Yield and Resource Use Optimization in Late Transplanted Mint (Mentha arvensis) under Subtropical Conditions

A field experiment was conducted during 1994 and 1995 at Lucknow (26.5°N, 80.5°E, 120 m above mean sea level) to optimize planting density and fertilizer-N application for high essential oil yield of late transplanted mint ( Mentha arvensis ). The treatments studied were 2.5, 2.0 and 1.66 × 10⁵ mint seedlings ha⁻¹ and 0, 80, 160 and 240 kg N ha⁻¹. Under 3 months delayed planting conditions using 2-month-old seedlings, the high planting density of 2.5 × 10⁵ plants ha⁻¹combined with 160 kg N ha⁻¹ gave significantly higher herb and essential oil yields compared with those of lower planting densities (2 and 1.66 × 10⁵ plants ha⁻¹) and all other rates of N application. It is demonstrated that a transplanted mini crop, yielding essential oil at a level of 164 kg ha⁻¹, is feasible after the harvest of rabi cereal, oil seed or legume crops in the north Indian plains.     

Effect of Inoculant Rate on Nodulation and Various Agronomic Traits of Soybean

In a soil lacking indigenous Bradyrhizobium japonicum , soybean ( Glycine max [L.] Merr.) nodulation depends upon the number of rhizobia applied with the inoculum. This field study reports the effect of different rates of applied rhizobia on nodulation, dry matter and nitrogen content in soybean in a Mediterranean soil lacking B. japonicum.
Treatments included six rates of B. japonicum , ranging from 2.5 × 10⁴ to 6.075 × 10⁶ rhizobia cells per seed applied to the seed as peat inoculant at planting, 100 kg N ha⁻¹ and an uninoculated control. The experiment was conducted in an Entisol soil. Regression analysis showed linear relationship between the rate of applied rhizobia and the number of the nodules per plant or the dry weight per nodule. In early stages of development (32 and 68 days after planting) plant dry weight was not affected by inoculation rate. At harvest a rate of 7.5 × 10⁴ rhizobia cells per seed was necessary for maximum total and stover dry weight. A higher rate, 6.75 × 10⁵ rhizobia cells per seed, was required to obtain maximum grain yield, total N content in plant tops and grain N content. Grain percentage N was increased up to 2.025 × 10⁶ rhizobia cells per seed. Nitrogen application increased grain yield, total N content and grain N content at the same level as the lower inoculation rate.     

种植密度和缩节胺调控对麦后直播棉产量和冠层特征的影响

2013―2014年以早熟棉(中棉所50)为材料,采用裂区设计,在江苏省南京市研究了种植密度(7.50万、9.75万和12.00万株·hm~(-2))和缩节胺(DPC)调控(0,52.5和105.0 g·hm~(-2))对麦后直播棉产量和冠层特征的影响。结果表明:皮棉产量在不同种植密度下以12.00万株·hm~(-2)处理最低,在不同DPC用量水平下以0 g·hm~(-2)处理最低;种植密度与DPC调控存在互作效应,以种植密度9.75万株·hm~(-2)、DPC用量52.5~105 g·hm~(-2)处理产量较高,且产量构成中以铃数对产量的直接效应最大。对冠层特征影响表明,下部果枝夹角和长度随种植密度增加而降低,而中、上部果枝的夹角和长度、叶面积指数均以种植密度9.75万株·hm~(-2)处理较高;不同部位果枝夹角和长度、叶面积指数均随DPC用量增加而降低,而透光率则相反。相关分析表明,下部果枝夹角大、中部果枝较长及上部果枝夹角小且叶面积指数和透光率较高,有利于提高产量和霜前花率。综上,该棉区麦后直播棉种植密度9.75万株·hm~(-2)、DPC用量52.5~105 g·hm~(-2)(蕾期、开花期和打顶后用量比例为1∶2∶4),有利于改善棉花冠层特征,实现早熟高产。     

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization and Foliar Application of Plant Growth Retardants and Zinc on Cottonseed, Protein and Oil Yields and Oil Properties of Cotton

