Effect of water management on dry seeded and puddled transplanted rice: Part 2: Water balance and water productivity

Labour and water scarcity in north west India are driving researchers and farmers to find alternative management strategies that will increase water productivity and reduce labour requirement while maintaining or increasing land productivity. A field experiment was done in Punjab, India, in 2008 and 2009 to compare water balance components and water productivity of dry seeded rice (DSR) and puddled transplanted rice (PTR). There were four irrigation schedules based on soil water tension (SWT) ranging from saturation (daily irrigation) to alternate wetting drying (AWD) with irrigation thresholds of 20, 40 and 70 kPa at 18–20 cm soil depth. There were large and significant declines in irrigation water input with AWD compared to daily irrigation in both establishment methods. The irrigation water savings were mainly due to reduced deep drainage, seepage and runoff, and to reduced ET in DSR. Within each irrigation treatment, deep drainage was much higher in DSR than in PTR, and more so in the second year (i.e. after 2 years without puddling). The irrigation input to daily irrigated DSR was similar to or higher than to daily irrigated PTR. However, within each AWD treatment, the irrigation input to DSR was less than to PTR, due to reduced seepage and runoff, mainly because all PTR treatments were continuously flooded for 2 weeks after transplanting. There was 30–50% irrigation water saving in DSR-20 kPa compared with PTR-20 kPa due to reduced seepage and runoff, which more than compensated for the increased deep drainage in DSR. Yields of PTR and DSR with daily irrigation and a 20 kPa irrigation threshold were similar each year. Thus irrigation and input water productivities (WP_I and WP_I+R) were highest with the 20 kPa irrigation threshold, and WP_I of DSR-20 kPa was 30–50% higher than of PTR-20 kPa. There was a consistent trend for declining ET with decreasing frequency of irrigation, but there was no effect of establishment method on ET apart from higher ET in DSR than PTR with daily irrigation. Water productivity with respect to ET (WP_ET) was highest with a 20 kPa irrigation threshold, with similar values for DSR and PTR. An irrigation threshold of 20 kPa was the optimum in terms of maximising grain yield, WP_I and WP_I+R for both PTR and DSR. Dry seeded rice with the 20 kPa threshold outperformed PTR-20 kPa in terms of WP_I through maintaining yield while reducing irrigation input by 30–50%.     

种植密度和灌溉量对西辽河平原春玉米产量及水分利用效率的影响

在内蒙古通辽市辽河镇浅埋滴灌水肥一体化条件下,以DK159为研究对象,设置6.0万株/hm²(D1,CK,农民常规种植密度)和9.0万株/hm²(D2)两种种植密度处理和45 mm(I₄₅)、90 mm(I₉₀)、180 mm(I₁₈₀)、270 mm(I₂₇₀)、360 mm(I₃₆₀)、450 mm(I₄₅₀,CK,农民常规灌溉量)6个灌溉量水平,研究种植密度和灌溉量对玉米产量和水分利用效率(WUE)的影响。结果表明,9.0万株/hm²密度下在360 mm的灌溉量下获得最高产量和较高的WUE;6.0万株/hm²密度下在270 mm的灌溉量下获得最高产量和较高WUE。与传统生产方式(D1-I₄₅₀处理)相比,D1-I₂₇₀处理的产量无显著降低,灌溉量降低40.0%,蒸散量减少19.7%,WUE提高25.1%;D2-I     

High-yield irrigated maize in the Western U.S. Corn Belt: II. Irrigation management and crop water productivity

