• Authors:
    • Yano, K.
    • Araki, H.
    • Sekiya, N.
  • Source: Plant and Soil
  • Volume: 341
  • Issue: 1/2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: When a plant encounters spatially heterogeneous soil moisture within its root system, usually drier surface and moister subsurface soils, water can move between these layers through the root system, a plant process known as hydraulic lift or redistribution. The water thus transferred is available not only for the plant itself but also for its neighbors. We examined application of this process as a possible biological irrigation tool. As 'donors', we used perennial forage plants with their shoots removed to minimize the effect of light-interception by them on the 'receiver' plants growing alongside them. In a horizontally split-root experiment, where an upper container was filled with sand and a lower one with water, superior donor species could maintain the upper sand in a fully hydrated condition for several weeks, increasing stomatal conductance in the receivers. The effects were also confirmed in a water-limited agricultural field, as significant differences were found in canopy temperature and yield in neighboring crop plants in the presence or absence of donor root systems. These results suggest that deep-rooting associate plants with their shoots removed function as an irrigation tool and improve crop production in water-scarce environments.
  • Authors:
    • Thankamani, C. K.
    • Ashokan, P. K.
  • Source: Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Sciences
  • Volume: 33
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: An investigation on effect of different drip irrigation levels on growth, yield, nutrient uptake and dry matter partitioning of bush pepper grown in coconut garden was carried out Six drip irrigation schedules were compared with daily pot irrigation at the rate of 10 l per plant (control). The treatment consists seven, drip irrigation 2 liters per day (October-May), drip irrigation 4 liters per day (October-May), drip irrigation 8 liters per day (October-May), drip irrigation 12 liters per day (October-May), drip irrigation 16 liters per day (October-May), drip irrigation 16 liters per day (October-March) and control. Among the treatments highest yield was recorded by the treatment drip irrigation 8 liters per day (October-May). The total yield and dry matter production was lesser at lower levels of drip irrigation. Dry weight of stem, leaves and total dry matter production were higher for the treatments drip 8, 12,16 l/plant from October-May compared to pot irrigation. Uptake of nutrients were significantly influenced by drip irrigation levels and maximum uptake was recorded by the treatment drip irrigation 8 l/day followed by the treatment 161 drip (October-May).
  • Authors:
    • Vinnichek, L.
    • Ivanov, A.
  • Source: Mezhdunarodnyi Sel'skokhozyaistvennyi Zhurnal
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: In Russia's Penza Oblast', cereal grain crops account for 58.1% of receipts from crop sales, sugarbeets account for 26.9%, and oil bearing crops 5.8%. Penza Oblast' can be divided into four different zones, each of which is characterized by different patterns of crop production. These zones are: (1) Vadinskii-Mokshanskii, comprising 12 raiony (administrative districts) in the Central and North Western parts of the oblast'; (2) Belinskii-Serdobskii, comprising seven raiony in the South and South West of the oblast'; (3) Nikol'skii-Gorodishchenskii, comprising three raiony in the North East of the oblast'; and (4) Kuznetskii-Lopatinskii, comprising five raiony in the South East and East of the oblast'. Zone (1) is characterized by average productivity soils, and includes 48.8% of the total land area used for cereal grain production in the oblast', 50.6% of land used for sugarbeet production, and 23.6% of land used for sunflower cultivation. Zone (2) has the highest productivity soils in the oblast', and accounts for 35.0% of the total land area used for cereal grain production in the oblast' and 49.4% of land used for sugarbeet cultivation in the oblast'. The fertility of most soils in zone (3) is poor, resulting in low productivity. Zone (3) accounts for just 4.0% of the total land area used for cereal grain production in the oblast', and technical crop production in this zone is almost nonexistent. Zone (4) accounts for 12.1% of the total land area used for cereal grain production in the oblast' and 31.5% of land used for sunflower cultivation. Sugarbeets are not grown in zone (4) because of the distance from sugar refineries. The zones in which crop production is most profitable are zones (1) and (2), which are also characterized by the highest degree of diversification. Overall, the most economically efficient crop types produced in the Oblast' are potatoes and sunflowers. Recommendations for the future development of different types of crop production in have been formulated on the basis of analysis of natural and economic factors existing in different parts of the oblast'. The recommendations relate to the cultivation of different cereal grain crops (including winter and summer wheat, barley, buckwheat, maize, rye and oats), legume crops (peas and lentils), sugarbeets, oil bearing crops (sunflowers, rape and camelina), potatoes, and other vegetables in the four different zones.