Field experiments were conducted in two successive seasons at the Agricultural Research Centre, Giza, Egypt (on a clay loam soil), to determine the effects of N fertilization (added at rates of 107 and 161 kg N ha^–1) and foliar application of plant growth retardants (Pix, Cycocel and Alar; each applied once at 300 p.p.m., 75 days after planting) and zinc (applied at 0.0 and 50 p.p.m., two times, 80 and 95 days after planting) on cottonseed, protein and oil yields and oil properties of the Egyptian cotton cultivar Giza 75. The higher N rate, as well as the application of all growth retardants and zinc, resulted in an increase in cottonseed yield ha^–1, seed index, seed protein content, oil and protein yields ha^–1, seed oil refractive index, unsaponifiable matter and total unsaturated fatty acid content (oleic and linoleic). However, those treatments decreased the oil acid value, saponification value, and total saturated fatty acid content. The seed oil content tended to decrease when the high N rate was applied, but tended to increase with the application of all growth retardants and zinc. There were some differences between Pix, Cycocel and Alar regarding their effects on the studied characters. The highest increase in seed yield ha^–1, seed index, and oil and protein yields ha^–1 was found with Pix, followed by Cycocel. The Cycocel treatment gave the lowest total saturated fatty acid oil content, followed by Alar.     

Response of Mustard to Ethrel Spray and Basal and Foliar Application of Nitrogen

In a field trial conducted during 1992–93 and 1993–94, the effect of basal (B) nitrogen (N) (45 and 60 kg N ha⁻¹) and foliar application (F) of water (W) or 10 kg N ha⁻¹ and 400 or 600 ppm ethrel (E) (2-Chloro ethyl phosphonic acid) at 70 days after sowing was studied on leaf area index and dry mass at 90 days and pod number per plant, seeds per pod, 1000 seed weight, seed yield, oil content and oil vield at harvest of mustard ( Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss.) cv. T-59. Recommended basal (B) application of 90 kg N ha (BN₉₀) was used as control. On the basis of 2 year data it was found that basal application of 60 kg N and foliar spray of 10 kg N ha ⁻¹ and 600 ppm ethrel gave higher values for growth and yield characteristics and enhanced seed yield and oil yield by 12.5 and 14.8%, respectively over control BN_90.     

机械收获模式下直播冬油菜密度与行距的优化

以华油杂62为材料,采用裂区设计,设置密度15万株hm^–2 (D1)、30万株hm^–2 (D2)、45万株hm^–2 (D3)为主区;行距15 cm (R15)、25 cm (R25)、35 cm (R35)为裂区,研究密度及行距变化对油菜群体人工收获产量、叶面积指数(LAI)、角果皮面积指数(PAI)、透光率、抗倒伏、抗裂角性能及机械收获产量的影响,探讨透光率与产量、抗倒性的关系,建立机械化生产模式下油菜密度及行距最优配置。结果表明,密度增加或行距减小,油菜成株率适宜,LAI、PAI值增加,冠层透光率下降,群体生物量及经济系数增加,人工收获产量增加;但单位LAI(PAI)光拦截量、单株生物量及根干重下降,且较低的单位LAI (PAI)光拦截量有利于提高油菜经济系数;密度及行距处理间差异及互作效应显著,与农户习惯种植模式(D2R25)相比,在D3R15处理下可增产14.1%,获得最高人工收获产量。密度或行距增加,地上部鲜重、株高降低及根冠比增加,导致油菜茎秆、根倒角度下降,抗裂角指数增加,机械收获产量变化趋势与人工收获产量一致,与机械收获总损失率相反,表明除通过提高油菜抗倒性和抗裂角性降低机收损失外,较高的人工收获产量是获得较高机械收获产量的前提。由回归方程可知,与常规30万株hm^–2密度、25 cm行距配置比,密度43.8万株hm^–2和行距21 cm配置可使蕾薹期LAI提高21.02%、透光率及单位LAI光拦截量分别下降32.47%与17.36%,角果期PAI增加15.08%、透光率及单位PAI光拦截量分别下降32.04%与3.30%,获得较高的机械收获产量,进一步提高油菜机械化生产效益。     

Effect of Gibberellic Acid Spray during Ontogeny of Mustard on Growth, Nutrient Uptake and Yield Characteristics

