Yield responses of garlic (Allium sativum L.) to oxadiazon, date of planting and intra-row spacing under irrigation at Kadawa, Nigeria

Field experiments were conducted in the 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 dry seasons at the Irrigation Research Station of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Kadawa (11°39′N, 38°02′E, 500 m above sea level) in the Sudan Savanna Ecological Zone, Nigeria to study the effects of oxadiazon, date of planting and intra-row spacing on yields of garlic (Allium sativum L.) under irrigation at Kadawa, Nigeria. A uniform inter-row spacing of 15 cm was maintained in the two seasons. The results obtained showed that the hoe-weeded plots and application of oxadiazon at 1.5 and 2.0 kg a.i./ha resulted in comparable but significantly higher bulb yield per hectare, bulb diameter, bulb weight and number of cloves than oxadiazon at l.0 kg a.i./ha and unweeded check. Bulb yield per hectare, bulb diameter, bulb weight and number of cloves were higher at early November planting. Planting garlic at 5 cm intra-row spacing resulted in higher bulb yield in both seasons.     

Preliminary studies on growth and fresh weight of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) as affected by clay pot irrigation and spacing

An experiment (Completely Randomized Design) was set up to determine the effects of Clay Pot Sub-surface Irrigation (CPSI) and spacing on the growth and fresh weight of lettuce (Lactuca sativa). The treatments were: CPSI with spacing; 15 x 15 cm, 20 x 20 cm and 30 x 30 cm. Control treatments were Watering Can Irrigation (WCI) with the same spacing as above. Treatments were replicated three times given a total of 18 experimental units. Eighteen large enamel basins of 50/20 cm (diameter/height) were filled with good topsoil and a clay pot buried neck deep in each of the basins. Seedlings were planted in all the eighteen basins. Five Hundred mL of wastewater was applied daily to plants in each container having either clay pot or watering can treatment. Plant height increased from 2.50 to 4.25 cm within 6 Weeks after Transplanting (WAT) under CPSI and only increased from 2.14 to 2.99 cm under WCI. The CPSI also supported better leave growth and fresh weight. The fresh weight of lettuce increased almost two fold under 15 x 15 cm spacing compared to 20 x 20 and 30 x 30 cm.     

Plant growth and survival of five introduced and two native/naturalized perennial grass genotypes exposed to two defoliation managements in arid Argentina

The field performance of the native Pappophorum vaginatum, the naturalized Eragrostis curvula and various cultivars of the introduced Achnatherum hymenoides and Leymus cinereus was evaluated as potential forage resources in rangelands of arid Argentina during the warm seasons of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009. Plants of these grass species, obtained from seeds, were transplanted to the field in 2006, when they were 1 year old. During the study years, there were two defoliation managements: plants of all study genotypes either remained undefoliated (controls) or were defoliated twice a year during spring at 5 cm stubble height. Despite tiller number being lower (P < 0·05) on defoliated than on undefoliated plants, and total leaf length per unit basal area being similar (P > 0·05) between defoliation managements by mid‐spring, there were no differences (P > 0·05) in dry weight production between defoliated and undefoliated plants in all genotypes at the end of the second growing season. Plants of one or more of the introduced genotypes showed a similar (P > 0·05) or greater (P < 0·05), but not lower, tiller number per plant and per square centimetre, daughter tiller production, total leaf length and dry weight production per unit basal area than the native species at the end of the first and/or second growing seasons. These morphological variables were similar (P > 0·05) or greater (P < 0·05) in the native than in the naturalized genotype. Plant survival, however, was lower (P < 0·05, overall mean = 20%) in the introduced than in the native (>70%) or naturalized (>39%) genotypes at the end of the first or second growing seasons.     

Canopy leaf area and leaf mass in the upper stratum of Urochloa hybrid ‘Mavuno’ grass subjected to nitrogen fertilisation

Nitrogen (N) inputs are recognised to maximise herbage mass (HM) in tropical perennial grasses, whereas less is clear on their impact on HM distribution and the effects on leaf mass (LM) and leaf area index (LAI) in the upper stratum. This 2 year study, carried out in Pirassununga, Brazil, assessed the HM distribution in the upper (>20 cm) and lower (<20 cm) strata in Urochloa hybrid ‘Mavuno’ grass maintained under similar pre- and post-cutting canopy heights with contrasting N fertilisation rates applied after each cutting (no-nitrogen, 15, 30, and 45 kg N ha⁻¹). The relevance of specific leaf area (SLA), leaf N concentration (NLeaf), tiller weight (TW) and population density to the LM and LAI of the upper stratum were also examined. Mavuno grass expressed a stable HM < 20 cm (59%–71% during Year I and 66%–80% for Year II), and apparent N fertilisation impacts on HM > 20 cm were verified at specific regrowth cycles during Year II. Mavuno grass pastures expressed plasticity for adjustments on leaf, tiller and population attributes, which were modulated by both climatic conditions and N fertilisation. Under favourable growth conditions during Year I, fertilised pastures were able to sustain higher NLeaf and SLA but associated with lower TW, resulting in maximisation of LAI but not in LM in the upper stratum. During Year II, fertilised pastures expressed higher NLeaf, SLA, number of basal tillers, despite the lowest TW, which resulted in higher LAI and LM in the upper stratum compared with non-fertilised pastures. Our results highlighted that adjustments on leaf and population attributes within the canopy were driven to maximise the upper stratum LAI, being positively affected by N fertilisation.     

