Grain Yield of Intercropped Sorghum and Pearl Millet as Influenced by Sorghum Genotype and Cropping Pattern

Intercropping of sorghum and pearl millet with different growth cycles is used widely in third-world countries to ensure and increase yields. However, it is questionable whether yield increases because of intercropping can be maintained under more developed systems, since temporal differences are necessary to allow mechanized planting and harvesting.
Three sorghum hybrids with expected growth cycles from 90 to 110 days were planted in sole stands and in alternate rows and mixed within the rows with a pearl millet hybrid having a growth cycle similar to that of the early sorghum. Sole stands of millet also were included. The plots were planted at three locations in Kansas, two dryland and one including dryland and irrigated. Results show that yields were consistently highest in sole stands of sorghum, owing to the higher yield level of sorghum. No yield increase could be found on a land equivalent ratio basis, indicating no intercropping advantages. However, under good moisture conditions, a tendency toward yield increase was observed with the later maturing sorghums, which had 1–2 weeks of grain filling after the millet was mature. When moisture supply was insufficient, millet showed higher competitiveness for water than sorghum, and sorghum was adversely affected more than pearl millet was favored. It was concluded that moisture conditions have to be good and that temporal differences between sorghum and millet have to be greater than those used in this experiment to achieve intercropping yield advantages.     

Stability analysis of yield and capsaicinoids content in chili (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum</Emphasis> spp<Emphasis Type="Italic">.</Emphasis>) grown across six environments

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is the most important cereal in crop-livestock production systems in arid and drier semi-arid environments valued for its grain and dry stover. The conventional approach of improving grain yield through greater partitioning of biomass to the grain and decreased stover yield is not a viable strategy for arid regions where biomass also needs to be improved. The current research tested the hypothesis whether biomass can be improved without extending the crop duration. The 232 F₅ lines derived from a cross (J28 × RIB 335/18) were evaluated in their testcross form along with three commercial hybrids under arid zone conditions. Biomass, grain and stover yields, panicle number, grain size and grain number panicle⁻¹ varied 1.8 to 2.7 fold in progeny testcrosses. Variation in duration of flowering time accounted for only 2% of variation in biomass, indicating that considerable scope existed for selection of testcrosses, and by implication, of F₅ progenies with high biomass independent of crop duration. Stover yield accounted for 72% of differences in total biomass with remaining accounted for by grain yield. From among 92 and 132 testcrosses that had flowering time comparable to two early checks, most had significantly higher biomass, grain and stover yields than these early checks but none of the testcrosses had earliness on par with extra-early maturing hybrid HHB 67. Mean superiority of best 5% testcrosses over early checks was 58% for biomass, 68% for stover yield and 53% for grain yield. The results indicated that there are good prospects of improving biomass in arid zone pearl millet without significantly compromising crop duration.     

Effects of Tillage and Cropping Systems on Soil Moisture Balance and Pearl Millet Yield

A 2-year study was conducted to determine the effects of tillage and cropping systems on soil moisture balance, growth and yield of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.). Three tillage treatments, viz. minimum tillage (one harrowing), conventional tillage (two harrowing, cross) and deep tillage (ploughing followed by two har-rowings), and four cropping systems, viz. monoculture of pearl millet, pearl miliet-clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetra-gonoloba (L.) Taub.) rotation, monoculture of pearl millet with 5 t ha⁻¹ farm yard manure (FYM), and intercropping of pearl millet and clusterbean, were compared. Deep tillage improved the soil moisture storage, water use efficiency and grain yield of pearl millet while consumptive use of water was higher with minimum tillage. Total dry matter yield with deep tillage and conventional tillage was 23.2 and 10.2% higher than minimum tillage in the season 1, and the corresponding values for season 2 were 30.7 and 13.3%. The Pearl millct-clusterbean rotation and monoculture of pearl millet with the application of 5 t ha⁻¹ FYM gave 17.2 and 6.1% higher yield than monoculture of pearl millet, respectively. Maximum water use efficiency was observed in rotation followed by FYM application.     