In a field trial conducted during 1993–1994, mustard ( Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss.) cv. Varuna was sprayed with either deionised water or 10⁻⁵ M GA₃ at 40 (vegetative stage), 60 (flowering stage) or 80 (pod fill stage) days after sowing (DAS) to select the suitable growth stage for spray for augmenting productivity of the crop. Shoot length per plant, leaf number per plant, leaf area per plant, dry weight per plant and leaf area index and accumulation of N, P and K were recorded at 100 DAS. Pods per plant, seeds per pod, 1000 seed weight, seed yield, biological yield, harvest index and seed yield merit were computed at harvest. Growth, NPK accumulation and yield were maximal when spraying was done at 40 DAS. However, spraying at 40 and 60 DAS gave at par values for most of the growth and yield parameters. It was also noted that there was a significant difference in spray treatment at different growth stages only when G A, was sprayed and not when water was sprayed.     

The Effect of Seeding Rate and Nitrogen Fertilization on Barley Yield and Yield Components in a Cool Maritime Climate

Soil and climatic conditions in Newfoundland are on the margins of agricultural capability, and almost all feed grain is imported. The overall objective of this work was to develop guidelines for the production of barley in Newfoundland, with the goal of establishing modern cropping recommendations. We conducted a 4-year study near St. John's to examine the effect of seeding rate and topdress ammonium nitrate (N) fertilization rate on Chapais six-row barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) yield components and grain yield. Increasing seeding rate from 200 to 380 seeds m^–2 did not alter grain yield in any year. Increasing topdress fertilization from 0 to 60 kg N ha^–1 increased spike density m^–2 at harvest, resulting in linear increases in grain yield in all years. Highest N rates had greatest lodging in two years. Based on our results, agronomic recommendations for eastern Newfoundland now include barley seeding rates of 250 ± 50 seeds m^–2, with topdress applications up to at least 30 kg N ha^–1.     

Characterization of Growth, Nitrogen Accumulation and Competitive Ability of Six Tropical Legumes for Potential Use in Intercropping Systems

Legume cover crops can be successfully used as intercrop or relay crops in low-input farming systems. To select appropriate species for intercropping, experiments were conducted in the savannah zone of Côte d'Ivoire during the wet seasons of 1997 and 1998 to determine the growth and nitrogen (N) accumulation of six cover legumes as well as the characteristics indicative of competitive ability. The species included the erect growing Crotalaria juncea and Cajanus cajan , the creeping species Mucuna pruriens var. cochinchinensis and Calopogonium mucunoides and the bushy herbaceous species Aeschynomene histrix and Stylosanthes hamata . Marked differences in phenology were observed as S. hamata and C. juncea flowered around 45–55 days after sowing (DAS) and the other species around 80–95 DAS. C. juncea and C. cajan produced close to 9 ton dry matter ha^–1, whereas the other species produced less than half this amount. The average estimated amount of accumulated N, based on leaf material, was around 70 kg ha^–1 for all species except S. hamata and A. histrix , which only produced around 25 kg ha^–1. Based on morphological characteristics, C. juncea , C. cajan and the short-lived M. pruriens were identified as potentially most competitive, indicating that productivity and competitive ability are strongly linked. The implications of these findings for intercropping systems in upland rice production are discussed.     

Effect of Soil and Foliar Fertilization on Inoculated and Uninoculated Soybeans

Two experiments of soil N-fertilization and Rhizobium inoculation were conducted in 1981 and 1982 at Giza, Egypt. Soybean was sprayed with a commercial micronutrients mixture, and with urea.
In the first experiment, soil N-fertilization 0, 142.8 and 214.2 kg N/hectare were applied to uninoculated plants, whereas, in the second one, local inoculum was used alone or along with addition of a starter dose of N (47.6 kg N/hectare).
Urea applications were at pod filling period (R₄, R₅ and R₆ stages), whereas, micronutrients mixture was applied at 25 days from planting.
Plant dry weight, leaf area/plant, plant height, pod and seed number/plant, seed weight/plant, seed yield and crude seed protein content increased significantly with nitrogen application to uninoculated soybean plants; whereas the starter dose of N had no significant effect on any of these traits under the inoculated soybean plants.
Foliar application of micronutrients caused significant increases in plant DW, LA, pod and seed number/plant, seed index and seed yield of fertilized and inoculated plants.
Foliar application of urea, to inoculated and uninoculated plants, caused significant increments in plant dry weight, 1A, seed protein content and particular seed index and seed yield.     

