61. Diversity of crop cultivars in the farm group covered by the survey in the Kujawy and Pomorze region.; Roznorodnosc odmian roslin uprawnych w grupie ankietowanych gospodarstw w regionie Kujawsko-Pomorskim.

• Authors:
  • Jaskulski, D.
  • Osinski, G.
  • Jaskulska, I.
  • Madry, A.
• Source: Fragmenta Agronomica
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 1
• Year: 2012
• Summary: Drawing on the statistical survey performed over 2010-2011 on 155 farms in the Kujawy and Pomorze region, there was evaluated cultivar diversity for basic field crops and it was compared in the sown crops of winter wheat, spring barley, winter triticale, rye, maize, winter rape, sugar beet and potato. The following were determined: the knowledge of crop cultivars sown by farmers on production plantations and the most frequently grown cultivars, their number to the number of plantations of that species, diversity and domination defined using the Shannon-Wiener and Simpson indices. It was found that on 15.8-43.4% plantations the cultivars were not known to the farmers, most in the sown crops of spring barley. The best knowledge was recorded for the cultivars of winter wheat, winter rape and potato. A high richness of cultivars, expressed with the number of cultivars to the number of plantations, concerned the crops of potato, sugar beet and maize and the lowest richness - rye. The highest cultivar diversity of crops occurred in the sown winter wheat, winter triticale, winter rape, corn and spring barley. The lowest diversity, however, at the same time, the highest cultivar dominance, was recorded for sugar beet, potato and rye. The highest share of a single cultivar in the sown crop of the species was reported for 'Californium' winter rape, 'Dankowskie Zote' rye and 'Lord' potato.

62. Farmers' knowledge and perceptions of blister beetles, Hycleus spp. (Coleoptera: Meloidae), as pest herbivores of Desmodium legumes in western Kenya.

• Authors:
  • Hassanali, A.
  • Bruce, T.
  • Kruger, K.
  • Khan, Z.
  • Lebesa, L.
  • Pickett, J.
• Source: International Journal of Pest Management
• Volume: 58
• Issue: 2
• Year: 2012
• Summary: A survey was undertaken to determine the pest status of herbivorous blister beetles, Hycleus spp., in western Kenya where they attack crops such as Desmodium spp., other leguminous plants and sweetpotato. Desmodium spp. are important intercrops in the 'push-pull' strategy adopted for Striga and stemborer control in maize and sorghum. Production of desmodium seed is adversely affected by blister beetles, which feed on the flowers and negatively affect seed setting. To assess farmers' knowledge and perceptions of Hycleus spp. as pests, a questionnaire survey was conducted in three sites in Bungoma district, western Kenya, in 2007. The survey was followed by field sampling of Desmodium spp. and sweetpotato to compare the results with the responses received from farmers. Hycleus spp. were mentioned by 75% of the respondents as major pests of Desmodium spp. During field sampling Hycleus spp. comprised 70% of the insect pests collected. According to farmers, blister beetles were more abundant on desmodium than on sweetpotato. However, field sampling revealed that differences in beetle abundance on the two crops were not consistent across different sites, suggesting that these crops may function as alternative hosts. The study provides baseline information for the development of a management strategy for blister beetles.

63. Evaluation of alternate menthol mint ( Mentha arvensis L.) based intensive cropping systems for Indo-Gangetic plains of north India.

• Authors:
  • Muni, R.
  • Saudan, S.
  • Aparbal, S.
  • Man, S.
• Source: Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science
• Volume: 58
• Issue: 4
• Year: 2012
• Summary: The objective of the study was to determine the profitability and employment-generation potential of different cropping systems involving menthol mint ( Mentha arvensis L.) as a component of sequential/intercropping in comparison with the most common paddy-wheat-green gram cropping system. Field experiments were conducted at Lucknow, India (26°5′N, 80°5′E and 120 m above mean sea level) for three years from July 2004 to June 2007. Menthol mint yielded the maximum fresh shoot biomass and essential oil (21.0 t and 151 kg ha -1, respectively) grown after sweet basil ( Ocimum basillicum)-potato followed by paddy-potato-menthol mint (18.9 t and 136 kg ha -1, respectively) and maize-mustard-menthol mint (17.7 t and 131 kg ha -1, respectively). Net returns of all the menthol-mint-based cropping systems were 82.6-354% higher than traditional paddy-wheat-green gram cropping system. Maize-garlic-menthol mint+okra was found to be most profitable (77,200 Rs ha -1) followed by pigeon pea+sweet basil-menthol mint+okra (76,120 Rs ha -1). Employment-generation efficiency was much higher in cropping systems involving menthol mint and vegetable crops, the highest (2.21 man days ha -1 day -1) being in a maize-cauliflower-onion-menthol mint+okra cropping system.

