- Authors:
- Source: Technology of functional cereal products
- Year: 2008
- Summary: This chapter focuses on the association between the ingestion of gluten and an immune-mediated enteropathy known as coeliac disease. Other topics covered include: difficulties in producing gluten-free breads; ingredients suitable for gluten-free bread production (pseudocereals, sorghum, oats, rice, corn, tef, dietary fibre); and improving the quality of gluten-free bread.
- Authors:
- Cargnin, R.
- Inomoto, M.
- Asmus, G.
- Source: Tropical Plant Pathology
- Volume: 33
- Issue: 2
- Year: 2008
- Summary: Two greenhouse and one field experiment were carried out to evaluate the reaction of cover crops to reniform nematode, Rotylenchulus reniformis, and their effect on nematode populations in a naturally infested soil (2,359 nematodes/200 cm 3) and on cotton yield. Oil radish ( Raphanus sativus), Mulato grass ( Brachiaria ruziziensis * B. brizantha), forage sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor), tef ( Eragrostis tef), foxtail millet ( Setaria italica), Algerian ( Avena byzantina) and black ( A. strigosa) oats, pearl millet ( Pennisetum glaucum), and finger millet ( Eleusine coracana) were determined to be poor hosts for R. reniformis in greenhouse experiments. Grain amaranth ( Amaranthus cruentus) and quinoa ( Chenopodium quinoa) were good hosts to R. reniformis. In the field, lower nematode densities were observed after Mulato grass, oil radish and forage sorghum. Higher cotton fiber yields were obtained from plots cultivated with Mulato grass or sorghum during the winter compared to clean fallow. Cotton yield was inversely correlated with both reproduction factor (p
- Authors:
- 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:
- 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:
- Source: REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIA DO SOLO
- Volume: 32
- Issue: 4
- Year: 2008
- Summary: A study with eight cover crops types was developed: pearl millet ( Pennisetum americanum [ Pennisetum glaucum] syn. tiphoydes), brachiaria grass ( Brachiaria brizantha [ Urochloa brizantha]), sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor), pigeonpea ( Cajanus cajan), sunn hemp ( Crotalarea juncea) and black oat ( Avena strigosa [ Avena nuda]), fallow land and conventional culture (control) in the experimental area of CEFET-Uberaba-MG, in a cerrado area to evaluate K accumulation and release. The dry mass production, crop residue decomposition in litter bags and K release were evaluated. A mathematical model was used to describe residue decomposition and K release, which calculates the decomposition constant (k) and half-time life. Pearl millet, sorghum and the sunn hemp were the cover crops that produced most dry matter while K accumulation was highest in the grasses. K release was highest in pearl millet, oats, brachiaria grass and sunn hemp in the first 42 days after handling. Brachiaria grass had the shortest half-time life and the highest K release rate.
- Authors:
- Fabian, A.
- Pereira, M.
- Torres, J.
- Source: PESQUISA AGROPECUARIA BRASILEIRA
- Volume: 43
- Issue: 3
- Year: 2008
- Summary: This study investigated dry biomass production, decomposition rate and macronutrients release (N, P, Ca, Mg and S) of cover crops cultural residues, in a no-till savanna soil in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The cover crops tested were: pearl millet ( Pennisetum americanum syn. typhoides), brachiaria grass ( Brachiaria brizantha [Urochloa brizantha] cv. Marandu), sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor), pigeon pea ( Cajanus cajan), sunn hemp ( Crotalaria juncea) and black oat ( Avena nuda), compared to a fallow plot (control). The experiment was carried out in an Oxisol, medium texture. A randomized block design, in a split-plot array in time, with four replications, was used. Dry biomass production was evaluated 110 days after sowing. Decomposition rate was evaluated by litter bags containing cultural residues. Millet and sunn hemp were the cover crops (grass and legume) with the highest dry biomass production and N accumulation, in the two evaluation periods. The highest decomposition rate and nutrient release occurred at 42 days after desiccation. The highest values of half life were observed in dry period.
- Authors:
- Mamo, M.
- Drijber, R.
- Quincke, J.
- Wortmann, C.
- Franti, T.
- Source: Agronomy Journal
- Volume: 100
- Issue: 6
- Year: 2008
- Summary: Continuous no-till (NT) results in soil improvements, primarily in the surface 5 cm of soil. One-time tillage may improve NT systems by inverting surface soil with less improved deeper soil. Research was conducted to determine the change in abundance of soil microbial groups after a one-time tillage of NT and their recovery dynamics. Experiments were conducted under rainfed corn ( Zea mays L.) or sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] rotated with soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in eastern Nebraska with one-time moldboard plow (MP) and mini-moldboard plow (mini-MP) tillage compared with continuous NT. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiles were used as biomarkers of soil microbial groups. The biomass of microbial groups within the soil profile was affected by tillage treatment, soil depth, and time after one-time tillage. Soil microbial biomass under NT was greatest at the 0- to 5-cm depth with 50% less in the 5- to 20-cm depth, and least in the 20- to 30-cm depth. Microbial group biomass was decreased by one-time MP tillage, and generally by mini-MP tillage, compared with NT. On an equivalent soil mass basis, the quantity of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) biomarker C16:1(c11) in the second year after tillage was 22% less for tilled treatments compared with NT. In contrast, the fungal biomarker C18:2(c9,12) was 6% more in the second year after tillage for tilled compared with NT. Tillage affected biomass and recovery of microbial groups differently, with all except AM returning to the NT microbial biomass levels within 1 to 3 yr.
- Authors:
- Hilbert, J.
- Huerga, I.
- Donato, L.
- Source: Central theme, technology for all: sharing the knowledge for development. Proceedings of the International Conference of Agricultural Engineering, XXXVII Brazilian Congress of Agricultural Engineering, International Livestock Environment Symposium - ILES V
- Year: 2008
- Summary: The present study is focus on the final energy balance of bioenergy production in Argentina using soybean, sunflower, rapeseed, corn and sorghum as feedstocks. The balance considers the difference between the energy contained per unit and the amount used for its generation in all the different steps from sowing to final destination. For direct energy consumption costomaq software was employed using local fuel consumption forecast for each field labor. Particular attention is paid to the energy consumption in the agricultural steps considering the distinctive no till system spread out in Argentina that has a very low energy input. Direct and indirect energy were considered in the different steps of bioethanol and biodiesel generation. Industrial conversion consumption was based on international literature data. Comparisons were made between tilled and no till practices and considering or not the energy contained in co products. Results indicate a balance ranging from 0.96 to 1.54 not considering the co products. If co products were introduced the balances ranged between 1.09 and 4.67.
- Authors:
- Source: Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
- Volume: 32
- Year: 2008
- Summary: Public interest and awareness of the need for improving nutrient use efficiency is great, but nutrient use efficiency is easily
misunderstood. Four indices of nutrient use efficiency are reviewed and an example of different applications of the terminology show
that the same data set might be used to calculate a fertilizer N efficiency of 21% or 100%. Fertilizer N recovery efficiencies from
researcher managed experiments for major grain crops range from 46% to 65%, compared to on-farm N recovery efficiencies of
20% to 40%. Fertilizer use efficiency can be optimized by fertilizer best management practices that apply nutrients at the right rate,
time, and place. The highest nutrient use efficiency always occurs at the lower parts of the yield response curve, where fertilizer
inputs are lowest, but effectiveness of fertilizers in increasing crop yields and optimizing farmer profitability should not be sacrificed
for the sake of efficiency alone. There must be a balance between optimal nutrient use efficiency and optimal crop productivity.