Appropriate benchmarks for water productivity (WP), defined here as the amount of grain yield produced per unit of water supply, are needed to help identify and diagnose inefficiencies in crop production and water management in irrigated systems. Such analysis is lacking for maize in the Western U.S. Corn Belt where irrigated production represents 58% of total maize output. The objective of this paper was to quantify WP and identify opportunities to increase it in irrigated maize systems of central Nebraska. In the present study, a benchmark for maize WP was (i) developed from relationships between simulated yield and seasonal water supply (stored soil water and sowing-to-maturity rainfall plus irrigation) documented in a previous study; (ii) validated against actual data from crops grown with good management over a wide range of environments and water supply regimes (n = 123); and (iii) used to evaluate WP of farmer's fields in central Nebraska using a 3-y database (2005–2007) that included field-specific values for yield and applied irrigation (n = 777). The database was also used to quantify applied irrigation, irrigation water-use efficiency (IWUE; amount of yield produced per unit of applied irrigation), and the impact of agronomic practices on both parameters. Opportunities to improve irrigation management were evaluated using a maize simulation model in combination with actual weather records and detailed data on soil properties and crop management collected from a subset of fields (n = 123). The linear function derived from the relationship between simulated grain yield and seasonal water supply, namely the mean WP function (slope = 19.3 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹; x-intercept = 100 mm), proved to be a robust benchmark for maize WP when compared with actual yield and water supply data. Average farmer's WP in central Nebraska was ∼73% of the WP derived from the slope of the mean WP function. A substantial number of fields (55% of total) had water supply in excess of that required to achieve yield potential (900 mm). Pivot irrigation (instead of surface irrigation) and conservation tillage in fields under soybean–maize rotation had the greatest IWUE and yield. Applied irrigation was 41 and 20% less under pivot and conservation tillage than under surface irrigation and conventional tillage, respectively. Simulation analysis showed that up to 32% of the annual water volume allocated to irrigated maize in the region could be saved with little yield penalty, by switching current surface systems to pivot, improving irrigation schedules to be more synchronous with crop water requirements and, as a fine-tune option, adopting limited irrigation.     

Growth, yield and water productivity of zero till wheat as affected by rice straw mulch and irrigation schedule

Intensive cultivation of rice and wheat in north-west India has resulted in air pollution from rice straw burning, soil degradation and declining groundwater resources. The retention of rice residues as a surface mulch could be beneficial for moisture conservation and yield, and for hence water productivity, in addition to reducing air pollution and loss of soil organic matter. Two field experiments were conducted in Punjab, India, to study the effects of rice straw mulch and irrigation scheduling on wheat growth, yield, water use and water productivity during 2006-2008. Mulching increased soil water content and this led to significant improvement in crop growth and yield determining attributes where water was limiting, but this only resulted in significant grain yield increase in two instances. There was no effect of irrigation treatment in the first year because of well-distributed rains. In the second year, yield decreased with decrease and delay in the number of irrigations between crown root initiation and grain filling. With soil matric potential (SMP)-based irrigation scheduling, the irrigation amount was reduced by 75 mm each year with mulch in comparison with no mulch, while maintaining grain yield. Total crop water use (ET) was not significantly affected by mulch in either year, but was significantly affected by irrigation treatment in the second year. Mulch had a positive or neutral effect on grain water productivity with respect to ET (WP_ET) and irrigation (WP_I). Maximum WP_I occurred in the treatment which received the least irrigation, but this was also the lowest yielding treatment. The current irrigation scheduling guidelines based on cumulative pan evaporation (CPE) resulted in sub-optimal irrigation (loss of yield) in one of the two years, and higher irrigation input and lower WP_I of the mulched treatment in comparison with SMP-based irrigation scheduling. The results from this and other studies suggest that farmers in Punjab greatly over-irrigate wheat. Further field and modelling studies are needed to extrapolate the findings to a wider range of seasonal and site conditions, and to develop simple tools and guidelines to assist farmers to better schedule irrigation to wheat.     

Effects of partial root-zone drying on yield,tuber size and water use efficiency in potato under field conditions

Water resources are limited for irrigation worldwide; therefore, there is a need for water-saving irrigation practices to be explored. Partial root-zone drying (PRD) is a new water-saving irrigation strategy being tested in many crop species. Experiments were conducted in potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Folva) under open field conditions in 2004 and under a mobile rainout shelter in 2005. Two subsurface irrigation treatments were studied: full irrigation (FI) receiving 100% of evaporative demands, 50.1 and 201 mm of irrigation water in the 2 years, to keep it close to field capacity; and PRD, which received 21.7 and 140 mm of irrigation in 2004 and 2005 respectively. Due to rain in 2004, the PRD treatment was imposed over a short period only during the late tuber filling and maturing stages. In 2005, the PRD treatment was imposed during the whole period of tuber filling and tuber maturation. The PRD treatment was shifted from one side to the other side of potato plants every 5–10 days. Especially in 2005 it was apparent that stomatal conductance was generally lower in the PRD than in the FI plants, whereas leaf water potential tended to be lower in only a few instances. During the treatment period, plants were harvested five times, and no significant difference was found between the treatments in leaf area index, top dry mass and tuber yield. At final harvest, tubers were graded based on size into four classes C₁–C₄, of which the yield of the important marketable class (C₂) was significantly higher (20%) in the PRD than in the FI treatment. Compared with FI, the PRD treatment saved 30% of irrigation water while maintaining tuber yield, leading to a 61% increase of irrigation water use efficiency. The limited data of 2004 support these results. In summary, PRD is a promising water-saving irrigation strategy for potato production in areas with limited water resources.     

