Energy Input and Output Analysis of four Field Crops in California1

Four crops, corn (Zea mays L.), sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) were grown in irrigated plots at the experimental farm of the University of California, Davis, in 1980 and 1981. Six fertilizer N levels ranging from 0 to 280 kg ha^?1 were used to estimate the most efficient N input for each of the tested crop in terms of energy input and output analysis. Calculations of cultural energy input costs in relation to potential ethanol yield showed production requirements of: corn 30.9 GJ ha^?1, sweet sorghum 30.4 GJ ha^?1, fodder beet 49.4 GJ ha^?1 and sugarbeet 41.0 GJ ha^?1. Highest average energy inputs were for liquid fuels for operations 35%, irrigation 23% and fertilizer nitrogen 19%. Fodder beet had the highest fermentable carbohydrate yield at 13.05 Mg ha^?1 followed by sugarbeet at 11.5 Mg ha^?1. Sweet sorghum and corn yields were lower at 9.71 and 8.09 Mg ha^?1, respectively. Crop production inputs of energy per liter of potential ethanol were: corn 6.42 MJL^?1 sweet sorghum 5.25 MJL^?1, fodder beet 6.35 MJL^?1 and sugarbeet 5.95 MJL^?1.     

酿造高粱肥料高效利用研究

为了探讨本栽培区域 N、 P、 K肥对酿造高粱产量的影响, 寻求获得高产的 N、 P、 K肥配方, 本试验采用 “3414” 设计方案, 以 ‘晋杂 23号’ 为试验品种, 在山西省农科院经济作物研究所试验田研究了不同N、 P、 K肥配方对试验品种农艺性状及产量的影响。结果表明： 不同施肥处理高粱农艺性状、 穗粒重、 千粒重都高于对照(N₀P₀K₀), 但方差分析表明差异不显著; 在一定的肥力基础上, 增加肥料投入比不施肥可获得较高产量; 施用氮肥和磷肥对于提高籽粒产量具有显著的作用, 但随着氮肥施用量的增加, 高粱籽粒产量显著降低; 在本试验条件下, 以 N 施用量为 96 kg/hm², P₂O₅施用量为 76 kg/hm², K₂O 施用量为60 kg/hm²是高粱获得高产量、 低成本、 高收益的合理配方。     

水肥一体化条件下不同灌水量对甜菜产质量的影响

通过对甜菜在苗期、叶丛繁茂期、块根糖分增长期和糖分积累期的生理所需进行控水灌溉,研究不同灌水量对甜菜产质量的影响,确定少水、多糖、高产的最佳灌水方案,为甜菜节水灌溉提供理论依据,指导甜菜生产科学灌溉。试验设置3312.75、4005.30、4697.85、5390.40、6082.95、6775.50 m³/hm²等6个灌水梯度,在苗期、叶丛繁茂期、块根糖分增长期和糖分积累期分别按各生长期需水比例灌入不同水量,收获时测定甜菜含糖率、产量和产糖量,分析水分利用效率(WUE)和灌溉水分利用效率(IWUE)。结果表明,灌水量对甜菜含糖率、产量和产糖量影响明显,全生育期灌水量为3312.80 m³/hm²时甜菜的产质量处于较低水平,随着灌水量的逐渐增加,甜菜的含糖率、产量和产糖量呈现上升趋势,全生育期灌水量为4697.90 m³/hm²时甜菜的含糖率、块根产量和产糖量均为最高,但当灌水量高于4697.90 m³/hm²时甜菜的含糖率、块根产量和产糖量开始下降,在灌水量为6775.55 m³/hm²时,甜菜的含糖率、块根产量和产糖量均为最低。因此在新疆石河子地区甜菜全生育期灌水7次时,总灌水量在4697.90 m³/hm²,可以使甜菜含糖率、产量和产糖量达到最佳。     