  • Authors:
    • Elazegui, D. D.
    • Chupungco, A. R.
    • Nguyen, M. R.
  • Source: Philippine Journal of Crop Science
  • Volume: 36
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: This study discusses the seed system, production and marketing of eggplant, Solanum melongena L., considered as one of the most important vegetable crops in the Philippines. Data analyzed were obtained from focus group discussions in major eggplant producing provinces of Pangasinan, Batangas and Quezon; key informant interviews with representatives of government agencies and seed companies, and traders; and secondary sources such as government reports and other publications. The eggplant seed system is generally organized, involving public and private sectors. There are different varieties available in the market but seed developers do not opt for seed registration nor plant variety protection because of the rigorous process involved. Instead, seed companies adopt well-established seed production and quality control strategies and vigorous marketing and promotion to improve sales. Commercial growers of eggplant adopt hybrid seeds, while open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) are mainly used for small-scale production. Between 2000 and 2009, eggplant production increased by 21% despite a relatively lower increase (6%) in area planted. Average yield ranged 8-10 mt ha -1. Eggplant production is profitable, but major problems include fruit and shoot borer (FSB) infestation, bacterial wilt, irrigation supply and climate-related problems. Production involves intensive use of pesticides, bearing some implications on human health and environment. This should call the attention of Local Government Units which are in the forefront of providing extension services. Moreover, research and development should continuously receive adequate support to address these concerns. Research and development thrusts could include varietal improvement of eggplant and alternative pest control strategies such as integrated pest management (IPM) technology and intercropping. The current effort on R & D of Bt eggplant addresses the problem of FSB and heavy dependence of farmers on pesticides. With the stringent regulatory system of the Philippines on the commercial propagation of GM crops, adverse impact on human health and environment will be curtailed.
  • Authors:
    • Leifert, C.
    • Critchley, C. N. R.
    • Eyre, M. D.
    • Wilcockson, S. J.
  • Source: European Journal of Agronomy
  • Volume: 34
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: A survey of 128 plots, in 2008, of a trial where the effects of crop protection can be separated from those of fertility management, generated weed cover data within six crops (winter wheat, winter barley, spring barley, potatoes, cabbages and a grass/clover ley). The effects of the 2008 crop types, of the two preceding crops and of organic and conventional crop protection and fertility management, were assessed using mixed-effects models and constrained ordination. Cover data for 22 weed species and for monocotyledon, dicotyledon, annual, perennial and total weed cover were used. Cover of 15 weed species, and of the five weed groups, was significantly affected by 2008 crops, with cover highest in spring beans and cabbage. Nine and four weed species 2008 cover were significantly related to crops grown in 2007 and 2006 respectively, as were dicotyledon, annual and total weed cover, but not monocotyledon or perennial cover. Cover of 15 species, and the five groups, was significantly higher in plots with organic crop protection, but only eight species and annuals were significantly affected by fertility management. Crop:crop protection produced the most significant interactions with most cover in organically managed plots. Five species, perennials and total weed cover produced significant three-factor models. The greatest weed cover was in organic crop protected but conventionally fertilised spring barley and the least in totally conventional winter barley. Other factors such as crop density and mechanical weeding also affected 2008 weed cover. The ordination indicated that most of the 22 species were strongly associated with crops from all three years. The sequence of crops in the rotation had a profound effect on weed cover. Where three spring-sown, difficult to weed, crops were grown in sequence (spring beans, potatoes and vegetables, spring barley) weed cover increased. However, cover was limited in grass/clover and some cereal plots with different preceding crops. Models predicting weed cover may need to take into account crop sequences within crop rotations, as well as the more usual management inputs. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
  • Authors:
    • Muthukrishnan, P.
    • Fanish, S. A.
  • Source: Madras Agricultural Journal
  • Volume: 98
  • Issue: 10/12
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Field experiments were conducted at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, during kharif 2008 and 2009 to study the effect of different fertigation levels and intercrops in intensive maize based intercropping system. The experiment was laid out in strip plot design with three replications. The experiment comprised of nine fertigation levels in main plot, viz M 1, Surface irrigation with soil application of 100% RDF; M 2, Drip irrigation with soil application of 100% RDF; M 3, Drip fertigation of 75% RDF; M 4, Drip fertigation of 100% RDF; M 5, Drip fertigation of 125% RDF; M 6, Drip fertigation of 150% RDF; M 7, Drip fertigation of 50% RDF (50% P and K as Water Soluble Fertilizer (WSF)); M8, Drip fertigation of 75% RDF (50% P and K as WSF); M 9, Drip fertigation of 100% RDF (50% P and K as WSF) and four intercrops in sub plot viz, S 1, Vegetable coriander; S 2, Radish; S 3, Beet root; S 4, Onion. Drip fertigation at 100 per cent RDF with 50 per cent P and K as WSF in maize+radish intercropping system recorded a higher gross income of Rs. 83438/ha whereas, higher net return and benefit cost ratio of Rs. 56858 and 3.24, respectively, were recorded by drip fertigation at 150 per cent RDF with radish as intercrop system.