Yield response of corn to irrigation and nitrogen fertilization in a Mediterranean environment

Productivity and resource-use efficiency in corn (Zea mays L.) are crucial issues in sustainable agriculture, especially in high-demand resource crops such as corn. The aims of this research were to compare irrigation scheduling and nitrogen fertilization rates in corn, evaluating yield, water (WUE), irrigation water (IRRWUE) and nitrogen use (NUE) efficiencies. A 2-year field experiment was carried out in a Mediterranean coastal area of Central Italy (175 mm of rainfall in the corn-growing period) and corn was subjected to three irrigation levels (rainfed and supply at 50 and 100% of crop evapotranspiration, ETc) in interaction with three nitrogen fertilization levels (not fertilized, 15 and 30 g (N) m⁻²). The results indicated a large yearly variability, mainly due to a rainfall event at the silking stage in the first year; a significant irrigation effect was observed for all the variables under study, except for plant population. Nitrogen rates affected grain yield plant⁻¹ and ear⁻¹, grain and biomass yield, HI, WUE, IRRWUE and NUE, with significant differences between non-fertilized and the two fertilized treatments (15 and 30 g (N) m⁻²). Furthermore, deficit irrigation (50% of ETc) was to a large degree equal to 100% of the ETc irrigation regime. A significant interaction “N × I” was observed for grain yield and WUE. The effect of nitrogen availability was amplified at the maximum irrigation water regime. The relationships between grain yield and evapotranspiration showed basal ET, the amount necessary to start producing grain, of about 63 mm in the first and 206 mm in the second year. Rainfed crop depleted most of the water in the 0–0.6 m soil depth range, while irrigated scenarios absorbed soil water within the profile to a depth of 1.0 m. Corn in a Mediterranean area can be cultivated with acceptable yields while saving irrigation water and reducing nitrogen supply and also exploiting the positive interaction between these two factors, so maximizing resource-use efficiency.     

Deficit irrigations during soybean reproductive stages and CROPGRO-soybean simulations under semi-arid climatic conditions

This study was carried out to determine the effect of water stress on five different generative stages of soybeans and to evaluate the CROPGRO-soybean model under semi-arid climatic conditions. The study was conducted at the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Harran University research field in 2003 and 2004 growing seasons. Plants received full irrigation during vegetative stages, after which it was cut off at different reproductive stages (treatments): R_1-2, beginning of flowering and full bloom; R₃, beginning of pod; R₄, full pod; R₅, beginning of seed; and R₆, full seed. The control treatment was full irrigation throughout. Observed yields ranged from 1955 (R₆) to 3684 kg ha⁻¹ (control) in 2003, and from 1867 (R₆) to 3952 kg ha⁻¹ (control) in 2004, respectively. Generally, in both of the years any water stress imposed on soybeans in three different generative stages (R₃, R₅, and R₆) resulted in substantial yield reduction compared with full irrigation; yield reduction was greatest at the R₆ stage. Biomass and 1000 seed weight also showed significant difference. Overall, CROPGRO-soybean simulated parameters from all treatments were higher compared with observed ones. Although simulated yield results were close to measured ones, they could not track observed yield patterns. Generally, the CROPGRO-soybean simulation model failed to satisfactorily mimic observed soybean yield, biomass, and 1000 seed weight and therefore it is suggested not to be used for similar scenarios and climatic conditions.     

Zeolite for Enhancing Yield and Quality of Potatoes Cultivated Under Water-Deficit Conditions