长期施用不同剂量氮肥对高粱产量、氮素利用特性和土壤硝态氮含量的影响

To determine a suitable nitrogen fertilizer application rate, an experiment was conducted using Jinza 34, Liaoza 27, Jinsi 2, Jinnuo 3, and Fenjiuliang 1 with six nitrogen (N) fertilization levels, including 0 (N0), 75 (N75), 150 (N150), 225 (N225), 300 (N300), and 450 kg hm^-2 (N450). The effects of long-term nitrogen fertilization with different levels on sorghum grain yield, nitrogen use characteristics and soil nitrate nitrogen distribution were investigated. The grain yield, grain number and N accumulation of sorghum increased initially and then tended to be stabile with the increase of nitrogen fertilizer application. Among them, the maximum increase of sorghum under N75 treatment compared with that under N0 treatment was 23.68%, 48.05%, and 51.86%, respectively. With the increase of nitrogen fertilizer application, the grain starch content decreased, while the grain starch yield increased firstly and then decreased. Nitrogen apparent recovery rate, nitrogen fertilizer agronomic efficiency and nitrogen use efficiency which were accumulated for five years were reduced significantly with the increase of nitrogen fertilizer application. Compared with the N150 treatment, nitrogen use efficiency accumulated for five years under N75 treatment, which was 63.01%, was increased by 76.91%. When nitrogen fertilizer application was beyond 225 kg hm^-2, after four to five years later, nitrate nitrogen residue was increased rapidly in the 60-200 cm soil layer year by year, NO₃^--N accumulation peaks distributed in the 0-200 cm soil layer and the risk of nitrate nitrogen leaching was increased. In view of the yield, starch yield, nitrogen utilization and environmental benefit, the reasonable nitrogen fertilizer application for sorghum was between 75 kg hm^-2 and 150 kg hm^-2.     

Effect of Integration of Fertilizer and Green Manure Nitrogen on Yield Attributes, Nitrogen Uptake and Yield of Lowland Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Field experiments were conducted at Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai, India, during the wet seasons of 1992 and 1993 to study the effect of full and partial substitution of fertiliser N with green manure N (Sesbania rostrata) on nitrogen uptake, yield attributes and yield of rice. The experiment consisted of eight treatments with two levels of N (100 and 200 kg ha⁻¹) and three sources of N application viz., fertilizer, integrated (1:1 fertilizer and green manure N) and green manure N compared to the recommended practice (150 kg fertilizer plus 6.25 t ha⁻¹ (72 kg N) green manure) and a no N control. Nitrogen application markedly increased the N uptake. Combined use of the two N sources at 200 and 222 kg N ha⁻¹ and of single fertilizer N at 200 kg N ha⁻¹ recorded the maximum N uptake, increased the yield attributes such as number of panicles per unit area, weight per panicle, number of total and filled grains per panicle and test weight. At 200 kg N ha⁻¹ full substitution of N by green manure reduced the grain yield but only partial substitution of N by green manure resulted in almost similar yield as single fertilizer N. Thus 200 kg N ha⁻¹ applied in equal proportions of fertilizer and green manure N can be recommended for medium duration rice cultivars.     

Grain Yields and Grain Nitrogen Concentration of Corn as Influenced by Fertilizer Nitrogen Rate

Knowledge of optimum fertilization for com production is required to increase crop yields while minimizing fertilizer costs. Field experiments were carried out from 1988 to 1993 to study the effects of fertilizer N rates on yield and N concentration of corn ( Zea mays L.) grain on a clay soil in Quebec. Grain yields and grain N concentrations generally followed a exponential relationship with increasing N fertilizer rates. The critical grain N concentration, defined as that associated with the highest grain yield, occurred at 285 kg N ha^-1 for all years except 1969 when it occurred at 170 kg N ha^-1. The critical grain N concentrations and grain yields over the years were found to be linearly related. The relationship between the critical grain N concentration and grain yield could serve as a diagnostic tool for N applications.     

Performance of Agricultural Systems under Contrasting Growing Season Conditions in South-western Quebec