Development of Stripe and Leaf Rusts in Wheat Cultivar Mixtures

Development of stripe and leaf rusts was studied for a two year period, from 1988 to 1990, in four cultivars of bread wheat planted in pure stands as well as in mixtures of different compositions in trials conducted at two different locations in Pakistan. The relative rate of disease development appeared to be slower in plots planted to cultivar mixtures as compared to that with pure stands of the same cultivars. Similarly, the area under the disease progress curve in cultivar mixtures was reduced, the reduction being proportional to the amount of the resistant component in the composite. Frequency of individual virulences in the parasite population also remained constant during the period of these studies. Differences in yield between plots with mixed populations and those with pure stands were also found to be statistically significant.     

Tropospheric ozone pollution reduces the yield of African crops

Northern, Southern and Equatorial Africa have been identified as among the regions most at risk from very high ozone concentrations. Whereas we know that many crop cultivars from Europe, north America and Asia are sensitive to ozone, almost nothing is known about the sensitivity of staple food crops in Africa to the pollutant. In this study cultivars of the African staple food crops, Triticum aestivum (wheat), Eleusine coracana (finger millet), Pennisetum glaucum (pearl millet) and Phaseolus vulgaris (bean) were exposed to an episodic ozone regime in solardomes in order to assess whether African crops are sensitive to ozone pollution. Extensive visible leaf injury due to ozone was shown for many cultivars, indicating high sensitivity to ozone. Reductions in total yield and 1,000-grain weight were found for T. aestivum and P. vulgaris, whereas there was no effect on yield for E. coracana and P. glaucum. There were differences in sensitivity to ozone for different cultivars of an individual crop, indicating that there could be possibilities for either cultivar selection or selective crop breeding to reduce sensitivity of these crops to ozone.     

Dry Peas (Pisum sativum L.) Grown in Mixtures with Faba Beans (Vicia faba L.)—A Rewarding Cultivation Alternative

Two semi-leafless pea cultivars and two highly lodging-resistant faba bean cultivars were grown in a series of replacement trials conducted on a highly fertile loam soil near Gottingen from 1992 to 1995. Cultivation as well as harvesting of mixed crops of both species proved possible. In spite of the delayed harvest of the mixed crop stands determined by the later pod ripening of the faba beans (varying between seasons from -f 5 to +21 days), noticeable seed losses due to pod shattering were not observed for the overripe peas. Standing ability of the peas was considerably improved by mixed cropping. Lodging began later and was less severe at harvest. Within mixtures with 50 % or more faba bean proportions at sowing (relative to the seeding rate of the pure stands) the peas, n i most cases, remained nearly upright until harvest and instead of the usual 'Plattlager', i.e., prostrate but upright top, frequently a more highly inserted 'Hohllager', i.e., upright but collapsed at higher nodes, was observed. In contrast to these remarkably synergistic effects for standing ability, such effects proved to be only small and nonsignificant for grain yield (−1.5–2.9%). Yield stability of the mixed crops was higher than that of the pure stands of both species. Estimates of the stability parameters, ecovalence, deviation from regression and environmental variance were at least halved. Yield proportions of peas and faba beans in the harvested seed of the mixtures did not correspond with the seed proportions at sowing. They differed considerably between seasons and cultivar combination. Higher yield proportions of faba beans were observed under wet and cold weather conditions and for the cultivar combination Victor/Disco, whereas higher yield proportions of peas were found under dry and warm weather conditions and for the cultivar combination Mythos/Baroness .     