This study examined the effect of application of different doses of the natural zeolite clinoptilolite and different irrigation levels on yield and quality of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.), cv. Agria, and the nutrient contents of the soil under water-deficit stress in Konya-Karap?nar, Turkey. The study was established in a split-plot design with three replications. The main factor was the zeolite dose (Z₀:0, Z₃:30, Z₆:60, Z₉:90 and Z₁₂:120 t ha^?1) and the sub factor the irrigation level (I₅₀: 0.50, I₇₅: 0.75 and I₁₀₀:1.00). In I₁₀₀ treatment, irrigation was applied to fill 0–60-cm soil-depth until field capacity. In other treatments (I₇₅-I₅₀), it was given up to 75 and 50% of water applied to I₁₀₀ treatment at 6-day intervals. The amounts of irrigation water were determined by class-A pan evaporation using canopy area. For potato tuber yield, several quality characteristics and some nutrient element content in the soil, significant interaction occurred between zeolite doses and irrigation level (P?<?0.01). The highest crop yields, 33.9–39.1 and 33.5–34.3 kg ha^?1, respectively, were obtained from Z₆I₁₀₀ and Z₆I₇₅ applications in both years. There were no significant differences between these two treatments and also several other treatments (Z₃I₁₀₀, Z₉I₁₀₀ and Z₁₂I₁₀₀). In the experimental years, water consumption of Z₆I₇₅ treatment was determined as 509 and 420 mm, respectively. Some physical and chemical contents (the cation exchange capacity—CEC, exchangeable sodium percentage—ESP and total P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn and Mn contents) of the experiment soil were affected by zeolite treatments. These results showed that certain zeolite doses with optimum irrigation can be helpful for potato grown in water-deficit stress conditions because of positive effects on some soil physical and chemical properties and crop quality.     

Analysis of yield attributes and crop physiological traits of Liangyoupeijiu,a hybrid rice recently bred in China

Crop physiological traits of Liangyoupeijiu, a “super” hybrid rice variety recently bred in China, were compared with those of Takanari and Nipponbare in 2003 and 2004 in Kyoto, Japan. Liangyoupeijiu showed a significantly higher grain yield than Nipponbare in both years, and achieved a grain yield of 11.8 t ha⁻¹ in 2004, which is the highest yield observed under environmental conditions in Kyoto. Liangyoupeijiu had longer growth duration and larger leaf area duration (LAD) before heading, causing larger biomass accumulation before heading than the other two varieties. Liangyoupeijiu had a large number of grains and translocated a large amount of carbohydrates from the vegetative organ to the panicle during the grain filling period. The three yield components measured were panicle weight at heading (P₀), the amount of carbohydrates translocated from the leaf and stem to the panicle during the grain filling period (ΔT), and the newly assimilated carbohydrates during grain filling (ΔW). It was found that the sum of P₀ and ΔT were strongly correlated with grain yield when all the data (n = 8) were combined (r = 0.876**). However, there was no significant difference in the radiation use efficiency (RUE) of the whole growth period between Liangyoupeijiu and Nipponbare for both years. Even though the growth duration was shorter, Takanari, an indica/japonica cross-bred variety, showed a similar yield to Liangyoupeijiu in both years. The mean RUE of the whole growth period was significantly higher in Takanari, 1.60 and 1.64 g MJ⁻¹ in 2003 and 2004, respectively, than in Liangyoupeijiu, which had a RUE of 1.46 and 1.52 g MJ⁻¹ in 2003 and 2004, respectively. The high grain yield of Takanari was mainly due to its high RUE compared with Liangyoupeijiu and its large P₀ and ΔT. Our result showed that the high grain yield of Liangyoupeijiu was due to its large biomass accumulation before heading, which resulted from its large LAD rather than its RUE.     

Sweet sorghum productivity for biofuels under increased soil salinity and reduced irrigation

Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.) is a drought-tolerant crop with high resistance to saline-alkaline soils, and sweet sorghum may serve as an alternative summer crop for biofuel production in areas where irrigation water is limited. A two-year study was conducted in Northern Greece to assess the productivity (biomass, juice, total sugar and theoretical ethanol yields) of four sweet sorghum cultivars (Sugar graze, M-81E, Urja and Topper-76-6), one grain sorghum cultivar (KN-300) and one grass sorghum cultivar (Susu) grown in intermediate (3.2 dS m⁻¹) or in high (6.9 dS m⁻¹) soil salinity with either low (120 mm) or intermediate (210 mm) irrigation water supply (supplemented with 142–261 mm of rainfall during growth). The soil salinity and irrigation water supply effects on the sorghum chlorophyll content index, photosystem II quantum yield, stomatal conductance and leaf K/Na ratio were also determined. The sorghum emergence averaged 75,083 plants ha⁻¹ and 59,917 plants ha⁻¹ in a soil salinity of 3.2 dS m⁻¹ and 6.9 dS m⁻¹, respectively. The most affected cultivar, as averaged across the two soil salinity levels, was the Susu grass sorghum emerging at 53,250 plants ha⁻¹, followed by the Topper-76-6 sweet sorghum emerging at 61,250 plants ha⁻¹. The leaf K/Na ratio decreased with decreasing irrigation water supply, in most cases, but it was not significantly affected by soil salinity. The dry biomass, juice and total sugar yields of sorghum that received 210 mm of irrigation water was 49–88% greater than the yields of sorghum that received the 120 mm of irrigation water. Sorghum plants grown in a soil salinity of 3.2 dS m⁻¹ produced 42–58% greater dry biomass, juice and total sugar yields than the yields of sorghum plants grown in a soil salinity of 6.9 dS m⁻¹. The greatest theoretical ethanol yield was produced by sweet sorghum plants grown in a soil salinity of 3.2 dS m⁻¹ with 210 mm of irrigation water (6130 L ha⁻¹, as averaged across cultivar), and the Urja and Sugar graze cultivars produced the most ethanol (7620 L ha⁻¹ and 6528 L ha⁻¹, respectively). Conclusively, sweet sorghum provided sufficient juice, total sugar and ethanol yields in fields with a soil salinity of 3.2 dS m⁻¹, even if the plants received 50–75% of the irrigation water typically applied to sorghum.     

Yield response,water productivity,and seasonal water production functions for maize under deficit irrigation water management in southern Taiwan

As the challenges toward increasing water for irrigation become more prevalent, knowledge of crop yield response to water can facilitate the development of irrigation strategies for improving agricultural productivity. Experiments were conducted to quantify maize yield response to soil moisture deficits, and assess the effects of deficit irrigation (DI) on water productivity (water and irrigation water use efficiency, WUE and IWUE). Five irrigation treatments were investigated: a full irrigation (I₁) with a water application of 60 mm and four deficit treatments with application depths of 50 (I₂), 40 (I₃), 30 (I₄), and 20 mm (I₅). On average, the highest grain yield observed was 1008.41 g m^?2 in I₁, and water deficits resulted in significant (p < .05) reduction within range of 6 and 33%. This reduction was significantly correlated with a decline in grain number per ear, 1000-grain weight, ear number per plant, and number of grain per row. The highest correlation was found between grain yield and grain number per ear. The WUE and IWUE were within range of 1.52–2.25 kg m^?3 and 1.64–4.53 kg m^?3, respectively. High water productivity without significant reduction in yield (<13%) for I₂ and I₃ compared to the yield in I₁ indicates that these water depths are viable practices to promote sustainable water development. Also, for assessing the benefits of irrigation practices in the region crop water production functions were established. Maize yield response to water stress was estimated as .92, suggesting the environmental conditions are conducive for implementing DI strategies.     

Water and nitrogen balance of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor moench (L.)) cv. Keller under semi-arid conditions

In the framework of the E.U. project Fair CT 96-1913 “Environmental studies on sweet and fibre sorghum, sustainable crops for biomass and energy”, a research has been carried out with the aim to study the water and nitrogen balance and determine the critical N dilution curve of sweet sorghum cv. Keller. A field experiment was performed, where three irrigation treatments (I₀ = dry control, I₅₀ = 50% ETm restoration, I₁₀₀ = 100% ETm restoration) and four nitrogen fertilization levels (N₀ = no nitrogen control, N₆₀ = 60 kg ha⁻¹, N₁₂₀ = 120 kg ha⁻¹; N₁₈₀ = 180 kg ha⁻¹) were studied. The final yield was significantly affected by the amount of water distributed but not by the nitrogen level. The treatments watered up to crop establishment (I₀) produced, in the average, 7.5 t ha⁻¹ of dry matter, against 21.1 and 27.1 t ha⁻¹ of I₅₀ and I₁₀₀, respectively. The crop determined a great reduction in nitrate concentration of soil water, irrespective of nitrogen supplied. The variation between N output and input (Δ) was negative in N₀, N₆₀ and N₁₂₀ and positive in N₁₈₀. The critical value of nitrogen uptake change in relation to the water availability. The amount of nitrogen supplied did not determine significant differences upon WUE. The crop seems to have a great potentiality in Mediterranean environment in terms of yield production.     