  • Authors:
    • Gill, B. S.
    • Singh, D.
    • Singh, G.
    • Salaria, A.
  • Source: Indian Journal of Arecanut Spices and Medicinal Plants
  • Volume: 13
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: This paper briefly discusses the agronomic requirements of onion-mint (Mentha arvensis, M. piperita, M. spicata and M. citrata [M. piperita var. citrata]) intercropping systems in India (mainly in semi-temperate regions of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Bihar). Optimum cultivation conditions in terms of climate and soil type, field preparation, sowing rate and seed treatment, planting date and method, fertilizer application, irrigation, weed control (cultural and chemical methods) and harvesting are presented.
  • Authors:
    • Gupta, U. S.
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: This volume looks at the use of crops for a myriad of purposes, including the prevention and/or mitigation of various diseases, vaccine and antigen production, biofuel production, and the the suppression of weeds. It explores new emnphasis on medicinal properties of crops and examines the use of genetic engineering in crop production. The crops discussed include: rice, wheat, barley, oat, rye, maize, sorghum, potato, sweet potato, cassava, Phaseolus beans, Vigna sp., broad bean, chickpea, tomato, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, bitter gourd, pumpkin, spinach, onion, soyabean, groundnut, oilseed Brassica, sunflower, sugarcane, cotton, and tobacco.
  • Authors:
    • Sungur, S.
    • Sangün, M. K.
  • Source: Food Chemistry
  • Volume: 126
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Recently, the exposure to perchlorate was emphasised as an important risk factor for human and especially newborn health. A number of studies were focused on this matter. In this study, samples of soil, vegetable (cabbage, spinach, lettuce, carrot, tomato, red cabbage), fruit (orange, mandarin, lemon, grapefruit), water, milk and fish were taken from 8 different regions of Hatay (Samandag, Krkhan, Reyhanl, Amik Plain, Dortyol, Yayladag, Altnozu, Erzin). An ion chromatography system (Shimadzu C196-E039A model) was used to determine the concentrations of perchlorate in the samples. 2.5 mM Phthalic acid and 2.4 mM tris (hydroxymethyl)aminomethane solutions (pH=4) were used as the mobile phase. A flow rate of 1.5 ml min -1 and oven temperature of 40°C were used during the analysis. The foods had perchlorate concentrations in the range of 0.236-1.218 g kg -1. The perchlorate concentration varied from 0.300.01 to 0.940.02 g l -1 in milk samples. Perchlorate concentrations were determined to be lower in the drinking waters (0.440.03 g l -1) compared to irrigation waters (0.590.03 g l -1). Perchlorate concentrations of the fish samples were ranged from 0.380.01 to 0.610.01 g kg -1.
  • Authors:
    • Nwanguma, E. I.
    • Adebayo, O. S.
  • Source: Acta Horticulturae
  • Issue: 917
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: A statewide survey of commercial irrigated pepper fields was conducted in Katsina, Nigeria to gain information on the incidence of diseases with wilt symptoms, their causative organisms, and the existing pepper production systems. Eighty fields were surveyed at different growth stages of pepper plants. Diseased plants with wilt symptoms occurred in all fields. The percentage wilt incidence in each field ranged from 50 to 100%. Field diagnosis, along with laboratory assays of wilted plants, revealed that the wilting was caused by Ralstonia solanacearum and Phytophthora capsici. The two pathogens were found in 88% of the fields and occurred together in 12% of the fields. Interviews conducted to assess farmers' practices, which contribute to pathogen damage, showed that successive planting of susceptible crops without land rotation may have contributed to the build up of the soil populations of the pathogens. The mode of irrigation also contributed to the pathogen control failures. Intercropping pepper with crops such as tomato ( Lycopersicum esculentum) and Solanum species did not reduce disease incidence in some areas. Results indicate the necessity for the adoption of integrated pest management strategies in pepper production in Katsina State, Nigeria.