64. Effect of intercrops on thrips species composition and population abundance on French beans in Kenya.

• Authors:
  • Subramanian, S.
  • Meyhofer, R.
  • Nyasani, J.
  • Poehling, H.
• Source: Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
• Volume: 142
• Issue: 3
• Year: 2012
• Summary: The study aimed at determining thrips species composition and thrips population density on French bean planted as a sole crop and as an intercrop with either sunflower, Irish potato, or baby corn, in various combinations. Field experiments were conducted in two seasons to examine: (1) thrips population development and thrips species composition over time, (2) effect of intercrops on thrips population density and natural enemies, and (3) effect of intercrops on French bean yield. The experiments were conducted at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Embu, Kenya in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The thrips population on French beans increased with time. It showed a peak at the flowering stage then started declining when the crops were nearing senescence. French beans hosted four thrips species, Megalurothrips sjostedti (Trybom), Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), and Hydatothrips aldolfifriderici (Karny) (all Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in order of decreasing abundance. The main thrips species on Irish potato and sunflower was F. schultzei. Baby corn hosted only Frankliniella williamsi (Hood) and Thrips pusillus (Bagnall). A monocrop of French bean hosted more thrips than a French bean intercrop mix. Thrips natural enemies such as Orius spp. and Ceranisus spp. were recorded in all crop plants but in especially high numbers on French bean and baby corn, respectively. Plots with French bean alone had about 1.4 times higher yields compared to intercropped plots of French bean with sunflower and French bean with baby corn. However, the percentage of pods that could get rejected on the market due to thrips damage was highest on plots with French bean alone (68 and 63%) and lowest on plots with French bean and baby corn (35 and 37%) in the first and second seasons, respectively. This study showed that a complex of thrips is found in the field and its composition varies with crop stage and species. Intercropping French bean with other crops compromises on French bean yield but reduces damage to the French bean pods, thereby enhancing marketable yield.

65. Weed biomass and weed species diversity of juvenile citrus trees intercrop with some arable crops.

• Authors:
  • Afolayan, S.
  • Olorunmaiye, P.
• Source: Notulae Scientia Biologicae
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 1
• Year: 2012
• Summary: A preliminary study was carried out to evaluate the performances of eight crops in the intercrop of citrus with arable crops at the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) Ibadan, Nigeria. Eight arable crops: maize, cucumber, sweet potato, Corchorus olitorius, large green, grain amaranth, Mucuna pruriens var. utilis, and groundnut were intercropped with young citrus trees in the early planting season of 2010 with sole citrus as control. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized block design with three replicates. Data were collected on weed flora, weed density and weed dry weight. Results showed that the relative frequencies of weeds in all the plots were less than 4% at both 6 and 9 WAP. Gomphrena celosoides, Oldenlandia corymbosa and Tridax procumbens were most preponderant in appearing in all the plots. Tridax procumbens had a consistent relative frequency (2.34%) in all the plots except in citrus/maize plot (0.78%) at 9 WAP. Significantly lower broadleaf weed densities were obtained in citrus/sweet potato, citrus/large green, control plot and citrus/cucumber (28.67, 45.00, 50.00 and 76.33 m -2 respectively) than in citrus/groundnut plot (143.00 m -2). Similarly, significantly lower grass weed densities were produced in citrus/ Mucuna and citrus/sweet potato (0.33 m -2 each) plots than the control plot (11.33 m -2). Whereas citrus/ Corchorus plot produced significantly lower broadleaf weed dry weight (37.59 g m -2) than citrus/ Mucuna plot (126.47 g m -2) at 3 WAP, citrus/large green plot (16.15 g m -2) and citrus/groundnut plot (123.25 g m -2) followed the same trend at 6 WAP. Sedges dry weights were less than 7 g m -2 in all the plots compared with control plot.