An improved water-use efficiency for winter wheat grown under reduced irrigation

Single irrigation, compared to the conventional four or five irrigations, has been practised in northern China on winter wheat on a relatively large scale since 1991. In a field study, irrigation was reduced from normally four times (I₄, 4×75 mm) to one (I₁, 75 mm at the end of the second internode elongation) in an area with an annual rainfall of about 600 mm. A control without irrigation (I₀) was also included. Late sowing and early soil drying at seedling stage resulted in a relatively deep root system. Leaf area index, the size of upper leaves and the length of base internodes were also significantly reduced under I₁, but kernel number per panicle was not reduced, suggesting that the development of inflorescence was not disrupted. During the active grain-filling stage, it was found that leaf water potential under I₁ was maintained similar to that of I₄, while daytime stomatal conductance was substantially reduced. Leaf temperature was increased, indicating an inhibited leaf transpiration. Early senescence was induced in I₁ and I₀ crops and resulted in a substantially lower kernel weight. Although the grain yield of I₁ was reduced by about 15% from I₄, the water-use efficiency (WUE) for total water consumption was increased by 24–30%. Single irrigation can potentially make wheat cropping sustainable in this area in terms of water usage and prevent further depletion of the underground water resource. Explanations for the small or zero reduction in yield are: (1) the encouraging development of a deep root system that enabled the plants to use more water at depth (below 1 m), which is recharged annually by the relatively high summer rainfall. (2) A large portion of root system in the drying soil and its induced shoot physiological changes, that is, reduced leaf expansion and stomatal conductance, which helped the plants to establish a better canopy structure with a much reduced water consumption. (3) An improved harvest index.     

Effect of Phosphorus and Irrigation Levels on Yield,Water Productivity,Phosphorus Use Efficiency and Income of Lowland Rice in Northwest Pakistan

With decreasing availability of water for agriculture and increasing demand for rice production, an optimum use of irrigation water and phosphorus may guarantee sustainable rice production. Field experiments were conducted in 2003 and 2004 to investigate the effect of phosphorus and irrigation levels on yield, water productivity (WP), phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) and income of low land rice. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with split plot arrangements replicated four times. Main plot consisted of five phosphorus levels, viz. 0 (P0), 50 (P50), 100 (P100), 150 (P150), and 200 (P200) kg/hm2, while subplots contained of irrigation times, i.e. 8 (I8), 10 (I10), 12 (I12), and 14 (I14) irrigation levels, each with a water depth of 7.5 cm. Mean values revealed that P150 in combination with I10 produced the highest paddy yield (9.8 t/hm2) and net benefit (1 231.8 US$/hm2) among all the treatments. Phosphorus enhanced WP when applied in appropriate combination with irrigation level. The highest mean WP [13.3 kg/(hm2?mm)] could be achieved at P150 with I8 and decreased with increase in irrigation level, while the highest mean PUE (20.1 kg/kg) could be achieved at P100 with I10 and diminished with higher P levels. The overall results indicate that P150 along with I10 was the best combination for sustainable rice cultivation in silty clay soil.     

Rice responses to soil management in a rice-based cropping system in the semi-arid tropics of southern Lombok,Eastern Indonesia