水稻不同叶位层物理结构与冠层反射光谱的定量研究

 研究了不同土壤水分、施氮条件下水稻冠层反射光谱与冠层生长特征（叶面积指数、叶片干质量和鲜质量）的量化关系。结果表明，不同层次叶面积指数、叶片鲜质量和叶片干质量与冠层光谱的相关性大小均为：L12345>L1234>L123>L12>L1，而顶部5张叶片的面积和生物量（干、鲜质量）对冠层特征反射光谱的贡献大小顺序为：L2>L1>L3>L4>L5，顶部2张叶片对冠层光谱作用最大。发现比值指数R(760,710) 与水稻叶面积指数呈极显著线性相关；而比值指数R(1650,1100) 与水稻地上部鲜质量和干质量均呈极显著幂函数相关关系。因此，比值指数R(760,710) 和R(1650,1100) 可分别用来定量反演水稻叶面积信息和地上部生物量信息。     

Survivor populations of S23 perennial ryegrass from zero-grazed and set-stocked swards

Perennial ryegrass tillers were collected from intensively used set-stocked and zero-grazed leys and from an old permanent pasture, grown on and compared at 30 cm spacing. All swards except the permanent pasture had been sown with cv. S23 and were of known age, ranging from 6 months to 11 years from sowing. Each genotype was scored for date of inflorescence emergence, and subsequently in vitro dry matter digestibility (DMD), D-value of green leaf and the ratio of leaf dry weight: stem dry weight were determined. Both DMD and D-value declined significantly in green leaf samples of populations from the older zero-grazed swards but no significant changes were detected in populations from set-stocked swards. In set-stocked populations there was a shift towards later flowering. In zero-grazed populations there was a consistent increase in the amount of leaf relative to stem with the age of the sward from which the plants were sampled. The survivor plants were more prostrate and leafier and it is suggested that under zero grazing, where cutting was to a uniform height, plants of this form were less severely defoliated and thus at a selective advantage.     

株行配置对春玉米根冠空间分布及产量的影响

以先玉335为试验材料,设置7.50万株/hm2和9.75万株/hm2两个种植密度,60 cm+60 cm等行距和40 cm+80 cm宽窄行两个行距配置,比较株行配置对春玉米冠层、根系结构与功能及产量的影响。结果表明,随种植密度增加,果穗、茎鞘干重百分比垂直分布明显上移,叶片干重百分比在垂直分布变化较小,行距配置对果穗、茎鞘干重百分比在垂直分布上影响较小。相对于等行距种植,宽窄行种植叶片干重百分比有下移趋势,群体不同叶位叶面积指数也表现为同一密度下,宽窄行种植群体上层LAI较小,穗位叶高效叶层LAI较大;随密度增加,根重有纵向下移的趋势,根系TTC还原强度在不同土层深度都显著降低。同一密度下,宽窄行种植根重的垂直分布出现下移趋势,根系TTC还原强度略高于等行距种植。高密度条件下,宽窄行种植降低了玉米果穗秃尖长,显著增加果穗穗粒数,因而显著提高产量,增产2.73%~10.86%,说明在宁夏扬黄灌区较高种植密度下,采用宽窄行种植能优化不同叶层结构,适当增加深层土壤根系所占比例及活力,有利于获得高产。     

Effect of irrigation frequency and planting density on herbage biomass and oil production of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)

An experiment was undertaken to determine the herbage biomass and oil production of thyme (Thymus vulgaris Linn.) and hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis Linn.) in 2003 and 2004 in the semi-arid region of Khorasan in Iran. The experiment was a split plot with three irrigation intervals as main plots and three planting densities as subplots, all of which replicated three times. Irrigation intervals consisted of 7, 14, and 21 days for both crops and planting densities of 6.6, 8, and 10 (plants m⁻²) for thyme and 5, 6.6, and 8 (plants m⁻²) for hyssop. Different planting densities were employed by changing planting distances on cultivation rows. Herbage biomass and oil production of shoots, harvested at flowering were measured as annual production of each crop. Irrigation intervals did not change total harvested herbage biomass and oil production of both crops. Averaged across both years of the experiment, thyme produced higher oil than hyssop. Both crops produced higher biomass and oil in the second year of the experiment compared to the first year. While thyme plants biomass and oil production were lower at the highest planting density, hyssop plants showed no response to planting density. Herbage biomass and oil production of hyssop did not show a clear trend in response to interaction of irrigation intervals and planting densities in both years of the experiment. Our results showed that there is a high potential for saving water through longer irrigation intervals (e.g. 14 days) using locally adapted plants in the semi-arid conditions of Khorasan. These crops serve as alternative sources of income in dry years.     