66. Tackling challenges to farmers' health and agro-ecosystem sustainability in highland Ecuador.

• Authors:
  • Cole, D.
  • Orozco, F.
• Source: Ecohealth research in practice: innovative applications of an ecosystem approach to health
• Year: 2012
• Summary: This chapter describes an agricultural project (Ecosalud II) in Ecuador that aims to tackle the complex drivers of inappropriate use of highly hazardous pesticides, with the long-term goal of greater agroecosystem sustainability, including better human health. The project is similar to Ecosalud I, apart from some modifications, including an expansion of the project to 3 provinces (Carchi, Chimborazo and Tungurahua,). Furthermore, in Ecosalud II, "potato platforms" were used as social spaces that encouraged diverse actors with different knowledge, experience and decision-making power to gather monthly to address issues related to potato farming. The participants included small-scale farmers, leaders of community organizations, technical staff of nongovernmental development organizations (NGOs), staff of various municipal governments, provincial government representatives and provincial university faculty members. Drivers that affected the livelihoods and health of farm families are as follows: cheap and readily available highly hazardous pesticides; farmers' lack of knowledge about handling pesticides and reducing their exposure in the field and at home; poor general awareness of the extent of health impacts among both NGO and government actors; and weak policy responses to promote alternative crop-management technologies and practices that favour the sustainability of agro-ecosystem and farmers' health. These issues are tackled based on knowledge production, capacity building and multi-stakeholder collaboration. Data show that the strategic communication and use of research results with farmers, key government officials, NGOs and other stakeholders was effective in fostering change in potato-production systems in the three provinces targeted by the project and helped make potato production a safer income-generating activity with less damage to farmers' health and their environment.

67. Effect of intercropping on nutrient uptake and quality parameter estimation in potato based intercropping system.

• Authors:
  • Jana, J.
  • Partha, C.
• Source: Crop Research (Hisar)
• Volume: 43
• Issue: 1/2/3
• Year: 2012
• Summary: A field experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm of UBKV during rabi seasons of 2008 and 2009 to assess the influence of intercropping on nutrient uptake and quality parameter estimation in potato. The treatments were:T 1-Sole potato (control), T 2-Sole mustard, T 3-Potato+mustard at 1:1 row ratio, T 4-Potato+mustard at 2:1 row ratio, T 5-Potato+mustard at 3:1 row ratio, T 6- Potato+mustard at 4:1 row ratio and T 7-Potato+mustard at 5:1 row ratio and were laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with four replications. The results showed that significantly maximum residual nitrogen per hectare was obtained in sole mustard plots (178.32 kg). Experimental results also revealed that among different treatment combinations, maximum phosphorus content of soil after harvesting was obtained from sole potato plots (30.09 kg/ha) closely followed by sole mustard plots (29.34 kg). Lowest phosphorus content of soil after harvesting was obtained from potato and mustard grown in 2:1 ratio plots (24.87 kg/ha). Maximum potassium content (159.93 kg/ha) in soil after harvesting of potato and mustard was recorded in sole mustard plots. No significant differences were found for quality parameters due to intercropping.

68. The influence of nitrogen on plant nutrient use by field crops.; Slapekla meslojuma normu ietekme uz baribas vielu izmantosanas raditajiem laukaugiem.

• Authors:
  • Vaivode, A.
  • Balodis, O.
  • Gaile, Z.
  • Kreita, D.
  • Malecka, S.
  • Skrabule, I.
  • Ruza, A.
  • Katamadze, M.
• Source: Zinatniski praktiskas konference, "Zinatne Latvijas Lauksaimniecibas Nakotnei: Partika, Lopbariba, Skiedra un Energija"
• Year: 2012
• Summary: In order to obtain significant data about the plant nutrient utilization from mineral fertilizers and maximum allowed dosages of fertilizers, a project, financed by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia, was started in the year 2008. The aim of the project was to determine the utilization indicators of mineral fertilization, mainly nitrogen fertilization, on different nitrogen fertilization application dosages, also the maximum limit of and economically substantiated nitrogen fertilization dosages in different regions of Latvia depending on the year under the variable meteorological conditions. Different important field crops were used within the project: winter rye, winter and spring wheat, winter and spring oilseed rape, spring barley and potatoes. Field trials were established in research stations in different regions of Latvia: at the Research and Study Farm 'Vecauce" of the Latvia University of Agriculture; at the Research and Study Farm 'Peterlauki' of the Latvia University of Agriculture; at State Stende Cereals Breeding Institute and State Priekuli Field Crops Breeding Institute. Plant nutrition nitrogen agronomic efficiency from mineral fertilizers changed depending on the nitrogen fertilizing norm and yield. The specific results were observed concerning the nitrogen and potassium utilization, also the result differed between crops.

