Effects of planting soybean in summer fallow on wheat grain yield,total N and Zn in grain and available N and Zn in soil on the Loess Plateau of China

Dryland wheat is the major contributor to wheat production in the world, where water deficiency and poor soil fertility are key factors limiting wheat grain yields and nutrient concentrations. A field experiment was carried out from June 2008 to June 2011 at Shilipu (latitude 35.12°N, longitude 107.45°E and altitude 1200 m above sea level) on the Loess Plateau (a typical dryland) in China, to investigate the effects of rotation with soybean (Glycine max) green manure (GM) on grain yield, total N and total Zn concentrations in subsequent wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and on nitrate-N and available Zn in the soil. The benefits of crop rotation with soybean GM on wheat grain yields became more evident with time. In the second and third years, the grain yields of wheat rotated with soybean GM reached 4871 and 5089 kg ha⁻¹ at the 108 kg N ha⁻¹ rate. These yields were 21% and 12% higher than the highest yields of wheat under a fallow-winter wheat (FW) rotation. Rotation with soybean GM reduced the amount of N fertilizer required to obtain wheat grain yields and biomass levels similar to wheat grown in the FW rotation by 20–33%. In the first 2 years, average grain N concentrations over all N rates increased by 6% and 12%, and those of Zn increased by 26% and 14% under the soybean GM-winter wheat (SW) rotation, compared with the FW rotation. The increased grain N and Zn concentrations were found to be related to the increased concentrations of nitrate-N and available Zn in the soil, particularly at the sowing of winter wheat. However, grain N and Zn concentrations were not improved by rotation with soybean GM in the third year. This was attributed to the dilution effect caused by the more grain yield increase than its nutrient export. In conclusion, planting soybean for GM in fallow fields reduced the need for N fertilizer to enhance wheat yields in this dryland region. Change in wheat grain N and Zn concentrations was related to soil nutrient concentrations, and to the balance between increased grain yield and its nutrient export.     

Functional mechanisms of drought tolerance in maize through phenotyping and genotyping under well watered and water stressed conditions

Developing tolerant genotypes is crucial for stabilizing maize productivity under drought stress conditions as it is one of the most important abiotic stresses affecting crop yields. Twenty seven genotypes of maize (Zea mays L.) were evaluated for drought tolerance for three seasons under well watered and water stressed conditions to identify interactions amongst various tolerance traits and grain yield as well as their association with SSR markers. The study revealed considerable genetic diversity and significant variations for genotypes, environment and genotype × environment interactions for all the traits. The ranking of genotypes based on drought susceptibility index for morpho-physiological traits was similar to that based on grain yield and principal component analysis. Analysis of trait – trait and trait – yield associations indicated significant positive correlations amongst the water relations traits of relative water content (RWC), leaf water potential and osmotic potential as well as of RWC with grain yield under water stressed condition. Molecular analysis using 40 SSRs revealed 32 as polymorphic and 62 unique alleles were detected across 27 genotypes. Cluster analysis resulted in categorization of the genotypes into five distinct groups which was similar to that using principal component analysis. Based on overall performance across seasons tolerant and susceptible genotypes were identified for eventual utilization in breeding programs as well as for QTL identification. The marker-trait association analysis revealed significant associations between few SSR markers with water relations as well as yield contributing traits under water stressed conditions. These associations highlight the importance of functional mechanisms of intrinsic tolerance and cumulative traits for drought tolerance in maize.     

Effects of plant density on grain yield,protein size distribution,and breadmaking quality of winter wheat grown under two nitrogen fertilisation rates

Nitrogen (N) and plant density are two crucial factors that affect winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and quality, but little is known regarding the effects of interactions between these two factors on the amount and size distribution of protein fractions and quality traits. We grew the bread wheat cultivar Jinan17 in two successive seasons (2012–2013 and 2013–2014) at three densities of 120 plants m⁻² (low), 180 plants m⁻² [the usual rate for a multiple-spike cultivar with high tillering ability in the North China Plain (NCP)], and 240 plants m⁻² (high) and two levels of N fertilisation of 0 (low N availability treatment without N fertilisation) and 240 kg ha⁻¹ (the usual N rate for winter wheat production in the NCP) to evaluate the effect of N level × plant density interaction on grain yield, grain protein concentration, the amount and composition of protein fractions, dough development time, dough stability time, and loaf volume. The effect of plant density on Jinan 17 grain yield and quality differed between the two N levels. As plant density increased, all the parameters listed above decreased under 0 kg ha⁻¹ N fertilisation, but increased under 240 kg ha⁻¹ N fertilisation. Stepwise regression analysis showed that the dough rheological properties and breadmaking quality of Jinan 17 were affected by plant density under both N levels, primarily through changes in the polymerisation degree of glutenins in the flour.     