Effect of Gibberellic Acid Spray and Basal Nitrogen and Phosphorus on Productivity and Fatty Acid Composition of Rapeseed-Mustard

Two field experiments were conducted during] 994-95 to study the effect of spray of 10⁻⁵ M GA3 at 40 days after sowing on mustard ( Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss.) cv. Varuna grown with basally applied 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg N ha⁻¹ (Expt. 1) and 0,15, 30 and 45 kg P ha⁻¹ (Expt. 2) on pod number per plant, seeds per pod, 1000 seed weight, seed yield, biological yield, harvest index and fatty acid composition of oil. No significant difference between water and GA3 spray was found when basally applied nitrogen was 0 or 40 kg N ha⁻¹. N₈₀ proved to be the best for yield characteristics. In another experiment on phosphorus, GA₃ and 30 kg P ha⁻¹ individually enhanced the yield, but interaction of GA₃ and P remained non-significant. The fatty acid composition of oil in both experiments was significantly affected only by nitrogen and phosphorus treatments for oleic acid and erucic acid. It was found that return in the form of yield was more for every kg applied fertilizer under GA, spray treatment. The response was more for N fertilizer in comparison to P. GA₃ at a low level of fertilization significantly increased the return from fertilization.     

高密度对甘肃黄灌区玉米品种农艺性状和产量的影响

选择4个玉米品种,设置3种密度,于2015-2016年在甘肃中部沿黄灌区种植试验得出：同一品种在不同密度下的农艺性状和产量存在差异。对宁玉524、辽单588、高玉818、先玉335的各农艺性状和产量构成因素在密度9.75万、11.25万、12.75万株/hm ²处理下两年测得的数据均值进行了分析比较,发现随着种植密度的增大,玉米的农艺性状和产量出现趋向性变化。表现为玉米的空秆率、倒伏率、株高、穗位高和产量随着密度的增加而增加;茎粗、穗粗、穗长、穗粒数和百粒重随密度增加有所减小。其中空秆率、茎粗、穗粗、穗长、穗粒数和产量差异显著,高种植密度对他们有显著的影响。     

油菜新品种（组合）98P37-21稻田免耕适宜播种量和移栽密度研究初探

为了探索油菜新品种（组合）98P37-21高产、高效栽培技术,在稻板田中开展不同播种量和移栽密度试验,研究其对油菜生长发育、主要经济性状、产量及其构成因素的影响,并对直播和移栽油菜效益进行了比较。结果表明：直播油菜4.5~7.5 kg/hm²播种量范围内（密度27.3万株/hm²~38.7万株/hm²）,产量随着播种量的增加呈先增后减的趋势;移栽油菜9.0万株/hm²~15.0万株/hm²密度范围内,产量随着移栽密度的增加而增加,直播油菜以6.0 kg/hm²产量最高,移栽油菜以15.0万株/hm²产量最高,但高密度增产优势不明显,表明密度过大也不利于高产,甚至可能降低产量。随着播种量或移栽密度的增加,主茎总叶数、绿叶数、根颈粗、叶面积、一次有效分枝数、全株角果数、每角粒数、千粒重、单株地上部干重、单株产量呈现下降的趋势,而株高、分枝高度变高,叶面积指数变大。移栽油菜主要经济性状指标优于直播油菜,直播油菜产量和产值明显要低,但直播油菜节省劳力和减少投入,净收入却比移栽油菜多1735.7元/hm²,效益明显要高。     

The Effect of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilization on the Phosphorus Absorption by Sunflowers

Little is known about the effect of fertilization on the P uptake of sunflowers. A 4² factorial trial with 0, 60, 120 and 180 kg N ha⁻¹ and 0, 15, 30, and 45 kg P ha⁻¹ was conducted over three years. The P content and concentration of leaves, stems and capitula were determined at three growth stages. High N levels increased the P content and concentration of all plant components in early growth stages only. High P levels increased the P content and concentration of all plant components sharply almost throughout. Plants seem to recover some lost growth towards the end of the season so that at physiological maturity there are no significant differences in P content among N levels. The translocation of P from the stems is very effective but P can accumulate in the leaves if a luxury quantity of P is present in the plants. In terms of seed yield a significant N × P interaction was found, indicating a sharp response to both N and P only in the presence of a sufficient quantity of the other element. The response of seed yield was in agreement with the P absorption by the plants.     

