- Authors:
- Ferrari, S.
- Picoli, P.
- Lazarini, E.
- Barbosa, C.
- Source: Cientifica (Jaboticabal)
- Volume: 39
- Issue: 1/2
- Year: 2011
- Summary: The objective of this study was to evaluate the straw effect of four cover crops [grain sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), sun hemp ( Crotalaria juncea L.), pearl millet ( Penisetum americanum L.), and brachiaria ( Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu)] sown at two different times and a fallow area and its effects on soybean cultivated in succession in a no tillage system. The study was carried out from march/08 to april/09 in the experimental farm of the College of Engineering, a unit of the Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), located in Selviria, a county of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, (51degrees22′W and 20degrees22′S, with 335 m altitude), Brazil, in an Oxisol. The treatments consisted in the sowing of the four cover crops on March 27 and April 23 of 2008 and in the use of a fallow area. The experiment was set in the field according to a randomized complete block design with eight repetitions. Forage crops (sunhemp and B. brizantha) sown in two seasons do not change the soybean yield. Soybean yield on sorghum and millet sown in March was higher than that observed for the same crops sown in April. The grasses used are shown as a viable option for the production of dry matter for soybean sown in March.
- Authors:
- Silue, D.
- Barra, A.
- Guei, R.
- Source: International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability
- Volume: 9
- Issue: 1
- Year: 2011
- Summary: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) conducted two projects in Cameroon on strengthening rice, and sorghum, maize and millet seed production by smallholder seed enterprises (SSEs). Farmer groups (respectively, 25 SSEs and 114 SSEs) were formed or strengthened and trained. Sixty-six selected lead farmers were trained on the administering and managing of revolving funds. The groups were then linked to the Extension Service (for continuous technical advice), Agriculture Research for Development Institution (continuous supply of needed seed), National Seed Service (seed certification) and to financial institutions (financial support). The results obtained showed that 60 and 59.6 per cent, respectively, of the groups sustained their activities two to three years after the projects ended. Total certified rice seed produced increased to 800 tonnes (t) against 267t at the beginning. For the other cereal project, the total certified seed produced was 719.2t against 497t at its beginning. The use of quality seed rice together with good agronomic practices increased yields (up to 8.0t/ha against a scant 2t/ha before). All interviewed farmers stressed that the seed business was profitable and helped achieve higher living standards and diversify their activities. Seasonal incomes were more than US$1,783.31. Finally, both FAO projects helped generate farmers' income to about US$2,114.871, produced 447,954t of cereal grain and thus improved food security and alleviated poverty. The Cameroonian success could be repeated elsewhere.
- Authors:
- Silva Junior, A.
- Alves, M.
- Muraishi, C.
- Souza, Z.
- Source: ACTA SCIENTIARUM-AGRONOMY
- Volume: 33
- Issue: 3
- Year: 2011
- Summary: This study was conducted at the Experimental Station belonging to UNESP Engineering University, Ilha Solteira Campus, based in Selviria, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, with the aim of evaluating chemical alterations in an Oxisol after being managed for two years with organic and/or chemical fertilization and different tillage systems during the agricultural years of 2004/2005 and 2005/2006. The treatments were: conventional-tillage; chisel tillage and no-tillage; the fertilization treatments were: control (no fertilization); chemical fertilization (300 kg ha -1 from the 20-00-20); organic fertilization (cattle manure - 20 Mg ha -1); organic+1/2 the recommended chemical fertilization for the used crop; 20 and 30 Mg ha -1 of sewage sludge. Soybean was used in the first year and sorghum in the next year, evaluating the soil chemical attributes in four layers. The soil chemical attributes were changed in the first year; the organic fertilization, sewage sludge and organic+chemical fertilization were efficient to change the chemical attributes; the sewage sludge was more efficient in soil P recuperation and, the no-tillage system contributed to soil K increase.
- Authors:
- Bergamaschine, A.
- Ulian, N.
- Araujo, F.
- Andreotti, M.
- Azenha, M.
- Pariz, C.