Climate change will alter temperature and rainfall patterns over North American agricultural regions and there will be a need to adapt crop production systems to the altered conditions. A set of field experiments were conducted in south-western Quebec, Canada, with soybean ( Glycine max L.), corn ( Zea mays L.), sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L.) × sudangrass ( Sorghum sudanense Piper) hybrid and switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) under two tillage and three nitrogen fertility regimes, to study their performance in three successive growing seasons (2001–2003), two of them with unusually warm and dry conditions. The annual crops were established in two tillage systems: conventional and no-till (NT). All crops except soybean were fertilized with three levels of nitrogen: corn – 0, 90 and 180 kg N ha⁻¹, sorghum-sudangrass – 0, 75 and 150 kg N ha⁻¹, switchgrass – 0, 30 and 60 kg N ha⁻¹. The 2001 and 2002 seasons were hotter and drier than the 2003 season, which was the most favourable for crop growth. The capacity of the crops to yield in dry seasons was as follow: switchgrass > sorghum-sudangrass > corn > soybean. The corn and sorghum-sudangrass responses to nitrogen fertilizer were low in 2001 due to the combined effect of dry growing season and coarse soil texture. Soybean did not perform well under NT. Corn yielded better at the highest nitrogen fertilizer rate under NT when the early season was warmer than the normal. Our results show that switchgrass and sorghum-sudangrass could be an option in south-western Quebec if the frequency of hot and dry seasons increase in the future, because of climate change.     

Optimum Seed Rate and Nitrogen Fertilizer Requirement of Rice Under Semi-deepwater Ecosystem

The effect of varying seed rates (100–1000 seeds m⁻²) and nitrogen fertilizer (0–60 kg N ha_-1) applied either in a single basal dose or in splits was investigated on a tall elongating, photosensitive rice variety, Nalini, under semi-deepwater conditions (0–100cm) during 1993 and 1994 at Cuttack, India. Seedling emergence was higher in 1993 (53.9 %) than in 1994 (44.1 %) and it increased proportionately with increasing seed rate, Increase in the number of tillers and panicles m⁻² at higher seed rates was associated with a corresponding decrease in panicle weight. Regression analysis indicated a decrease of 0.91–1.28g in panicle weight for an increase of 100 panicles m⁻². The grain yield of rice was significantly higher at 400 seeds m⁻² in 1993 and at 600 seeds m⁻² in 1994 than at low seed rates but further increase in seed rate did not increase the yield. Application of N fertilizer increased the panicle number and thereby grain yield significantly. The effect of basal and split applied N at active or maximum tillering stages as well as between 30 and 60 kg N ha⁻¹ was not significant on the grain yield. The results suggest that a basal dose of 30kg N ha⁻¹ and seeding density of 400–600 seeds m⁻², resulting in 40–50 % seedling emergence and 150–200 panicles m⁻², each with 2.0–2.5 g weight, may be adequate for optimum productivity of rice under semideepwater conditions.     

灌溉定额和施氮量对机采棉田水分运移及硝态氮残留的影响

水资源短缺和土壤环境污染严重是制约农业可持续健康发展的瓶颈,迫使农民开发和采用可持续的农业生产技术。水分运动机理和氮肥残留行为是评价干旱地区农业水肥管理水平的依据,提高水氮利用效率是降低环境污染这一重要科学问题的重要途径。本研究采用裂区试验设计,以灌溉量为主区,设2250(低灌溉量,W1)、3450(传统灌溉量,W2)和4650 m~3 hm–2 (高灌溉量, W3) 3个灌溉量;设0 (空白, N1)、300 (传统施肥量, N2)和600 kg hm–2 (高施氮量, N3) 3个纯氮投入量,在干旱的中国西北内陆棉区开展2年的田间试验,评估灌溉和施氮策略对水氮运移、籽棉产量、水氮生产效率的影响。结果表明,灌溉量及水氮耦合效应是影响籽棉产量及灌溉水生产力的影响因素,其中灌溉量是主效应。2年均值表明,灌溉量为W1时,施肥量由N1增加至N3,生育期0～80 cm平均土壤含水量呈先显著上升后显著下降的趋势, N2和N3处理较N1处理籽棉产量分别提高13.8%和7.6%,水分利用效率分别提高13.6%和6.8%;灌溉量为W2和W3时,施肥量由N1增加至N3,生育期0～80 cm土层平均含水量...     