Studies on Sowing Depth for Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), Faba Bean(Vicia faba L.) and Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) in a Mediterranean-type Environment of South-western Australia

Pulses such as chickpea, faba bean and lentil have hypogeal emergence and their cotyledons remain where the seed is sown, while only the shoot emerges from the soil surface. The effect of three sowing depths (2.5, 5 and 10 cm) on the growth and yield of these pulses was studied at three locations across three seasons in the cropping regions of south-western Australia, with a Mediterranean-type environment. There was no effect of sowing depth on crop phenology, nodulation or dry matter production for any species. Mean seed yields across sites ranged from 810 to 2073 kg ha⁻¹ for chickpea, 817–3381 kg ha⁻¹ for faba bean, and 1173–2024 kg ha⁻¹ for lentil. In general, deep sowing did not reduce seed yields, and in some instances, seed yield was greater at the deeper sowings for chickpea and faba bean. We conclude that the optimum sowing depth for chickpea and faba bean is 5–8 cm, and for lentil 4–6 cm. Sowing at depth may also improve crop establishment where moisture from summer and autumn rainfall is stored in the subsoil below 5 cm, by reducing damage from herbicides applied immediately before or after sowing, and by improving the survival of Rhizobium inoculated on the seed due to more favourable soil conditions at depth.     

种植密度对油菜机械收获关键性状的影响

油菜机械化生产中, 茎秆倒伏和角果开裂是引起产量损失的主要因素。为探究密度对油菜机械化关键性状的影响, 以中双11、华油杂9号为材料, 设置4个密度(15万株 hm^-2、30万株 hm^-2、45万株 hm^-2和60万株 hm^-2), 测定产量构成、倒伏指数及抗裂角指数相关指标。结果表明, (1)不同密度下, 群体有效角果数, 每角粒数差异显著, 2个品种产量均在45万株 hm^-2时最大; (2)随密度增加, 油菜根颈粗变细, 茎秆倒伏指数增加, 增加了倒伏风险; 在低密度(15万株 hm^-2和30万株 hm^-2)下, 茎秆临近冠层部位最易倒伏, 在高密度(45万株 hm^-2和60万株 hm^-2)下, 茎秆中部及中部偏上部位倒伏指数较大, 即与低密度相比, 高密度油菜茎秆倒伏发生部位降低; (3)分枝抗裂角指数均小于主茎抗裂角指数, 且随分枝高度降低呈先增加后降低趋势。不同品种油菜主茎抗裂角指数对密度响应存在差异: 中双11随密度增加逐渐降低, 在15万株hm^-2下最大, 华油杂9号则随密度增大呈先增后降趋势, 在30万株 hm^-2下最大。角果发育初期至成熟期含水量下降速率与抗裂角指数极显著负相关, 且相关系数最大, 表明该指标是密度影响抗裂角指数的最关键因素。     

Competition, growth and yield of faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

This paper reviews current knowledge regarding the influence of plant density on the growth and yield of the faba bean crop (Vicia faba L.). An analysis is also made of sowing rate and other factors that may modify optimum plant density, including environmental conditions; in this sense, should be made a differentiation between faba crops grown in temperate conditions and those grown in Mediterranean and semi-arid conditions. The genotype also prompts variations in optimum plant density, depending on the botanical type (mayor, equina or minor) and the growth habit (determinate versus indeterminate) of the cultivar selected. Sowing date also influences optimum seeding rate, which is lower for autumn–winter sowing under temperate and Mediterranean conditions and increases as the sowing date is delayed. For the spring-sown crops typical of temperate conditions, optimum plant density will be higher due to the shorter growing season. With a longer growing season and under optimum environmental conditions, there is normally no additional response to densities over 20 plants m⁻², while in suboptimal conditions, optimum plant density may increase to over 60 plants m⁻². Although the faba bean crop displays considerable plasticity in response to variations in plant density, mainly with regard to number of pods per square meter, it is not wholly clear to which component of yield this should really be ascribed. Number of stems per plant appears to be the most influential factor, although further research is required to confirm this.     