- Source: PESQUISA AGROPECUARIA BRASILEIRA
- Volume: 46
- Issue: 10
- Year: 2011
- Summary: The objective of this work was to evaluate the dry matter yield and chemical composition of forage in crop-livestock integration, according to different sowing dates. A randomized experimental block design in a 4*3 factorial scheme was used, with four forage plants (palisadegrass, Urochloa brizantha; fox millet, Setaria italica; pearl millet, Pennisetum glaucum; and sorghum, Sorghum bicolor) sowed on three dates, in two season (winter/spring and summer/autumn), in succession to soybean. The pearl millet and sorghum produced the highest amount of dry matter in all sowing dates, at both growing seasons and, contrary to palisadegrass and fox millet, it did not reduce the amount of total digestible nutrients. Crude protein levels decreased with the advancement of sowing dates in winter/spring and increased in summer/autumn, except for palisadegrass and pearl millet. Sorghum showed the lowest concentrations of neutral detergent fiber in the second and third sowing dates in winter/spring, and in the first sowing date in summer/autumn. In the second and third sowing dates in winter/spring, sorghum showed the lowest content of acid detergent fiber. In relation to the cell wall components, only the hemicellulose contents did not change in the forages due to sowing dates, at both seasons.
- Authors:
- Brye, K.
- Smith, A.
- Fortin, C.
- Nalley, L.
- Popp, M.
- Source: Agronomy Journal
- Volume: 103
- Issue: 4
- Year: 2011
- Summary: In this study, we developed a technique for estimating soil C sequestration from crop production with detailed spatial differences in production practices, tillage effects, and soil textures often overlooked when modeling state-level implications of climate change policies. The model also tracks C equivalent (CE) emissions from fertilizer, fuel, and agricultural chemical use. Using Arkansas as an example, a model that maximizes crop returns to producers in conjunction with C offset payments allowed estimation of probable changes in county-level cropping patterns and income as a result of varying C prices. While income ramifications of a C-offset climate change policy are positive, significant uncertainty about resultant greenhouse gas (GHG) effects are demonstrated. Crops included were corn ( Zea mays L.), cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.), grain sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.], rice ( Oryza sativa L.) and wheat ( Triticum spp.). As a result of this detailed analysis, two caveats are that (i) policy recommendations hinge on a baseline scenario that would change with changes in input and output price levels, with these interactions not modeled within, and (ii) monitoring costs of a C-offset market could be significant.
- Authors:
- Amarante, I.
- Machado, J.
- Fontaneli, R.
- Santos, H.
- Source: Pesquisa Agropecuaria Gaucha
- Volume: 17
- Issue: 1
- Year: 2011
- Summary: The effects of soil management systems and crop rotation on sorghum yield characteristics agronomic were evaluated during the period 2003/04 to 2010/11 at EmbrapaTrigo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil. Four soil management systems: (1) no tillage, (2) minimum tillage, conventional tillage using a disk plow and a disk harrow, and (4) conventional using a moldboard and a disk harrow; and three crop rotation system I (wheat/soybean), system II (wheat/soybean and common vetch/sorghum), and system III (wheat/soybean, white oats/soybean and common vetch/sorghum) were compared. An experimental design of blocks at random, with split-plots and three replications, was used. The main plot was formed by the soil management systems, while the split-plot constituted of the crop rotation systems. Minimum tillage and no-tillage presented higher yield of sorghum, while conventional tillage using a moldboard plow remained in intermediate position and tillage using disk plow the lowest yield of sorghum. The yield of sorghum grown after common vetch in system II was higher than yield obtained for sorghum after common vetch in system I. No significant differences were observed in sorghum characteristics agronomic as a result of soil management and crop rotation systems.
- Authors:
- Source: Revista Brasileira de Milho e Sorgo
- Volume: 10
- Issue: 2
- Year: 2011
- Summary: Pest species that are enhanced by cover crops used in no-tillage farming can cause damages to subsequent crops of economic importance planted into cover crops stubble. In the 2006/2007 growing season, in Dourados, MS, Brazil, a study was carried out to assess the arthropod fauna in three soybean no-tillage systems: unseeded vegetation-soybean, pearl millet-soybean and sorghum-soybean. During the soybean pre-planting season and the early soybean season, the incidence of pests and natural enemies was assessed in 1 m 2 of the cover crops and later on their respective stubble with soybean seedlings in development using a wood made frame square ("wood square" sampling method). The most abundant species at the soybean pre-planting season were caterpillars of Mythimna ( Pseudaletia) sequax and Mocis latipes (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and adults and nymphs of the predator Doru luteipes (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), showing a significant population increase on the pearl millet green cover crop. After the cover crops desiccation the incidence of Lagria villosa (Coleoptera: Lagriidae) species was significant on sorghum and pearl millet stubble and the genus Agrotis sp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on sorghum cover. Thus, the bioecology of pests and natural enemies associated with pearl millet as cover crop might be considered on the development of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs in conservation farming systems.