春谷登记品种农艺性状、品质和产量的综合评价

基于2019年全国农业技术推广服务中心展示谷子部分登记品种的春谷早熟区和中晚熟区试验数据,对内蒙古自治区赤峰市和山西省晋中市展示点69个参试品种的主要农艺、产量和品质性状以及抗逆性进行比较与分析。参试品种与各自对照相比,产量变幅为4425~4942.5 kg,株高变幅为111.0~178.6 cm,籽粒蛋白质含量变幅为8.85%~15.47%,籽粒脂肪含量变幅为1.06%~5.69%,籽粒淀粉含量变幅为58.81%~86.8%,春谷早熟区生育期变幅为108~122 d,春谷中晚熟区生育期变幅为118~126 d。谷子品种展示评价体系,对谷子登记品种的生产性能进行综合评定,旨在为谷子品种的合理评判以及谷子的引种与推广提供科学依据。选育食味上佳兼具功能性的优质商品性品种和株高适宜机械化收获品种是今后谷子育种目标和方向。     

Field evaluation of mixed-seedlings with rice to alleviate flood stress for semi-arid cereals

Flash floods, erratically striking semi-arid regions, often cause field flooding and soil anoxia, resulting in crop losses on food staples, typically pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench). Recent glasshouse studies have indicated that rice (Oryza spp.) can enhance flood stress tolerance of co-growing dryland cereals by modifying their rhizosphere microenvironments via the oxygen released from its roots into the aqueous rhizosphere. We tested whether this phenomenon would be expressed under field flood conditions. The effects of mix-planting of pearl millet and sorghum with rice on their survival, growth and grain yields were evaluated under controlled field flooding in semi-arid Namibia during 2014/2015–2015/2016. Single-stand and mixed plant treatments were subjected to 11–22 day flood stress at the vegetative growth stage. Mixed planting increased plant survival rates in both pearl millet and sorghum. Grain yields of pearl millet and sorghum were reduced by flooding, in both the single-stand and mixed plant treatments, relative to the non-flooded upland yields, but the reduction was lower in the mixed plant treatments. In contrast, flooding increased rice yields. Both pearl millet–rice and sorghum–rice mixtures demonstrated higher land equivalent ratios, indicating a mixed planting advantage under flood conditions. These results indicate that mix-planting pearl millet and sorghum with rice could alleviate flood stress on dryland cereals. The results also suggest that with this cropping technique, rice could compensate for the dryland cereal yield losses due to field flooding.     

Identification of genomic regions linked to blast (Pyricularia grisea) resistance in pearl millet

Blast disease causes serious economic yield losses in pearl millet. Identification and introgression of genomic regions associated with blast resistance can help to develop resistant cultivars to minimize yield losses incurred from blast outbreaks. In this study, 384 advanced pearl millet genotypes were screened against six blast pathotype-isolates (major pearl millet growing agro-ecologies of India), namely, Pg 45, Pg 118, Pg 138, Pg 186, Pg 204 and Pg 232. Analysis of variance showed significant (P < .001) variation among genotypes for blast reaction (susceptible to resistance). ICMR 08111 and ICMR 10888 genotypes showed resistance to all six blast pathotypes. A genome-wide association study performed with 264,241 single nucleotide polymorphic markers could successfully identify 15 SNPs (P = 1.26 × 10⁻⁷ to 9.22 × 10⁻¹²) underlying the genomic regions governing blast-resistance across five different chromosomes. The SNPs reported had a significant association in at least two of the three models tested (GLM, MLM and Farm CPU). These SNPs can be used in pearl millet-resistant breeding programmes after their function has been validated across different genetic backgrounds.     

Heterosis in landrace-based topcross hybrids of pearl millet across arid environments

This study quantified the magnitude of heterosis in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) topcross hybrids produced by crossing 16 diverse landraces and three high yielding open-pollinating varieties on two homozygous male-sterile lines. Hybrids and pollinators were grown in 12 year ×;location combinations in India that were grouped into three zones. Genetic components of variance quantifying the differences among these hybrids were estimated. The hybrids showed a conspicuous heterosis for grain yield, earliness and biomass yield but not for straw yield. The level and direction of heterosis for time to flowering depended strongly on the earliness of the male-sterile line. In the terminal drought stress zone hybrids made on the early maturing male-sterile line 843A had the highest level of heterosis for grain yield (88%). This was partly due to escape from terminal stress. In the other two zones the heterosis for grain yield was on average 30%. Heterosis for biomass yield and biomass yield per day was on average also positive in all three zones. For all traits, except time to flowering and biomass yield per day, pollinator effects were the only significant source of variation. Differences between hybrids were mostly caused by additive genetic effects. Significant amount of heterosis observed in landrace-based topcross hybrids for grain yield and other productivity-related traits suggested that substantial improvement in pearl millet productivity in and environments can be obtained by topcrossing locally adapted landraces on suitable male-sterile lines. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Cultivars and Breeding Lines as Stem Biomass Producers