Irrigation Water Management for Efficient Water Use in Mulched Onion

Caused by the necessarily imperfect seed placement accuracy of sowing machines and, additionally, caused by many other biotic and abiotic factors, the resulting plant stands exhibit nonregular spatial distributions of its plants. Based on several simplifying assumptions, a stochastic approach is developed which allows an estimation of the effects of nonregular spatial patterns on yield per area. In this approach, two random variables are attached to each plant: single plant yield E and individual space A . The latter is estimated by the area of Thiessen polygons. Yield per area, calculated by the expectation of the ratio E/A , can be approximately expressed dependent on the means ( Ē and Ā ) and coefficients of variation ( v _E and v _A ) of E and A and their correlation ( r _EA ). In relation to the commonly used estimate Ē/Ā for yield per area, one obtains yield decreases if v _A / v _E  <  r _EA . This inequality, however, will be usually valid in the field of applications. The theoretical approaches and results were applied to three experimental data sets for drilled seeds of winter oilseed rape ( Brassica napus L.) (plant density: 60 plants m⁻², row distance: 10 cm). These data sets are characterized by different accuracies of longitudinal distributions within rows (58 %, 101 %, 150 %): yield depression increases with an increasing variability of plant distances within rows.     

Effect of Sowing Technique on Growth of Undersown Crop and Yield of Spring Barley

Undersowing a main crop enables establishment of a catch crop in areas characterized by a short post-harvest period before the onset of winter. Techniques with lower costs than conventional undersowing by separate drilling are often regarded as unreliable. Undersowing by drilling after sowing spring barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) was compared with broadcast sowing simultaneously with drilling barley. Various implements were coupled behind the combined drill in cases where seed was broadcast: a press-wheel attachment, a long-tined harrow and a cage roller. A fourth treatment did not include an implement coupled behind the drill. The undersown crop was sown as a seed mixture of 3 kg ha^–1 red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.) and 6 kg ha^–1 meadow fescue ( Festuca pratensis Hudson). The numbers of plants and weeds and the plant height were measured five times during the growing season. Above-ground biomass of the undersown species was determined at barley harvest and in late autumn. Grain yield of spring barley was recorded. Drilling resulted in the highest yield of undersown crop when an early summer drought occurred, but broadcasting in combination with use of seed covering equipment led to the least variation in biomass production over the 4 years the experiment was conducted. The relative proportion of meadow fescue in the crop was low in three years, and lower when broadcast than when drilled. Barley grain yield was highest when the seed was broadcast and seed covering equipment was used. Use of a cage roller increased weed biomass, but press-wheels and a long-tined harrow did not. Separate rolling after undersowing increased undersown crop yield in one year, but decreased grain yield in some cases.     

The Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization and Population Density of the Field Bean (Vicia faba L. minor) of Indeterminate and Determinate Growth Habit on the Symbiosis with Root Nodule Bacteria and on the Seed Yield

Field beans of indeterminate (cv. Nadwiślański) and determinate (cv. Tibo) growth habits were grown on field plots with a density of 20, 40 and 80 plants m⁻² at two levels of nitrogen fertilization: low (20 kg N ha⁻¹) and very high (150 kg N ha⁻¹). At the phase of intense pod growth the number and the dry matter weight of root nodules as well as their nitrogenase activity and some features of the plants growth were determined, and in the period of ripeness the components of seed yield were established.
It was found that increased density of sowing as well as the high level of nitrogen fertilization inhibited the growth and development of root nodules and limited their nitrogenase activity in both cultivars. Plants of both varieties were characterized by a similar potential of forming the root nodules, however, in plants of the cv. Tibo the nitrogenase activity of nodules was much lower than in the cv. Nadwiślański.
Increased population density of the plants has in both varieties given increased seed yield when calculated per m² of the soil, compensating in excess the depression of the seed yield from one plant. Such compensation did not occur in the case of the depression of nitrogen fixation under intense nitrogen fertilization.