This paper is the first of a series that investigates whether new cropping systems with permanent raised beds (PRBs) or Flat land could be successfully used to increase farmers’ incomes from rainfed crops in Lombok in Eastern Indonesia. This paper discusses the rice phase of the cropping system. Low grain yields of dry-seeded rice (Oryza sativa) grown on Flat land on Vertisols in the rainfed region of southern Lombok, Eastern Indonesia, are probably mainly due to (a) erratic rainfall (870–1220 mm/yr), with water often limiting at sensitive growth stages, (b) consistently high temperatures (average maximum = 31 °C), and (c) low solar radiation. Farmers are therefore poor, and labour is hard and costly, as all operations are manual. Two replicated field experiments were run at Wakan (annual rainfall = 868 mm) and Kawo (1215 mm) for 3 years (2001/2002 to 2003/2004) on Vertisols in southern Lombok. Dry-seeded rice was grown in 4 treatments with or without manual tillage on (a) PRBs, 1.2 m wide, 200 mm high, separated by furrows 300 mm wide, 200 mm deep, with no rice sown in the well-graded furrows, and (b) well-graded Flat land. Excess surface water was harvested from each treatment and used for irrigation after the vegetative stage of the rice. All operations were manual. There were no differences between treatments in grain yield of rice (mean grain yield = 681 g/m²) which could be partly explained by total number of tillers/hill and mean panicle length, but not number of productive tillers/hill, plant height or weight of 1000 grains. When the data from both treatments on PRBs and from both treatments on Flat land, each year at each site were analysed, there were also no differences in grain yield of rice (g/m²). When rainfall in the wet season up to harvest was over 1000 mm (Year 2; Wakan, Kawo), or plants were water-stressed during crop establishment (Year 1; Wakan) or during grain-fill (Year 3: Kawo), there were significant differences in grain yield (g/1.5 m²) between treatments; generally the grain yield (g/1.5 m²) on PRBs with or without tillage was less than that on Flat land with or without tillage. However, when the data from both treatments on PRBs and from both treatments on Flat land, each year at each site, were analysed, the greater grain yield of dry-seeded rice on Flat land (mean yield 1 092 g/1.5 m²) than that on PRBs (mean 815 g/1.5 m²) was mainly because there were 25% more plants on Flat land. Overall when the data in the 2 outer rows and the 2 inner rows on PRBs were each combined, there was a higher number of productive tillers in the combined outer rows (mean 20.7 tillers/hill) compared with that in the combined inner rows on each PRB (mean 18.2 tillers/hill). However, there were no differences in grain yield between combined rows (mean 142 g/m row). Hence with a gap of 500 mm (the distance between the outer rows of plants on adjacent raised beds), plants did not compensate in grain yield for missing plants in furrows. This suggests that rice (a) also sown in furrows, or (b) sown in 7 rows with narrower row-spacing, or (c) sown in 6 rows with slightly wider row-spacing, and narrower gap between outer rows on adjacent beds, may further increase grain yield (g/1.5 m²) in this system of PRBs. The growth and the grain yield (y in g/m²) of rainfed rice (with rainfall on-site the only source of water for irrigation) depended mainly on the rainfall (x in mm) in the wet season up to harvest (due either to site or year) with y = 1.1x − 308; r² = 0.54; p < 0.005. However, 280 mm (i.e. 32%) of the rainfall was not directly used to produce grain (i.e. when y = 0 g/m²). Manual tillage did not affect growth and grain yield of rice (g/m²; g/1.5 m²), either on PRB or on Flat land.     

Impacts of early-season square abscission on the growth and yield of transgenic Bt cotton under elevated CO2

A field study was carried out to quantify the compensation capacity of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-transgenic cotton to simulated damage by manually removing squares during the early growing season in 2004 and 2005 in combination with CO₂ levels (ambient CO₂ and elevated CO₂). Treatments included: initial squares were wholly (100%) removed manually for 1 week (i.e., SR1 treatment) and for 2 consecutive weeks (i.e., SR2 treatment). Plant leaf area was measured every 2 weeks, and plant root, stem, leaf, shatters, boll dry weight and lint yield and maturity were measured at harvest. Significantly higher leaf area per plant was observed on each sampling date for SR1 and SR2 treatments compared with control (SR0) treatment in 2004 and 2005 under elevated CO₂. Significantly higher lint yield and maturity were observed for SR0, SR1 and SR2 treatments under elevated CO₂ in 2004 and 2005. CO₂ concentration and square removal significantly affected plant lint yield and maturity. Moreover, the interaction between CO₂ concentration × square removal had a significant effect on plant leaf dry weight, lint yield and maturity. Our results indicated that transgenic cotton plants can compensate for the manual removal of 100% of the initial squares for 1 and 2 weeks under ambient and elevated CO₂.     

Sesame response to nitrogen management under contrasting water availabilities

Sesame is mainly cultivated under traditional, low-input agro-systems. Recent breeding developments promoted the modernization and mechanization of sesame cultivation. However, only a few articles have been published concerning fertilization requirements for both modern and traditional agro-systems. In field trials at two locations, we determined the response of irrigated sesame to nitrogen (N). Three promising sesame lines were tested combining two irrigation levels with four N levels. At a high irrigation level, N had a significant effect on growth, branching, and consequently, seed yield exceeding two-ton ha⁻¹. A high N doze was accompanied by a decrease in the photosynthetic rate and leaf water potential. The δ¹³C confirmed lower stomatal conductance under high N treatments. Under deficit irrigation, the N level had a minor effect on the monitored parameters, indicating N fertilization was not efficient. Seed oil content was negatively correlated with seed N concentration. Our results question the necessity of N application when water is limited, as N fertilization promotes vigorous development that rapidly depletes soil water. Thus, water availability should be considered when developing an N management strategy. For high-yielding agro-systems, roughly 80–120 ​kg ​ha⁻¹ N is required for optimal yield, bearing in mind the negative association between seed-N and oil content.     