Linseed ( Linum usitatissimum L.) stems, which contain bast fibres, make up a considerable part of the linseed biomass, but are considered a by-product of no value. The feasibility of cultivating existing linseed cultivars and breeding lines for dual-purpose use of stem and seed was studied in 1995–97 in Jokioinen, Finland. Finnish linseed cv. Helmi was compared with 10 linseed genotypes and one flax cultivar for stem yield, ratio of stem yield to seed yield, and plant stand height and density. The stem yield of cv. Helmi averaged 1317 kg dry matter ha^-1. Significantly higher stem yields were produced by breeding lines Bor 15 and Bor 18 and cvs Gold Merchant, Norlin and Martta. The cv. Helmi produced lower stem yield than seed yield while breeding lines Bor 15 and Bor 18 and cvs Gold Merchant and Martta yielded more stem than seeds. The difference in the ratio of stem yield to seed yield between them and cv. Helmi was statistically significant. The mean plant stand height was 60.3 cm and the final plant density 594 plants m^-2. No relationship was found between stem yield and height or density. Within 2 days of seed threshing, stems of early maturing Finnish genotypes dried up in the field to nearly 15 % moisture content, even in the middle of September (1996). The early maturing breeding lines Bor 15 and Bor 18, with their significantly higher stem yields relative to cv. Helmi, are recommended for dual-purpose use.     

Identifying plant architectural traits associated with yield under intercropping: Implications of genotype-cropping system interactions

Increased yields of some crops have resulted from indirect selection of plant architectural traits related to yield. This study examines the potential relationship between plant architecture and yield for a legume grown under intercropping, Field experiments were conducted in 1991 to examine the response of two cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) genotypes with contrasting plant habits to sole crop and intercrop with pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke), and to identify cowpea traits associated with yield under intercropping. The cultivur with a bush-type habit was higher-yielding in sole crop, whereas the cultivar with a spreading habit was higher-yielding in intercrop. For F₂ cowpea populations, pod number was most highly correlated with seed yield in intercrop. The number of branches and nodes, particularly in areas with increased access to light, and increased internode length were also important in intercrop. Selection for improved yield in sole crop may not necessarily lead to improved yield in intercrop, and different plant traits may be more appropriate for cultivars intended for use in inter-crop than for those intended for use in sole crop.     

Effects of sowing date and nitrogen fertilization on growth,development and yield of a short day cultivar of millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) in Mali

The effects of different nitrogen supplies on the performance of the short-day cultivar M9D3 of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L. R.Br.) and their interaction with sowing time were analysed in a two-year experiment in Mali. The first sowing dates coincided with the beginning of the rainy season. The second sowings were 20 days later. The sowing date affected only the emergence-earing duration independently of nitrogen application. The linear reduction in straw yield, caused by the shortening of the cycle, was not combined with a reduction in grain yield. The application of even low levels of nitrogen to millet crops always increased the grain yield, as a consequence of a higher number of productive panicles, while the straw production was positively affected only when the rainy season started early. The non-agreement between the high productive potential of the first sowing crops and their grain yield, in comparison with the plants of the second sowing date, could be ascribed, first of all, to the more marked asynchrony between the time corresponding to LAImax and the grain filling phase, characterised by the maximum sink demand and, second, to a longer time interval during which stem growth and panicle growth are in direct competition.     