Interference between red kidneybean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.)

Field experiments were conducted in 2006 and 2007 to evaluate the competitive ability of bush type red kidneybean (RKB) (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars against redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.). Three cultivars of RKB (Akhtar, Sayyad and D81083) and five A. retroflexus densities (0, 4, 8, 16 and 32 plants m⁻²) were established in a factorial arrangement. A. retroflexus had a greater plant height and growth rate (GR) but a lower leaf area index (LAI) than RKB cultivars in almost all treatments. Higher densities of A. retroflexus increased LAI and GR but decreased yield of RKB cultivars. The cv. Sayyad and D81083 had the greatest and lowest LAI and GR, respectively, in competition with A. retroflexus. The maximum intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) at noon by A. retroflexus was 90.4 and 66.0% in competition with cv. D81083 and Sayyad, respectively. The seed yield and pod number per plant of RKB cultivars decreased severely with increasing A. retroflexus density. A. retroflexus seed number m⁻² was the highest and lowest in competition with cv. D81083 and Sayyad, respectively. The competitive ability of RKB cultivars was compared using parameters estimated through two-parameter yield loss-relative leaf area model. The relative ranking of the RKB cultivars examined for their competitiveness, supported by modeling results, was Sayyad > Akhtar > D81083.     

Density responses and spatial distribution of cotton yield and yield components in jujube (Zizyphus jujube)/cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) agroforestry

Trees are the dominant species in agroforestry systems, profoundly affecting the performance of understory crops. Proximity to trees is a key factor in crop performance, but rather little information is available on the spatial distribution of yield and yield components of crop species under the influence of trees in agroforestry systems. Also, little information is available on how crop density may be exploited to optimize the yield in such systems. Here we studied the performance of cotton in jujube/cotton agroforestry. Field experiments were conducted in 2012 and 2013 in Hetian, Xinjiang, China. Cotton was grown at a row distance of 60 cm in three densities, 13.5, 18.0 and 22.5 plants m⁻² in six m wide paths between tree lines in a jujube plantation. Plant density affected both cotton aboveground dry matter and yield significantly. The highest yield was attained at the intermediate density of 18.0 plants m⁻² (20.0 plants m⁻² corresponding in sole cotton), lower than the optimal density in sole cotton (25.0 plants m⁻²). Yield at the lower density was constrained by the low number of bolls per m² as a direct consequence of the low density, whereas at the high plant density yield was constrained by a lower allocation of assimilates to cotton seed and lint, as a consequence of intraspecific and interspecific competitions. There were strong gradients in yield and yield components in relation to the distance from the tree rows. Leaf area and total dry matter of cotton in rows close to the tree lines were reduced, especially in the rows next to the trees. Moreover, biomass allocation to cotton fruits was reduced in these rows. Competitive influences from the trees on cotton performance extended two rows deep in a six-year old jujube stand, and even three rows deep in a seven-year old stand. Shading effects on cotton yield were compensated by increasing plant density as a result of greater boll numbers per unit ground area. Data from this study help guide the design of optimal plant density of cotton in jujube plantations and give insight in the spatial distribution and dynamics of competitive effects in agroforestry systems in general.     

Can arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve competitive ability of dill + common bean intercrops against weeds?

Competition for soil resources plays a key role in the crop yield of intercropping systems. There is a lack of knowledge on the main factors involved in competitive interactions between crops and weeds for nutrients uptake. Hence, the purpose of this work was to compare the effects of arbuscular mycorrhial fungi (Funneliformis mosseae) colonization in interspecific competitive relations and its effect on nutrients uptake and weed control in dill and common bean intercropping. Two field experiments were carried out with factorial arrangements based on randomized complete block design with three replications during 2013–2014. The factors were cropping systems including a) common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) sole cropping (40 plants m⁻²), b) dill (Anethum graveolens L.) sole cropping at different densities (25, 50 and 75 plants m⁻²) and c) the additive intercropping of dill + common bean (25 + 40, 50 + 40 and 75 + 40 plants m⁻²). All these treatments were applied with (+AM) or without (-AM) arbuscular mycorrhiza colonization. In both cropping systems, inoculation with F. mosseae increased the P, K, Fe and Zn concentrations of dill plants by 40, 524, 57 and 1.0 μg kg⁻¹ DW, respectively. Intercropping increased Mn concentration in common bean (4.0 μg kg⁻¹ DW) and dill (3.0 μg kg⁻¹ DW), and also seed yields of both crops (198 g m⁻² and161 g m⁻², respectively). AM colonization improved seed yields of dill and common bean by 169 and 177 g m⁻² in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Moreover, AM application enhanced competitive ability of dill + common bean intercrops against weeds at different intercropping systems. Intercropping significantly changed weed density compared to sole cropping, as weed density was decreased in the dill + common bean intercropping. Diversity (H), Evenness (E) and richness of weed species of weeds for intercrops were higher than those for sole crops.     