有机肥配施氮肥对滴灌春玉米产量及土壤肥力状况的影响

针对宁夏扬黄灌区沙质土壤肥力贫瘠、养分利用率低以及农田生产力弱等问题。通过两年连续田间定位试验,采用裂区试验设计,主处理为不施有机肥(-M)处理和施有机肥3000 kg hm~(–2) (+M)处理,副处理为施纯氮0 (N0)、75 (N75)、150 (N125)、225 (N225)和300 kg hm~(–2) (N300) 5个不同氮肥用量,进行滴灌条件下有机肥与氮肥配合施用对玉米产量及土壤肥力状况的研究,探讨施肥对土壤养分、玉米产量的影响,以选择最佳的肥料配比,从而达到玉米高产、优质和土壤培肥的目的。结果表明,有机肥配施氮肥能有效增加土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、速效钾和速效磷含量,促进春玉米干物质累积并提高产量,以有机肥配施纯氮300 kg hm~(–2)和225 kg hm~(–2)处理的培肥效果最佳。有机肥配施氮150、225和300 kg hm~(–2)处理间的玉米产量无显著差异,但较不施氮肥处理产量分别提高了74.21%、91.33%和81.23%,施有机肥处理较不施有机肥处理平均增产24.28%。在试验区的推荐施肥量为3000kghm~(–2)有机肥配施225～300 kg hm~(–2)氮肥。     

氮肥施用量对甜玉米糖分含量及农艺性状的影响

为了阐明氮肥施用量对甜玉米糖分含量及农艺性状的影响,以甜玉米品种‘耘甜8号’为试材开展田间实验,设置5个氮肥施用量处理（即0、100、200、300、400 kg N/hm²）。结果表明,氮肥施用量与可溶性糖及还原糖含量的线性模型不显著,只是在播种后的第103天,还原糖含量随施氮量的增加而微弱下降。穗重以渐近增长的模式响应氮肥施用量的增加。施氮量超过100 kg N/hm²时,穗重对氮肥施用的正响应程度将显著减弱。每公顷增施100 kg N导致穗长降低0.29 cm。氮肥施用量与穗粗、穗行数及行粒数之间的线性模型不显著。增施氮肥能降低凸尖长度。综上所述,增加氮肥施用量对甜玉米糖分含量、穗粗、穗行数及行粒数无影响,且导致穗长微弱降低。然而,增施氮肥能显著增加穗重,且能降低凸尖长度。     

不同追肥类型对大棚内外紫薯光合特性及产量的影响

本研究探讨不同种植及追肥方式对紫薯生长的影响,为紫薯追肥、种植提供理论依据和实践经验.本文以'济黑2号'紫薯为试验材料,研究了大棚和露地2种种植条件下,追施无机肥、有机肥、藻肥及其相互配施等10种处理方式对紫薯光合特性及产量的影响.结果 表明:大棚种植条件下,紫薯净光合速率在无机肥33 kg/hm2+有机肥20 kg/...     

Direct and Residual Contributions of Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation by Legumes to the Yield and Nitrogen Uptake of Maize (Zea mays L.) in the Nigerian Savannah

Field experiments were conducted to determine the direct and residual contributions of legumes to the yield and nitrogen (N) uptake of maize during the wet seasons of 1994 and 1995 at the University Farm, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria, located in the Northern Guinea savannah of Nigeria. Nodulating soybean, lablab, green gram and black gram contributed to the yield and N uptake of maize either intercropped with the legumes or grown after legumes as a sole crop. Direct transfer of N from the nodulating soybean, lablab, green gram and black gram to the intercropped maize was 24.9–28.1, 23.8–29.2, 19.7–22.1 and 18.4–18.6 kg N ha^–1, respectively. However, the transfer of residual N from these legumes to the succeeding maize crop was 18.4–20.0, 19.5–29.9, 12.0–13.7 and 9.3–10.3 kg N ha^–1, respectively. Four years of continuous lablab cropping resulted in yields and N uptake of the succeeding maize crop grown without fertilizer N that were comparable to the yields and N uptake of the succeeding maize crop supplied with 40–45 kg N ha^–1 and grown after 4 years of continuous sorghum cropping. It may therefore be concluded that nodulating soybean, lablab, green gram and black gram may be either intercropped or grown in rotation with cereals in order to economize the use of fertilizer N for maize production in the Nigerian savannah.     