Yield and Persistence from Mixtures of a Winter Hardy and a Verticillium Wilt Resistant Lucerne Cultivar

In British Columbia, Lucerne stand persistence is reduced by inadequate disease resistance, winter hardiness, or both. We evaluated the possibility that persistence could be improved by sowing mixtures of winter hardy and verticillium wilt (VW) resistant cultivars. Our hypothesis was that dry matter yield of mixtures of two Lucerne cultivars could be calculated simply from the proportion of each cultivar in the mixture and their yield in pure stand. A winter hardy cultivar, Beaver, was grown in mixtures with each of three VW (caused by Verticillium albo-atrum Reinke & Berthier) resistant cultivars (WL316, Sparta, or Barrier) in proportions of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0. The yield of a mixture of two cultivars could be calculated from the proportion of each cultivar in the seed mixture and their yields in monoculture. In the absence of a winter where severe injury to Lucerne stands occurred, the VW-resistant cultivar Barrier yielded about 2 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ more than the more winter hardy Beaver.     

Evaluation of the Forage Potentials of Pearl Millet in a Semi-arid Tropical Environment

The pastures and rangelands of the semi-arid region of Nigeria wherein is the bulk of the livestock in the country, provide sufficient nutrients for livestock for no more than three to five months of the year. There is therefore need to have high yielding and good quality forages to ensure adequate all-year-round forage supply for the livestock. The objective of this study was to evaluate the forage potentials of pearl millet ( Pennistetum americanum [L.] K. Schum.) which is well adapted to the region. Twenty cultivars were evaluated for their growth, forage yield and mineral content potentials.
The cultivars were significantly different in the number of leaves per plant, plant height, dry matter yield and potassium content in each cutting. Differences in crude protein and crude fibre contents were significant only between cuttings. Variations in crude protein and crude fibre contents ranged from 14.1 to 20.3 % and from 28 to 30.8 %, respectively. Cultivars had a progressive dimunition in growth, yield and mineral content potentials after the first or second cutting. Pearl millet therefore seems less suited to forage production in the semi-arid region of Nigeria since no cultivar showed the potentials for adequate supply of all-year-round forage.     

Modelling phenological and agronomic adaptation options for narrow-leafed lupins in the southern grainbelt of Western Australia

Australian modern narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) cultivars tend to flower early and are vernalisation-unresponsive (VU). Cultivars have generally been selected for the warmer climates zones and sandy soils of the northern grain belt of Western Australia (NWA), where lupins are predominantly grown. In areas where climates are cooler and growing seasons are longer and wetter, such as the southern grain belt of Western Australia (SWA), it is probable that lupin would have a higher yield potential. Given that VU cultivars would have a longer vegetative phase (i.e. late flowering) we hypothesise that they may be more productive than those that are early flowering. Here we used a modelling approach to: 1) test the hypothesis that cool-climate SWA would have higher lupin yield than warm-climate NWA; 2) explore lupin phenological adaptation and yield potential in SWA over a range of proposed VU cultivars; and 3) further evaluate the combined effects of cultivar phenology, sowing time and seasonal type on lupin yields.Simulations from the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) showed that, on average, lupin yield in SWA was higher than that in NWA, with 23% greater yield for the early-flowering cultivar Mandelup. Proposed cultivars flowering 22 days (late-flowering) and 15 days (medium flowering) later than Mandelup would have their phenology better adapted in the high and medium rainfall zones of SWA, producing 16 and 7% more grain in the two rainfall zones, respectively. The proposed late-flowering cultivar sown before the end of April achieved higher yields for all seasons in the high rainfall zone and for above average and average rainfall seasons in the medium rainfall zone. In more water-limited situations early sowing was preferable with no obvious difference in yield among cultivars. Despite this, the early-flowering cultivar yielded more when sown in late April. The results indicate that lupin production would benefit from breeding VU varieties with a long vegetative phase for the SWA that should be sown in mid to late April.     