Yield of bolting winter beet (Beta vulgaris L.) as affected by plant density,genotype and environment

Winter beet roots and shoots might be a favorable substrate for biogas production in Central Europe. However, detailed information about the attainable yield of this crop is lacking. Thus, the impact of plant density, genotype and environmental conditions on total dry matter yield of winter beet crops that bolt after winter was investigated. A significant increase of the dry matter yield (esp. shoot) was expected by harvesting the 1st shoot after flowering in June followed by a final harvest of the whole plant in July. In 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12, three series of field trials with (i) 3 target plant densities (148, 246, 370 thousand plants ha⁻¹) and (ii) 3 different sugar beet genotypes were conducted at Göttingen (Lower Saxony, GER) and Kiel (Schleswig-Holstein, GER); (iii), additional field trials with 5 different sugar beet genotypes cultivated at 2 target plant densities (148, 246 thousand plants ha⁻¹) were conducted in 2011/12, to investigate the relation between maximum taproot diameter and the shoot and taproot yield of bolting winter beet. The total dry matter yield considerably varied between 4 and 23 t ha⁻¹. It was predominantly affected by the environment and to a substantially lower extent by plant density. Increasing plant densities increased the total dry matter yield, resulting in a significantly higher total dry matter yield at plant densities ≥300,000 plants ha⁻¹ compared with lower plant densities. Genotypic differences in total dry matter yield were negligibly small. Pruning in June substantially increased the total dry matter yield in July by ca. 8 t ha⁻¹ only in one out of three environments.Final yield in June (without pruning) and July (pruning in June) was positively related with cumulated temperature and global radiation, but also with taproot dry matter yield before winter. The taproot, shoot (1st, 2nd) and total plant yield were positively correlated with maximum taproot diameter.In conclusion, high dry matter yields close to yields of established energy crops grown over winter were obtained with winter beet roots and shoots only under very favorable conditions (climate, single plant size). High yields can be achieved after good pre-winter development. However, for sufficient frost tolerance the taproot size of plants must be rather small. Hence, the cultivation of bolting winter beet under Central European climate conditions has to face a severe conflict of goals concerning winter survival and yield formation.     

Growth and yield of winter wheat in the first 3 years of a monoculture under varying N fertilization in NW Germany

Different preceding crops interact with almost all husbandry and have a major effect on crop yields. In order to quantify the yield response of winter wheat, a field trial with different preceding crop combinations (oilseed rape (OSR)–OSR–OSR–wheat–wheat–wheat), two sowing dates (mid/end of September, mid/end of October) and 16 mineral nitrogen (N) treatments (80–320 kg N ha⁻¹) during 1993/1994–1998/1999, was carried out at Hohenschulen Experimental Station near Kiel in NW Germany. Single plant biomass, tiller numbers m⁻², biomass m⁻², grain yield and yield components at harvest were investigated. During the growing season, the incidence of root rot (Gaeumannomyces graminis) was observed. Additionally, a bioassay with Lemna minor was used to identify the presence of allelochemicals in the soil after different preceding crops.Averaged over all years and all other treatments, wheat following OSR achieved nearly 9.5 t ha⁻¹, whereas the second wheat crop following wheat yielded about 0.9 t ha⁻¹ and the third wheat crop following 2 years of wheat about 1.9 t ha⁻¹ less compared with wheat after OSR. A delay of the sowing date only marginally decreased grain yield by 0.2 t ha⁻¹. Nitrogen fertilization increased grain yield after all preceding crop combinations, but at different levels. Wheat grown after OSR reached its maximum yield of 9.7 t ha⁻¹ with 210 kg N ha⁻¹. The third wheat crop required a N amount of 270 kg N ha⁻¹ to achieve its yield maximum of 8.0 t ha⁻¹.Yield losses were mainly caused by a lower ear density and a reduced thousand grain weight. About 4 weeks after plant establishment, single wheat plants following OSR accumulated more biomass compared to plants grown after wheat. Plants from the third wheat crop were smallest. This range of the preceding crop combinations was similar at all sampling dates throughout the growing season.Root rot occurred only at a low level and was excluded to cause the yield losses. The Lemna bioassay suggested the presence of allelochemicals, which might have been one reason for the poor single plant development in autumn.An increased N fertilization compensated for the lower number of ears m⁻² and partly reduced the yield losses due to the unfavorable preceding crop combination. However, it was not possible to completely compensate for the detrimental influences of an unfavorable preceding crop on the grain yield of the subsequent wheat crop.     