Tillage, cover crops, and nitrogen fertilization effects on soil nitrogen and cotton and sorghum yields

Sustainable soil and crop management practices that reduce soil erosion and nitrogen (N) leaching, conserve soil organic matter, and optimize cotton and sorghum yields still remain a challenge. We examined the influence of three tillage practices (no-till, strip till and chisel till), four cover crops {legume [hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth)], nonlegume [rye (Secaele cereale L.)], vetch/rye biculture and winter weeds or no cover crop}, and three N fertilization rates (0, 60–65 and 120–130 kg N ha⁻¹) on soil inorganic N content at the 0–30 cm depth and yields and N uptake of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. A field experiment was conducted on Dothan sandy loam (fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic, Plinthic Paleudults) from 1999 to 2002 in Georgia, USA. Nitrogen supplied by cover crops was greater with vetch and vetch/rye biculture than with rye and weeds. Soil inorganic N at the 0–10 and 10–30 cm depths increased with increasing N rate and were greater with vetch than with rye and weeds in April 2000 and 2002. Inorganic N at 0–10 cm was also greater with vetch than with rye in no-till, greater with vetch/rye than with rye and weeds in strip till, and greater with vetch than with rye and weeds in chisel till. In 2000, cotton lint yield and N uptake were greater in no-till with rye or 60 kg N ha⁻¹ than in other treatments, but biomass (stems + leaves) yield and N uptake were greater with vetch and vetch/rye than with rye or weeds, and greater with 60 and 120 than with 0 kg N ha⁻¹. In 2001, sorghum grain yield, biomass yield, and N uptake were greater in strip till and chisel till than in no-till, and greater in vetch and vetch/rye with or without N than in rye and weeds with 0 or 65 kg N ha⁻¹. In 2002, cotton lint yield and N uptake were greater in chisel till, rye and weeds with 0 or 60 kg N ha⁻¹ than in other treatments, but biomass N uptake was greater in vetch/rye with 60 kg N ha⁻¹ than in rye and weeds with 0 or 60 kg N ha⁻¹. Increased N supplied by hairy vetch or 120–130 kg N ha⁻¹ increased soil N availability, sorghum grain yield, cotton and sorghum biomass yields, and N uptake but decreased cotton lint yield and lint N uptake compared with rye, weeds or 0 kg N ha⁻¹. Cotton and sorghum yields and N uptake can be optimized and potentials for soil erosion and N leaching can be reduced by using conservation tillage, such as no-till or strip till, with vetch/rye biculture cover crop and 60–65 kg N ha⁻¹. The results can be applied in regions where cover crops can be grown in the winter to reduce soil erosion and N leaching and where tillage intensity and N fertilization rates can be minimized to reduce the costs of energy requirement for tillage and N fertilization while optimizing crop production.     

The effect of lupins as compared with peas and oats on the yield of the subsequent winter barley crop

New high yielding early maturing cultivars of lupins have been introduced in north-west Europe as grain protein crops in crop rotations. This paper reports on a comparative study of lupins with peas and oats, and of their effect on yield of subsequent winter barley crops. These crops were given five levels of N under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions on sand and loam. Under rain fed conditions the grain yield of pea, oat and lupin varied between 24–36, 34–53 and 18–37 hkg DM ha⁻¹, respectively. Supplemental irrigation raised grain yield of oat to 50–60 hkg DM ha⁻¹, while grain yield in pea was not affected and grain yield in lupin in most cases decreased due to gray mould attack and excessive vegetative growth in the indeterminate lupin variety. Under rain fed conditions, the grain nitrogen content of pea, oat and lupin varied between 137–172, 61–80 and 189–226 kg N ha⁻¹, respectively, and was significantly higher in lupin as compared with pea. On sandy soil, similar low-root densities were found for pea, oat and lupin below 30 cm depth. On sand, at final harvest the residual soil-N of lupin and pea, as measured in a subsequent winter barley crop not supplied with N fertilizer, was 15 and 8–10 kg N ha⁻¹ higher than in winter barley following oat, respectively. The nature of the probably more N-root residues of lupin is discussed. On loam, the residual N of lupin and pea was similar, 18–27 kg N ha⁻¹. On sand, under rain fed conditions preceding lupin and pea as compared with oat, increased the barley grain yield at zero N-application 77 and 49%, respectively; the effect of lupin was significantly higher than that of pea until the highest N-level 120 kg N-application ha⁻¹. On loam under rain fed conditions preceding lupin and pea increased the barley grain yield at zero N-application by 36 and 62%, respectively, as compared with oat; at N-application>60 kg N ha⁻¹ the grain yield was similar after all three crops. For both soil types the same level of effect was found under irrigated conditions. Conclusions: Supplemental irrigation might result in lower grain yield in lupin due to gray mould attack and excessive growth if indeterminate lupin varieties are used. Grain nitrogen yield of lupin is significantly higher than that of pea. On sand, the effect of lupin on the subsequent winter barley grain yield is significantly higher than that of pea, probably due to greater N-root nitrogen residues. On loam, lupin and pea have similar effects on the subsequent winter barley crop.     