小麦早熟高产品种子粒灌浆特性分析

以中、晚熟小麦品种（系）为对照，对早熟高产小麦灌浆期干物质积累和子粒灌浆过程进行了研究。结果表明，早熟、高产小麦品种在子粒灌浆期较多地利用了花前贮藏的营养物质，对同化物的利用较协调；灌浆高峰来得迟，高峰峰值高；高峰出现后，灌浆速率下降稍快于中、晚熟类型小麦品种（系），但在花后35d内，灌浆速率仍显著高于中、晚熟类型小麦品种。     

Breeding behavior of yield components and hollow heart in tetraploid-diploid vs. conventionally derived potato hybrids

Summary A factorial mating design with six 4x cultivars as stylar parents mated to three groups of pollen parents (4x cultivars, 4x high protein selections, and 2x S. phureja) was used to study breeding behavior of yield, tuber set, marketable yield and hollow heart in potatoes. Mean yield for the 4x-2x hybrids was equivalent to that of their cultivar parents although yield components, tuber set and average tuber size, were greater and less, respectively, than the cultivar parents. High estimates of general combining ability were found in both pollen and stylar parents for yield, tuber set, marketable yield, number of marketable tubers and hollow heart in all three hybrid populations. Specific combining ability estimates were significant only for yield and hollow heart. Frequency of white-fleshed 4x-2x progeny of five heterozygous yellow-fleshed 2x phureja genotypes was used to confirm cytological identification of a first division restitution mechanism operative in the 2x parents. Although three of these phureja genotypes generated high-yielding progeny, two others produced 4x-2x progeny with mean yield similar to that of hybrids among 4x cultivars.Scientific journal series article 11,601 of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Genetic analysis of flowering and maturity time in high latitude spring wheat

Due to the short growing season in the high northern latitudes, the development of early maturing spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars is important to avoid frost damage which can lower production and quality. We investigated earliness of flowering and maturity, and some associated agronomic traits, using a set of randomly selected high northern latitude adapted spring wheat cultivars (differing in maturity) and their F₁ and F₂ crosses made in a one-way diallel mating design. The parents, and their F₁ and F₂ crosses were evaluated under field conditions over 2 years. Anthesis and maturity times were controlled by both vernalization response and earliness per se genes, mainly acting additively. Non-additive genetic effects were more important in controlling grain fill duration, grain yield and plant height. Additive × additive epistatic effects were detected for all traits studied except time to anthesis. Segregation analyses of the F₂ populations for time to anthesis indicated the presence of different vernalization response genes. Molecular genetic analyses revealed the presence of Vrn-A1 and Vrn-B1 genes in the parental cultivars. Narrow-sense heritability was medium to high (60–86%) for anthesis and maturity times but low to medium (13–55%) for grain fill duration, plant height and grain yield. Selection for early flowering/maturity in early segregating generations would be expected to result in genetic improvement towards earliness in high latitude spring wheats. Incorporation of the vernalization responsive gene Vrn-B1 in combination with vernalization non-responsive gene Vrn-A1 into spring wheats would aid in the development of early maturing cultivars with high grain yield potential for the high latitude wheat growing regions of the northern hemisphere.     

Origin of early maturing pigeonpea germplasm and its impact on adaptation and cropping systems

Pigeonpea breeding activities started about a century ago and for decades only late maturing cultivars dominated the global cultivation. Historically, no early maturing cultivar was available for a very long time and breeding of such varieties started in the third quarter of 20th century but at a low key. From these efforts, some pigeonpea varieties maturing in 90–150 days were bred. Information gathered from various sources revealed that the first few early maturing genotypes originated through spontaneous mutations in the late maturing field‐grown landraces. In other cases, transgressive segregation and induced mutations also produced early maturing varieties. At present, the high yielding early maturing cultivars are contributing significantly towards widening the adaption barriers and in the diversification of some age‐old cropping systems. In this paper, the authors, besides discussing the importance of early maturing cultivars in present agricultural systems, also summarize information related to the origin of primary sources of earliness.