Competitive and allelopathic interference between soybean crop and annual wormwood (Artemisia annua L.) under field conditions

Annual wormwood interference on soybean crop growth and yield may result from competition and allelopathy, which are modulated by crop management. Allelochemicals released by annual wormwood (e.g. artemisinin) may affect the crop directly or indirectly through the effect on the nitrogen fixing symbiont, Bradyrhizobium japonicum. The objectives were (i) to quantify the crop response (i.e. biomass production, nodulation and yield) to weed interference and (ii) to determinate the relative change of competition and allelopathy interferences, when a sublethal dose of herbicide is applied. Two split plot field experiments with three replications were used. The experiment involved a factorial combination of five weed–crop density (soybean/annual wormwood, plants m^?2) levels: D1, pure soybean, 40/0 plants m^?2; D2, 40/2 plants m^?2; D3, 40/4 plants m^?2 and D4, 40/8 plants m^?2, and D5, pure annual wormwood, 0/8 plants m^?2, two activated carbon (allelopathy) levels: C?, with activated carbon (reduced allelopathy) and C+, non activated carbon applied (with allelopathy) and two herbicide levels: H?, untreated and H+, treated with a sub-lethal dose of glyphosate. Activated carbon to adsorb allelochemicals (with and without activated carbon) and glyphosate application (with and no herbicide) were assigned to sub-plots. Increasing weed density did not affect crop biomass at flowering, but changed nodule number and soybean yield with a different pattern depending on carbon and herbicide treatment. Relative crop yield decreased with increasing relative weed biomass. This decrease was particularly drastic when allelopathy was reduced by activated carbon and without herbicide application. The maximum yield losses of 33% in 2006 and 17% in 2007 were observed with the highest weed density (8 plants m^?2). In contrast, without carbon (high allelopathy level), soybean yield remained stable within the explored range of annual wormwood biomass, despite the fact that weed biomass at high densities (D4) was high enough to generate competition. The lack of response to increasing weed density could be related to the indirect effect of allelochemicals interacting with soil microorganisms (i.e. B. japonicum) that positively affected the nodulation (e.g. larger nodules in 2006 and increased nodules biomass due to higher number of roots in 2007 at high densities). With herbicide application, soybean yield of both carbon treatments remained stable when biomass of annual wormwood increased. This research provided strong evidence in support of the existence of positive effect of allelopathic and competitive interactions between annual wormwood and soybean crop under field conditions that may be overridden under herbicide application.     

Radiation use efficiency,chemical composition,and methane yield of biogas crops under rainfed and irrigated conditions

For biomethane production, the cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) is considered a promising alternative substrate to silage maize (Zea mays L.) due to its high biomass potential and associated ecological and environmental benefits. It has also been suggested to grow cup plant on less productive soils because of its presumed drought tolerance, but robust information on the impact of water shortage on biomass growth and substrate quality of cup plant is rare. Therefore, this study assesses the effects of soil water availability on the chemical composition and specific methane yield (SMY) of cup plant. Furthermore above-ground dry matter yield (DMY) was analysed as a function of intercepted photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and radiation use efficiency (RUE). Data were collected in a two-year field experiment under rainfed and irrigated conditions with cup plant, maize, and lucerne-grass (Medicago sativa L., Festuca pratensis Huds., Phleum pratense L.). The cup plant revealed a slight decrease of −6% in the SMY in response to water shortage (less than 50% of plant available water capacity). The average SMY of cup plant [306 l (kg volatile solids (VS))⁻¹] was lower than that of maize [362 l (kg VS)⁻¹] and lucerne-grass [334 l (kg VS)⁻¹]. The mean drought-related reduction of the methane hectare yield (MHY) was significantly greater for cup plant (−40%) than for maize (−17%) and lucerne-grass (−13%). The DMY reduction in rainfed cup plant was mainly attributed to a more severe decrease in RUE (−29%) than for maize (−16%) and lucerne-grass (−12%). Under water stress, the mean cup plant RUE (1.3 g MJ⁻¹) was significantly lower than that of maize (2.9 g MJ⁻¹) and lucerne-grass (1.4 g MJ⁻¹). Compared to RUE, the reduced PAR interception was less meaningful for DMY in rainfed crops. Hence, the cup plant is not suitable for growing on drought prone lands due to its high water demand required to produce reasonably high MHYs.     