氮肥和密度对高粱产量及氮肥利用率的影响

为了研究氮肥施用量和密度对高粱产量的影响,在大田试验条件下,采用裂区设计,以密度为主区,以氮肥施用量为副区,分别设置3个密度水平（7.5万、10.5万和13.5万株/hm ²）和5个氮肥水平（0、75、150、225和300kg/hm ²）,对不同密度和氮肥处理的产量构成因素和农艺性状进行分析,结果表明：高粱的产量先随密度的增加和氮肥施用量的增加呈增加趋势,在密度为10.5万株/hm ²,施氮量为225kg/hm ²时,高粱的产量达到最高。在不同密度和氮肥处理,高粱的单位面积穗数和穗粒数变异较大,千粒重变异较小。密度主要是通过单位面积穗数,氮肥主要是通过穗粒数来影响产量的构成。施氮量与高粱产量是非线性关系,氮肥在高密度条件下对产量的调控更加明显。氮肥的农学利用率在高密度处理比低密度处理要高,并随着氮肥施用量的增加呈先增加后减少的变化趋势,在密度为13.5万株/hm ²,施氮量为150kg/hm ²时,氮肥的农学利用率达到最大。本研究表明,增加密度、控制氮肥用量是增加高粱产量和提高氮肥利用率的有效措施,建议晋杂23号在汾阳种植时宜采用密度为10.5万株/hm ²,施氮量为225kg/hm ²的种植模式。     

磷肥用量对甜玉米磷素吸收利用的影响

Understanding the phosphorus (P) absorption mechanism is the premise for high P utilization and high crop yield. In this study, the effects of different P rates (0, 37.5, 75, 150, and 300 kg hm^-2, expressed as P0, P1, P2, P3, and P4, respectively) on sweet corn yield, biomass and P accumulation and tissue distribution, P transportation and P utilization were studied using a two-year P gradient positioning field experiment. Our results showed that P application significantly increased the fresh ear yield of sweet corn, but the yield difference among different P application rates (P1-P4) was not significant from 2018 to 2019 compared with P0 treatment. P application significantly increased the biomass and P accumulation of sweet corn plants at jointing, silking and fresh eating stages, respectively. In addition, P accumulation in grain was not significant different, which accounting for 42% of plant P accumulation. With P application, the contribution rate of P assimilation to the ear P accumulation was 57.3%-93.0% after anthesis, while the fresh ear yield per P accumulation, P physiological efficiency, agronomic efficiency, recovery efficiency and partial productivity decreased with P rates. Considering the yield and utilization efficiency of phosphate fertilizer, the supply of 37.5 kg hm^-2 of phosphate fertilizer can meet the needs of high yield and efficient utilization of phosphate fertilizer in sweet corn in this experiment.     

Comparison of Drought Tolerance of Maize,Sweet Sorghum and Sorghum‐Sudangrass Hybrids