- Authors:
- Klein, V.
- Denardin, J.
- Escosteguy, P.
- Spera, S.
- Santos, H.
- Source: Revista Agrarian
- Volume: 4
- Issue: 14
- Year: 2011
- Summary: The goal of the work was to evaluate the effects of soil tillage and crop rotation systems in the restrictive chemical attributes and plant production of grain crops of two layers of soil. The experiment was carried out in Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil, after more than two decades without limestone application. The design was randomized blocks, schedule of split plots, with three modes of soil tillage and crop rotations. It was evaluated the effect on grain yield and dry matter of the shoot of winter ( Triticum aestivum, Avena sativa and Vicia sativa) and summer ( Glycine max and Sorghum bicolor) crops. The effect of these factors in soil chemical attributes has also been evaluated according to the layer of soil (0 to 6.7 and 6.8 to 20 cm). The effects of soil tillage and crop rotation influenced the grain yields of crops of wheat and sorghum only, in addition to the mass of the shoots of soybean crop. Chemical soil attributes were not influenced by the interaction of factors studied, being little influenced by crop rotation. In all treatments, the results indicated a surface layer (0 to 6.7 cm) with a nutrient concentration, and other subsurface (6.8 to 20 cm) compacted and acid. In the surface layer the values of chemicals attributes were appropriated for the developing cropping evaluated. There were no differences between the amounts of organic matter and the particulate fraction. In the layer subsurface, in all treatments, the attributes of the soil acidity were restrictive to plant development.
- Authors:
- Denardin, J.
- Klein, V.
- Escosteguy, P.
- Spera, S.
- Santos, H.
- Source: Revista Agrarian
- Volume: 4
- Issue: 14
- Year: 2011
- Summary: The objective of this paper was to evaluate the effects of different soil tillage and crop rotation systems in the restrictive physical attributes and plant production of grain crops of two layers of soil. The experiment was carried out in Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil, a dystrophic Red Latosol, after more than two decades without application of limestone. Treatments tested were three soil tillage and three crop rotations, to assess the effect on grain yield and dry mass of shoots of crops. The effect of these treatments on the soil physical attributes (soil bulk density, soil porosities, natural clay, soil mechanical resistance and saturated soil hydraulic conductibility) was also measured by the soil layers analyzed. The interaction between management of soil and crop rotation influenced the yield of grain crops of wheat and sorghum, in addition to the mass of air part and soybean crop. Soil physical attributes were not influenced by the interaction of factors studied, being little influenced by crop rotation. In all treatments, physical attributes results indicated a layer (0 to 6.7 cm) not compacted and another (6.8 to 20 cm) compacted. In the 0 to 6.7 cm layer, the differences of physical attributes were not important between the treatments. In the compacted layer, the notill has zero value for least limiting water range thus being considered restrictive to the development of plants.
- Authors:
- Arvadia, M.
- Patil, P.
- Surve, V.
- Source: Madras Agricultural Journal
- Volume: 98
- Issue: 10/12
- Year: 2011
- Summary: Field experiment was conducted during summer 2007 at Navsari campus on clay in textured soils with different cereal-legume fodders under sole and intercropping systems for getting higher fodder yield and economics. Green and dry fodder yields of sorghum/maize, cropping systems either sole sorghum or sorghum+cowpea in the ratio of 2:1 were equally good and superior to rest of the systems. The intercropping of sorghum with cowpea in a row ratio of 2:1 recorded maximum land-equivalent ratio (1.51), gross (Rs 60744/-ha -1) and net (Rs 50031/-ha -1) return along with higher benefit: cost ratio (5.67).