Improved persistence of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) increases the protein supplied by red clover/grass swards grown over four harvest years

UK livestock agriculture can significantly reduce its protein imports by increasing the amount of forage based protein grown on-farm. Forage legumes such as red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) produce high dry matter yields of quality forage but currently available varieties lack persistence, particularly under grazing. To assess the impact of red clover persistence on protein yield, diploid red clover populations selected for improved persistence were compared with a range of commercially available varieties. All populations were grown over four harvest years in mixed swards with either perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) or perennial plus hybrid ryegrass (L. boucheanum Kunth). Red clover and total sward dry matter (DM) herbage yields were measured in Years 1–4, red clover plant survival in Years 3 and 4 and herbage protein (CP) yield and concentration in Years 2 and 4. In general, red clover DM yield in year 4 (3.4 t ha⁻¹) was lower than in year 1 (13.9 t ha⁻¹) but the red clover populations differed in the extent of this decline. Differences in the persistence of the red clover populations in terms of plant survival and yield were reflected in the contribution of red clover to the total sward yield in Year 4, which ranged from 61% for the highest yielding population, AberClaret, to 11% in the lowest yielding, Vivi. Increased red clover DM yield was reflected in a greater CP yield (protein weight per unit area), which ranged from 1.6 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ to 2.9 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in Year 2 and from 1.1 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ to 1.9 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in Year 4. CP concentration (protein weight per unit herbage weight) of all of the red clover populations was within a range considered suitable for ruminant production. The implication of these results for the future use of red clover in sustainable grassland systems is discussed.     

Propensity for seed-mediated gene flow from potato crops and potential consequences for the coexistence of GM and non-GM potato systems

Potato is a critical crop to European growers, both economically and agronomically as a break crop in the standard cereal rotation. As studies investigating the agronomic performance and environmental impact of disease resistant, GM potatoes come to an end across several sites in Europe, past discussions on achieving the effective coexistence of GM and equivalent non-GM crops have too often focussed on the purported risk of excessive pollen-mediated gene flow. Dependent on the crop in question, the impact of seed loss pre- and/or post-harvest presents a greater challenge to securing efficient coexistence practises. To examine this issue for potato, a total of 51 fields that had been commercially cultivated with potatoes were surveyed in two separate cohorts for post-harvest tuber loss and/or volunteer emergence. Across 17 fields studied, the average post-harvest tuber loss was recorded at 141,758 ± 911 tubers ha⁻¹, with volunteer establishment in the following crop ranging from 400 ± 59 ha⁻¹ to 55,698 ± 47 ha⁻¹. In parallel, by surveying a separate cohort of 34 commercial fields an average of 30,789 ± 2658 volunteer ha⁻¹ was recorded in the subsequent cereal crop, with a repeat survey made after an additional year indicating an 87.2% reduction in this mean number of volunteers across the 34 fields (P < 0.001). Of the additional variables studied only location (P < 0.001), herbicide application (P = 0.037) and potato variety used (P = 0.045) significantly influenced volunteer proliferation. Volunteer fecundity was confirmed with upto 3 tubers produced per 1st generation volunteer, with tuber yield from the 2nd generation volunteers reduced significantly (P < 0.001). Assessments of the tuber lots from these 2nd generation volunteers confirmed their ability to sprout post-dormancy, therefore, indicating the potential for 3rd generation volunteers to emerge. Combined, the datasets confirm the potential for significant seed-mediated gene flow from commercial potato systems; indicating that the regulated 0.9% coexistence threshold would in all probability be compromised if GM potatoes were grown in rotations of 1:4 years or less, in the absence of a comprehensive tuber loss and/or volunteer management system.     