Polyol production by chemical modification of date seeds

Polyol production from chemical modification of date seeds has been investigated through oxypropylation and liquefaction techniques (using organic solvents in the presence of a catalyst). The obtained products were characterized using infrared spectroscopy analysis, ¹H NMR, thermogravimetric analysis and other parameters such as hydroxyl number (I_OH) and viscosity. Results showed that 93% of the solid substance was converted into polyol in the oxypropylation reaction at the date seeds/propylene oxide ratio of 0.25 and 10% potassium hydroxide at 160 °C. The oxypropylated product has I_OH of 779 mg KOH/g and viscosity of 6.9 Pa s. Regarding the liquefaction technique, results show that a yield of 95% was obtained at the date seeds/liquefying solvent ratio of 0.25 in 60 min of reaction at 160 °C. The liquefied product shows I_OH of 336 mg KOH/g and viscosity of 0.9 Pa s.     

Simulating water use and N response of winter wheat in the irrigated floodplains of Northwest Uzbekistan

The crop-soil simulation model CropSyst was used to simulate growth, water- and N-uptakes of irrigated winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Kupava) in Khorezm, in the dry lands of northwest Uzbekistan, Central Asia. CropSyst was calibrated using the findings of field experiments of 2005/06 and 2006/07 and validated for the 2007/08 season. A relative root mean squared error of 11% proved the accuracy between simulated and observed aboveground biomass and grain yield in 2007/08. Scenario analyses showed that N-leaching was high and ranged from 63 to 106 kg ha⁻¹ when irrigated between 749 and 869 mm during the first two cropping seasons. The simulated N-leaching was lowest and ranged from 7 to 15 kg ha⁻¹ when irrigation was only 148–395 mm during 2007/08. The considerable N losses during leaching and high N-uptakes by wheat together resulted in a negative N-balance even during applications of 180 and 240 kg ha⁻¹ of N-fertilizer. N scarcity in the N-balance was reduced with increasing N-fertilizer amounts and ranged from −29 to −153 kg N ha⁻¹ in 2005/06 and 2006/07. Despite a common shallow groundwater table in the region during some time of the year, scenario analysis revealed that only full irrigation water (580 mm) and N supply according to crop demand (180 kg ha⁻¹) guaranteed high grain yields, unless the water table is permanently shallow to overcome irrigation deficits. Limited irrigation and N application (40% and 55% of ‘optimal’, respectively) in combination with a groundwater table below 3 m resulted in a 55% yield decline. The CropSyst wheat model proved a robust tool for assessing the influence of water and N dynamics under conditions of varying irrigation and shallow groundwater tables. It thus has potential as a decision support not only in northwest Uzbekistan, but also in comparable regions of Central Asia.     

Characterizing leaf gas exchange responses of cotton to full and limited irrigation conditions

Plant responses to water deficit need to be monitored for producing a profitable crop as water deficit is a major constraint on crop yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate physiological responses of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) to various environmental conditions under limited water availability using commercially available varieties grown in South Texas. Soil moisture and variables of leaf gas exchange were measured to monitor water deficit for various varieties under different irrigation treatments. Lint yield and growth variables were also measured and correlations among growth parameters of interest were investigated. Significant differences were found in soil moisture, leaf net assimilation (A_n), stomatal conductance (g), transpiration rate (T_r), and instantaneous water use efficiency (WUE_i) among irrigation treatments in 2006 while no significant differences were found in these parameters in 2007. Some leaf gas exchange parameters, e.g., T_r, and leaf temperature (T_L) have strong correlations with A_n and g. A_n and WUE were increased by 30–35% and 30–40%, respectively, at 600 μmol (CO₂) m⁻² s⁻¹ in comparison with 400 μmol (CO₂) m⁻² s⁻¹. Lint yield was strongly correlated with g, T_r, WUE, and soil moisture at 60 cm depth. Relative A_n, T_r, and T_L started to decrease from FTSW 0.3 at 60 cm and FTSW 0.2 at 40 cm. The results demonstrate that plant water status under limited irrigation management can be qualitatively monitored using the measures of soil moisture as well as leaf gas exchange, which in turn can be useful for describing yield reduction due to water deficit. We found that using normalized A_n, T_r, and T_L is feasible to quantify plant water deficit.