In drought‐prone environments, sweet sorghum and sorghum‐sudangrass hybrids are considered worthy alternatives to maize for biogas production. The biomass productivity of the three crops was compared by growing them side‐by‐side in a rain‐out shelter under different levels of plant available soil water (PASW) during the growing periods of 2008 to 2010 at Braunschweig, Germany. All crops were established under high levels of soil water. Thereafter, the crops either remained at the wet level (60–80 % PASW) or were subjected to moderate (40–50 % PASW) and severe drought stress (15–25 % PASW). While the above‐ground dry weight (ADW) of sweet sorghum and maize was insignificantly different under well‐watered conditions, sweet sorghum under severe drought stress produced 27 % more ADW than maize. The ADW of sorghum‐sudangrass hybrids significantly lagged behind sweet sorghum at all levels of water supply. The three crops differed markedly in their susceptibility to water shortage. Severe drought stress reduced the ADW of maize by 51 %, but only by 37 % for sweet sorghum and 35 % for sorghum‐sudangrass hybrids. The post‐harvest root dry weight (RDW) in the 0–100 cm soil layer for maize, sweet sorghum and sorghum‐sudangrass hybrids averaged 4.4, 6.1 and 2.9 t ha^?1 under wet and 1.9, 5.7 and 2.4 t ha^?1 under severe drought stress. Under these most dry conditions, the sorghum crops had relatively higher RDW and root length density (RLD) in the deeper soil layers than maize. The subsoil RDW proportion (20–100 vs. 0–20 cm) for maize, sweet sorghum and sorghum‐sudangrass hybrids amounted to 6 %, 10 % and 20 %. The higher ADM of sweet sorghum compared with maize under dry conditions is most likely attributable to the deep root penetration and high proportion of roots in the subsoil, which confers the sorghum crop a high water uptake capacity.     

Intercropping Maize with Climbing Beans, Cowpeas and Velvet Beans

When one of the crops is a legume, intercropping has potential to reduce fertilizer nitrogen (N) needs and increase food quality. Total dry matter (DM) and grain yields of different plant populations of intercropped maize ( Zea mays L.) and climbing beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.), cowpeas ( Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.), or velvet beans ( Mucuna pruriens [L.] DC. var utilis [Wight] Bruck.) were compared in two experiments. Maize populations were 40,400 and 50,500 plants ha⁻¹ in combination with climbing bean populations of 0, 20,200, 40,400 and 80,800 plants ha⁻¹ in Experiment 1. In the second experiment, climbing beans, cowpeas and velvet beans at 215,200 plants ha⁻¹ were intercropped with maize at 64,600 plants ha⁻¹. Climbing beans contributed up to 5% to total DM yields in the first experiment. In the second experiment legume contributions to total DM were 20% for climbing beans, 12% for cowpeas and 8% for velvet beans. Increasing populations of maize and climbing beans increased grain and DM yields. Dry matter yield of maize was lowered by intercropping. However, DM yields of the intercrop were not different to maize sole cropped. Maize/cowpeas produced more total DM than maize/climbing beans. Cowpeas increased the total yield of crude protein by over 15% without lowering total DM yield of the intercrop compared to maize alone and are promising as a legume for intercropping with maize. Climbing beans show little promise as a possible legume for intercropping with maize.     

Effects of Irrigation at Different Growth Stages and Source-Sink Manipulations on Yield and Yield Components of Mung Bean, Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek, in Dry and Intermediate Zones of Sri Lanka

Irrigation is a management option available to farmers in the subhumid zones of Sri Lanka to increase mung bean yields during the dry Yala season. The objective of this study was to quantify the yield gain in response to irrigation at different stages of the crop and thereby determine the most suitable stage/s of irrigation. Four field experiments were conducted during Yala in 1995 and 1996 at two sites, Maha-Illuppallama (MI) and Kundasale (KS). Eight irrigation regimes consisting of all possible combinations of irrigation at three growth stages of the crop were defined. The respective growth stages were vegetative (from germination to appearance of first flower), flowering (from appearance of first flower to 75 % pod initiation) and pod-filling (from 75 % pod initiation to maturity). The treatments which received irrigation during two or more stages had significantly higher yields (793–1396 kg ha⁻¹) than those which received irrigation during only one stage (401–756 kg ha⁻¹) with the lowest yield being shown by the rain-fed treatment (227–396 kg ha⁻¹). When at least two stages can be irrigated, irrigation during the flowering and pod-filling stages was most effective. Irrigation during flowering produced the highest yield gain when only one stage could be irrigated. Seed yield showed a strong positive correlation with number of pods m^−2. Fifity per cent de-podding caused yield reductions at both sites, indicating sink limitation. In contrast, 50 % defoliation reduced the yields only at MI where the number of pods m⁻² was greater than at KS. Hence, source limitation was present only when the number of pods was higher.