Optimized single irrigation can achieve high corn yield and water use efficiency in the Corn Belt of Northeast China

Decreasing the corn (Zea mays L.) gap between the potential yield and farm yield and reducing the risk of grain yield of drought are very important for corn production in the Corn Belt of Northeast China (CBNC). To achieve a high and stable corn yield, the effects of supplementary irrigation on yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) were studied using a modelling approach. The Root Zone Water Quality Model 2 was parameterized and evaluated using two years of experimental data in aeolian sandy soil and black soil. The evaluated model was then used to investigate responses to various irrigation strategies (rainfed, full irrigation and 12 single irrigation scenarios) using long-term weather data from 1980 to 2012. Full irrigation guarantees a high and stable corn grain yield (12.92 Mg ha⁻¹ and has a coefficient of variation (CV) of 14.8% in aeolian sandy soil; 12.30 kg Ma⁻¹ and CV of 11.1% in black soil), but has a low water use efficiency (19.92 and 21.81 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹) and a low irrigation water use efficiency (10.01 and 11.03 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹). A single irrigation can increase corn yields by 3–35% for aeolian sandy soil and 5–35% for black soil over different irrigation dates compared with no irrigation. The most suitable single irrigation date was during late June to early July for aeolian sandy soil (yield = 10.73 Mg ha⁻¹ and WUE = 27.94 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹) and early to mid-July for black soil (yield = 11.20 Mg ha⁻¹ and WUE = 27.70 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹). The lowest yield risk of falling short of the yield goal of 8, 9, and 10 Mg ha⁻¹ were 9.1%, 18.2%, and 33.33% in aeolian sandy soil and 3.0%, 15.25, and 21.2% in black soil when an optimized single irrigation was applied in late June or early July, respectively. Therefore, an optimized single irrigation should be applied in late June to early July with the irrigation amount to refill soil water storage of root zone to field capacity in CBNC.     

White clover living mulch reduces the need for phosphorus fertilizer application to corn

White clover living mulch (LM) increases the uptake of phosphorus (P) and the yield of the main crop by promoting the colonization of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM). However, the extent to which the P fertilizer application rate can be reduced by using LM is not yet known. This study aimed to address this question. Two field experiments were conducted from 2008 to 2009 (Experiment 1) and from 2009 to 2010 (Experiment 2) at the fields where the available P of soil fluctuated near the lower limit of the optimum P level (43.6 mg kg⁻¹: Truog method). Experiment 1 had a randomized block design, and Experiment 2 had a split-plot design with a factorial arrangement of two cropping systems (LM and no LM) with three P application treatments (0 kg ha⁻¹, 43.6 kg ha⁻¹, and 87.3 kg ha⁻¹). LM increased P concentrations in the early stages of growth and the yield of corn. This can be attributed to the increased AM colonization rate in the early stages of growth. The yield and total digestible nutrient yield of corn in LM with no P application was comparable to the maximum yield in no LM with or without P application. Therefore, LM could make unnecessary P fertilization in soils where P fertilization is required for silage corn.     

Appropriate seeding rate for einkorn,emmer, and spelt grown under rainfed condition in southern Italy

Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L.), emmer (Triticum dicoccum Schübler) and spelt (T. spelta L.) are still cultivated in Italy. These three hulled wheat species are more commonly known as “Farro”. Little is known about agronomic practices that optimise the grain yield of these species.This study has been carried out to establish the appropriate seeding rate for einkorn, emmer and spelt which is grown in southern Italy (Apulia region), a typical Mediterranean environment, where durum wheat is principally cultivated. Two years of experimental field trials were conducted with three seeding rates (100, 150 and 200 viable seeds per square meter).Emmer had the highest hulled grain yield (3.54 t ha⁻¹) followed by spelt (2.80 t ha⁻¹) and einkorn (1.42 t ha⁻¹). Emmer also had a higher kernel weight and was heading earlier than the other species. The bad performance of einkorn can be accountable to the excessive time to reach heading and the natural inclination of plants to lodge, factors that reduce the ability of plant to complete grain ripening, resulting in light and shrivelled kernels. The lower grain yield of spelt in comparison to emmer may be due to later heading.Emmer and spelt performed the best when they were sown at 200 seeds m⁻² (3.85 and 3.09 t ha⁻¹, respectively). In contrast, einkorn showed the highest grain yield (1.69 t ha⁻¹) at the lowest seeding rate (100 seeds m⁻²). Further, additional experimentation is required to confirm this.These results indicate that emmer is the most appropriate hulled wheat species for cropping under southern Italy’s growing conditions, and provide further information about the use of these species in the marginal area preservation or when the cultivation of economically profitable crops is precludes by water deficiency and soil poorness.     

