three growing seasons, the agronomic and economic performance of maize crop grown in succession to five winter cover crops and/or for grain production, cultivated under two rates of side dressing N fertilization. The experiment was carried out in the growing seasons of 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In the three years, the treatments consisted of irrigated maize crop grown in succession to five winter cover crops species and to a control without cover crop. The maize cost production in succession to common vetch is lower than in succession to black oat and to wild radish. Comparing the winter cover crops for grain production, the gross income was higher when wheat was grown in relation to oat. The economic advantages of the use of wild radish and common vetch as previous crops to irrigated maize in relation to the poaceae species are only evident under conditions of low N availability in the soil.
  • Authors:
    • Jandrey, D.
    • Strieder, M.
    • Piana, A.
    • Sangoi, L.
    • Silva, P.
    • Silva, A.
    • Endrigo, P.
  • Source: PESQUISA AGROPECUARIA BRASILEIRA
  • Volume: 43
  • Issue: 8
  • Year: 2008
  • Summary: The objective of this work was to evaluate the productivity of irrigated maize, grown using several rates of nitrogen sidedress, in succession to different winter crops. The experiment was carried out in Eldorado do Sul, RS, Southern Brazil, during the 2003/2004, 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 growing seasons. Maize was sown in succession to five winter crops: black oat, common vetch, wild radish (straw production), white oat and wheat (grain and straw production), and to a control treatment, where the spontaneous vegetation was controlled by successive desiccant application. Maize grain yield was higher than 8 Mg ha -1 and was not affected by the specie of preceding winter crop, when nitrogen sidedress was applied. Maize grain yield was higher, when it succeeded wild radish and in the treatment without N in side-dressing. White oat and wheat added more than 3 Mg ha -1 of straw and produced more than 1.5 Mg ha -1 of grain. With supplementary irrigation and side-dress nitrogen application, it is possible to obtain high grain yield, when corn is cultivated as a sequential crop, independently of winter cover species.
  • Authors:
    • Benez, S.
    • Silva, P.
  • Source: Energia na Agricultura
  • Volume: 23
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2008
  • Summary: This work had as objective evaluate the penetration depth of cut disks (flat, corrugated and wavy) of seeder in different vegetable coverings (corn, sorghum, black oats, triticale and grass) and applied vertical loads (750, 1500, 2250 and 3000 N). The work was developed at University of Agronomic Sciences - UNESP of Botucatu in a soil classified like NITOSSOLO VERMELHO distroferrico. The experimental design used was in blocks at random with factorial outline (3 coulter disks and 4 vertical loads) and 4 repetitions. The results showed that for all vegetable covering, as larger is the vertical load applied adult as larger is the penetration depth of the coulter disks. The wavy disk cut obtained the smallest values of penetration depth in relation to the others. This happened due to smaller cut pressure in the straw. The largest values of penetration depth of the cut disks were obtained for the covering with straw of nabica following by the triticale, black oats, corn and sorghum. The seeder should be regulated with minimum load of seed and fertilizer so that happen the cash cuts of the straw during the sowing process.
  • Authors:
    • Singer, J.
  • Source: Agronomy Journal
  • Volume: 100
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2008
  • Summary: Surveying end-users about their use of technologies and preferences provides information for researchers and educators to develop relevant research and educational programs. A mail survey was sent to Corn Belt farmers during 2006 to quantify cover crop management and preferences. Results indicated that the dominant cereal cover crops in Indiana and Illinois are winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) and cereal rye ( Secale cereale L.), cereal rye and oat ( Avena sativa L.) in Iowa, and oat in Minnesota. Legumes were used more frequently in Indiana and Illinois, and red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.) was the dominant choice across the region. Farmers relied solely on herbicides 54% of the time to kill cover crops. Ninety-three percent of respondents indicated that they received no cost sharing for using cover crops and 14% indicated that they would plant cover crops on rented land. Corn Belt farmers prefer cover crops that overwinter (68%) and fix N (64%). The information provided in this survey supplements existing knowledge that can be used to develop relevant research and educational programs to address agronomic production systems that include cover crops.
  • Authors:
    • Moorman, T.
    • Cambardella, C.
    • Singer, J.
  • Source: Agronomy Journal
  • Volume: 100
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2008
  • Summary: Coupling winter small grain cover crops (CC) with liquid manure injection may increase manure nutrient capture. The objectives of this research were to quantify manure injection effects using target swine ( Sus scrofa) manure N rates of 112, 224, and 336 kg N ha -1 on CC plant density, fall and spring shoot biomass, N, P, and K uptake and subsequent corn ( Zea mays L.) yield. A winter rye ( Secale cereale L.)-oat ( Avena sativa L.) CC was established before fall manure injection. Manure injection lowered mean CC plant density 25% because of CC mortality in the injection zone. Fall CC dry matter (DM) was 26% lower in the manure treatments than the no manure CC control, although no difference was detected for N (9.4 kg ha -1) or P (1.4 kg ha -1) uptake. No difference was detected for spring DM between CC no manure and manure treatments. Shoot DM, N, P, and K uptake increased 29, 41, 31, and 25% from the CC manure 112 to CC manure 224 with no increase above CC manure 224. Cover crop N uptake was higher in CC manure vs. no manure (60.1 vs. 35.6 kg ha -1). Cover crop P and K uptake were also higher in CC manure vs. no manure (9.2 vs. 6.6 kg P ha -1 and 41.3 vs. 30.0 kg K ha -1). Corn grain yield was unaffected by CC and responded positively to manure application (11,022 with manure vs. 9,845 kg ha -1 without manure). Coupling manure injection and cover crops can increase nutrient capture without lowering corn yield.
  • Authors:
    • Mihalik, D.
    • Gregova, E.
    • Sudyova, V.
    • Slikova, S.
  • Source: Cereal Research Communications
  • Volume: 36
  • Issue: Suppl. 6
  • Year: 2008
  • Summary: The aim was to compare the cumulation of deoxynivalenol mycotoxin in kernels of naked oats and covered oats with hull and without hull after artificial infection with Fusarium culmorum, which is characterised by a high production of deoxynivalenol. In total, thirteen oat cultivars registered in Slovakia were tested. The lowest average DON cumulation was found in kernels of covered oats after hulling. DON cumulation in kernels of naked oats ranged from 9.5 mg.kg -1 to 14.3 mg.kg -1, in covered oat kernels after hulling from 2.3 mg.kg -1 to 9.2 mg.kg -1 and in covered oat kernels with hull from 17.4 mg.kg -1 to 83.9 mg.kg -1. Between the covered oat cultivars the differences in DON cumulation in kernels were revealed. Cumulation of DON in kernels of covered oats after hulling was lower than the average contamination of naked oat kernels. Lower DON accumulation in kernels of covered oat cultivars, after hulling, shows loss of toxin during the cleaning of the kernels. This is important information for processors.