69. Influence of intercropping on dynamics of insect pests, natural enemies and the damage of Ostrinia furnacalis in sweet corn field.

• Authors:
  • Lu, Y.
  • Zeng, L.
  • Liang, G.
  • Tian, Y.
• Source: Acta Phytophylacica Sinica
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 1
• Year: 2012
• Summary: In order to confirm the effect of pest control using intercropping with different crops, investigation was conducted to study the population dynamics of insect pests of maize and their natural enemies in the habitat of sweet corn monoculture or intercropping with other crops (mung bean, kidney bean, sweet potato or peanut) by the method of eyeballing. Damage by Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenee) between different habitats was also be analyzed and discussed. Results indicated that the amounts of two predator groups, spiders and ladybirds, increased in sweet corn intercropping habitats significantly. Individual number of spiders in the fields when sweet corn intercropped with mung bean and number of ladybirds in habitat of sweet corn intercropped with sweet potato were over 21% and 83% respectively more than that in sweet corn monoculture. The number of Trichogramma ostriniae Pang et Chen showed no significant difference between different habitats, with the parasitic rates of ACB eggs were over 86%. No significant differences was observed in number of ACB eggs, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) or Rhopalosiphum maidis Fitch between sweet corn monoculture and intercropping habitats. However, the ACB damage rate in sweet corn intercropping habitats was less than that in sweet corn monoculture at harvest, with the least in sweet corn intercropped with mung bean habitat, in which the number of holes and larvae was decreased by 55.72% and 76. 70% respectively. Study suggested that sweet corn intercropping with other crops could be beneficial to conservation of natural enemies and control of insect pests in some extents.

70. Controlled release fertilizer product effects on potato crop response and nitrous oxide emissions under rain-fed production on a medium-textured soil.

• Authors:
  • Burton, D. L.
  • Snowdon, E.
  • Zebarth, B. J.
  • Goyer, C.
  • Dowbenko, R.
• Source: CANADIAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE
• Volume: 92
• Issue: 5
• Year: 2012
• Summary: Controlled release fertilizers and split fertilizer N applications are expected to provide plant-available nitrogen (N) in synchrony with crop requirements, which should mitigate nitrous oxide (N 2O) emissions from agricultural soils. This study compared a polymer coated urea (PCU) controlled release N fertilizer (Environmentally Smart Nitrogen), split fertilizer N application and conventional fertilizer N management on the crop response and growing season N 2O emissions from rain-fed potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) production on a medium-textured soil in Atlantic Canada from 2008 to 2010. Fertilizer were applied at the recommended rate (193 kg N ha -1) and treatments included the PCU product banded at planting, conventional fertilizer in a split application (60% as diammonium phosphate plus ammonium nitrate at planting plus 40% as ammonium nitrate at final hilling), conventional fertilizer (diammonium phosphate plus ammonium nitrate) banded at planting, and an unfertilized control. Within each year, cumulative growing season N 2O emissions were closely related to soil nitrate availability as measured by nitrate exposure (sum of daily nitrate concentration in the surface soil). Split N application had no effect on crop response, and significantly reduced nitrate exposure, but did not reduce N 2O emissions. With the PCU, there was evidence of increased plant N availability and greater N 2O emissions. In situations where the risk of nitrate leaching is limited, substitution of a PCU product for conventional fertilizer at the same N application rate will not necessarily reduce growing season N 2O emissions and may in some cases increase the risk of N 2O emissions. Further research is required to determine if lowering N rates with PCU products will be effective agronomically and environmentally.