Intercropping soybean and palisade grass for enhanced land use efficiency and revenue in a no till system

Integrated no-till crop and livestock production systems may help rejuvenate degraded pastures, increase land use efficiency (LUE), and increase enterprise revenue. Our objectives were to evaluate: (1) planting date effects on seed yield and nutrient concentration of an early-maturing, no-till system (NTS) soybean (Glycine max) when intercropped with palisade grass (Brachiaria brizantha); (2) dry matter production and protein concentration of the grass pasture after soybean harvest; and (3) overall revenue and LUE for the intercrop system. Experiments were performed during two growing seasons in Botucatu, Brazil using a randomized complete block experimental design. When palisade grass and soybean were sown simultaneously, soybean yield averaged 3.28 Mg ha⁻¹. Similar seed yields were observed when palisade grass was planted either 30 d after soybean emergence (DAE) (3.29 Mg ha⁻¹) or at the soybean reproductive stage R6 (full seed) (3.50 Mg ha⁻¹). Monocrop soybean yield averaged 3.50 Mg ha⁻¹. First cut dry matter forage production was greater when palisade grass was sown at the same time as soybean or 30 DAE of soybean. This indicates that interseeding palisade grass with soybean does not significantly affect soybean nutrition or yield. Intercropping did increase LUE and resulted in 1.6 times more revenue than soybean alone. However, sowing palisade grass at the soybean reproductive stage R6 (full seed) significantly reduced the forage yield compared to early planting.     

Yield,water use and radiation use efficiencies of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) under reduced water and nitrogen soil availability in a semi-arid Mediterranean area

Kenaf is a warm-season species that recently has been proved to be a good source of biomass for cellulose pulp for the paper industry in Mediterranean countries, where the use of hemp is problematic for legal reasons. A two-year research program aiming at studying the effects of different water regimes and nitrogen fertilization levels, upon plant growth, leaf area index, biomass accumulation, water and radiation use efficiency, was carried out on kenaf under a typically semi-arid Mediterranean climate of South Italy. In cv. Tainung 2, four different water regimes (I₀ = no irrigation, I₂₅, I₅₀ and I₁₀₀ = 25, 50 and 100% ETc restoration, respectively) and three nitrogen levels (N₀ = no nitrogen, N₇₅ and N₁₅₀ = 75 and 150 kg ha⁻¹ of N, respectively) were studied. The amount of water applied strongly affected plant growth (in terms of LAI, plant height and biomass) and final total and stem dry yield, which significantly increased from I₀ to I₁₀₀. Nitrogen did not exert any beneficial effect upon dry yield. Radiation Use Efficiency (RUE), calculated in the second year only, was the highest (1.95 g DM MJ⁻¹) in fully irrigated treatment (I₁₀₀) and the lowest (0.86 g DM MJ⁻¹) in the dry control.Water use efficiency (WUE) was rather similar among water regimes, whilst irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) progressively increased with the decrease of total volume of water distributed to the crop by irrigation, from 3.47 to 12.45 kg m⁻³ in 2004 and from 4.27 to 7.72 kg m⁻³ in 2005. The results obtained from this research demonstrate that in semi-arid areas of South Italy, irrigation at a reduced rate (50% ETc restoration) may be advantageous, since it allowed a 42–45% irrigation water saving, when compared to the fully irrigation treatment, against a 23% (in 2004) and 36% (in 2005) yield reduction, and a still good efficiency (near that potential) in transforming the solar radiation in dry biomass was maintained (RUE = 1.76 g DM MJ⁻¹, against 1.95 g DM MJ⁻¹ in fully irrigated treatment).     

Bayesian network modeling of early growth stages explains yam interplant yield variability and allows for agronomic improvements in West Africa

Yams (Dioscorea spp.) are important species, especially for resource-poor farmers of West Africa, where crop yields are affected by early plant size hierarchy linked with uneven emergence. Although the causes of this phenomenon are not fully known, yams, like other vegetatively propagated crops, have heavy planting material that is liable to induce such interplant variability. In addition, planting practices may mitigate this phenomenon via the selection of the seed-tuber size or state. To gain further insight into yam interplant variability, this study identified and quantified, for the first time, the direct and indirect dependency between planting practices, early growth variables and yield components of Dioscorea rotundata and Dioscorea alata, the two main food yam species. The experimental dataset came from six field trials carried out in Benin at two locations between 2007 and 2009. Additive Bayesian network modeling was used for structure discovery—its directed acyclic graph offers an ideal background for discussing complex systems when theoretical knowledge is lacking, e.g., for yams. Here we found that the emergence date was the only direct cause of plant yield variability common to both species. For D. rotundata, we observed a direct contribution of the cataphyll number to the plant tuber weight. These combined results suggest the existence of some uncontrolled latent variables (i.e., seed-tuber physiological age and reserves). For D. alata, the model did not reveal any effect of seed-tuber size, despite a strong effect noted for D. rotundata. We suggest that the transposition of traditional native D. rotundata planting practices may have led to oversized D. alata seed-tubers, resulting in wastage of planting material. This study demonstrated that traditional West African cropping systems have a serious drawback concerning the uncontrolled wide range of physiological ages and reserves in seed-tuber lots, which affect the plant size hierarchy and ultimately the marketable yield.     

Effect of abscisic acid applications on cold tolerance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

A series of field experiments were undertaken at three locations in Khyber PukhtunKhwa (KPK) Province, Pakistan to assess the effects of low temperatures and phytohormone applications on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) growth and yield. These trials showed that ABA application (10⁻⁴ M) to 40-day-old plants (before the first seasonal frost) offset low temperature-induced growth and yield depression at harvest (200-day-old plants) by up to 17%. These yield improvements were mainly due to an increase in the number of seeds pod⁻¹. Growth room experiments were carried out under controlled environmental conditions to establish how foliar application of 10⁻⁴ M ABA to 40-day-old plants might improve seed production at harvest. The foliar application of 10⁻⁴ M ABA had no detectable effect on endogenous shoot or root ABA levels four-days after spraying or on biomass when plants were maintained in warm conditions. When exposed to night temperatures of −2 °C, however, the endogenous ABA levels increased dramatically in both control and ABA-treated plants, but this rise was more rapid after ABA application (p < 0.01); after 14 days, these plants had gained significantly more biomass than the unsprayed controls (p < 0.05). No evidence was found to suggest ABA affected the osmotic or water balance of plants, but parallel experiments have shown ABA reduced low temperature-induced cell damage. Analysis of the proteome of the shoot tissues of ABA treated and untreated plants by 2-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis identified several proteins that are induced by low temperatures and/or by ABA application in chickpea and which may be involved in conferring cold tolerance. Attempts were made to establish the identity of these proteins using mass spectrometry but in all cases the results were ambiguous; a more complete protein data base for legumes is required before the function of these proteins can be inferred.     

Water relations and use-efficiency,plant survival and productivity of nine alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars in dryland Mediterranean conditions

The potential for alfalfa to be a valuable rainfed pasture option that can be used to increase livestock and crop production in central-south Chile is demonstrated for the first time. The persistence, productivity and water use efficiency of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) cultivars was evaluated at four sites in dryland Mediterranean environments of Chile between 2012 and 2015. Nine alfalfa cultivars were evaluated for plant persistence, winter growth, forage yield, shoot water potential (Ψ), stomatal conductance (gs), and carbon (δ¹³C) and oxygen (δ¹⁸O) compositions. The percentage of plant survival after four years varied between 69 and 97% of the established plants. Alfalfa forage yield was >9 t ha⁻¹yr⁻¹ at Yungay (Andes foothills) in year two, and at Cauquenes (interior dryland site) in years three and four. The highest forage yield was obtained in cultivars SARDI Ten and Aquarius and the lowest in WL326HQ. In 2015, the forage yield during late spring and early summer (November 2015–January 2016) ranged from 3170 to 3570 kg ha⁻¹ (average of the nine cultivars), which represented between 29% and 38% of the total production. The response of gs to Ψ was different among cultivars but all cultivars exhibited a strong decline when Ψ was <−1.0 MP. Shoot water potential evaluated in October–November was negatively correlated with δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O in shoot biomass. The apparent water use efficiency (kg DM/ha/mm of rainfall) across the nine cultivars was highest in Cauquenes in the three years evaluated (>16 kg mm⁻¹). It is concluded that alfalfa is a high yielding forage that can extend the growing season into early summer and autumn in dryland Mediterranean environments.