Effects of harvesting perennial ryegrass at different levels of herbage mass on voluntary intake and in vivo digestibility in sheep

The production performance of herbage‐fed animals is affected by herbage voluntary dry‐matter intake (VDMI) and organic matter digestibility. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of herbage mass (HM) on in vivo herbage voluntary intake and digestibility in sheep. The three HM treatments were as follows: 1,100 kg dry matter (DM)/ha (low, L), 2,300 kg DM/ha (medium, M) and 3,700 kg DM/ha (high, H). The study was a Latin square design, repeated on two occasions in 2012: 24 May to 20 July (summer) and 21 July to 5 October (autumn). Twelve Texel wether sheep (individually housed) were offered fresh cut perennial ryegrass herbage for ad libitum consumption. Using the total faecal collection method, the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre was determined. In summer, L had a similar VDMI to M and both had a higher VDMI than H. In autumn, L had a higher VDMI than both M and H. For dry‐matter digestibility and organic matter digestibility, there was no significant difference between L and M, which were both higher than H. For every 1% increase in neutral detergent fibre digestibility, VDMI increased by 0.03 kg. In the zero‐grazing scenario examined, offering low (1,100 kg DM/ha) HM swards enabled animals to achieve high intakes of highly digestible herbage, which should ensure high animal production performance.     

Seasonal variation in white clover content and nitrogen fixing (acetylene reducing) activity in a cut upland sward

The seasonal variation in herbage mass and nitrogen fixing (acetylene reducing) activity of white clover in an upland sward, cut weekly to 3·5 cm from mid-May until mid-October, was measured. Acetylene reducing activity (ARA) was measured over a 24-h period at 3-weekiy intervals starting on 3 March 1983. Clover leaf and Stalon biomass was measured by harvest of the assay truces, and from mid-May quadrat euts to 3·5 cm above the soil surface provided estimates of herbage accumulation.
Little A RA was detected in March, but activity increased substantially after 10 cm soil temperatures reached > 3°C, and peak activity per unit of clover leaf dry weight occurred in June and July; standing clover leaf dry matter increased during the season to a maximum of 60·5 g m⁻¹ in June. Acetylene reducing activity was positively correlated with the number of rooted nodes, and Stalon and leaf dry weights in early spring. Thereafter, except during a period of summer drought, ARA was positively correlated with the amount of clover leaf material.
Clover population density increased during the season and maximum growing point numbers (5540 m⁻¹) occurred in September; maximum leaf number per unit area (12 984 m⁻¹) was found in October, prior to the final cutting of the site.
Results suggest that higher levels of nitrogen fixation in upland swards should be obtained if sward management regimes, which encourage a high clover leaf area, are adopted.     

Potato Stem Density Effects on Canopy Development and Production

Controlled environment studies with potato frequently assume responses from single-stem potato plants can be extrapolated to the field where multiple-stemmed plants are common. Controlled environment studies were conducted to characterize differences in canopy growth, development, and dry matter production between single- and multiple-stemmed potted potatoes. Leaf area distribution was influenced by stem density, with main stem and apical lateral branch leaf area being 150% to 200% larger in triple-stemmed (3S) versus single-stemmed (1S) pots (P < 0.01), while basal lateral branch leaf area was 50% less (P < 0.01). Basal lateral branches were more developed in 1S pots with longer branch lengths, more leaf area, and higher orders of branching. In a second experiment, more leaves were initiated in higher-density pots; however, individual leaf areas were approximately 50% smaller than those in 1S pots. Total leaf area and total, vegetative, and tuber dry matter production were unaffected by stem density in either experiment on a per pot basis. Development and growth of lower basal lateral branches in the 1S potato canopy offset any initial advantage in leaf numbers in the multiple-stemmed plants. These results appeared to validate the assumption that, given a late maturing cultivar and adequate nutrition, responses from single-stemmed plants can be extended to multiple-stemmed plants when expressed on a production area basis. These findings have practical considerations for potato researchers who conduct growth chamber experiments and potato modelers.     

株行距配置对玉米根系性状及产量的影响

以郑单958为材料, 采用田间试验方法, 在50 025株/hm²、67 500株/hm²、100 050株/hm²密度下分别设两种株行距配置, 探讨增密条件下调控株行距配置对玉米根系性状及产量影响。结果表明, 3个种植密度下总体表现为小行距种植方式在0～60 cm土层内的根重密度、根长密度及根表面积密度均高于大行距处理。50 025株/hm²下吐丝期时0～60 cm土层内的根重密度和根长密度在两个株行距配置间差异显著(P<0.05), 两个株行距配置的根表面积密度在10叶展、吐丝期和吐丝后25 d差异显著(P<0.05);67 500株/hm²下不同时期两个株行距配置根重密度差异显著(P<0.05), 根长密度和根表面积密度在10叶展和吐丝后25 d差异显著(P<0.05);100 050株/hm²下, 两个株行距配置间根重密度和根长密度在10叶展和吐丝后25 d差异显著(P<0.05), 不同时期根表面积密度差异显著(P< 0.05)。同一密度下缩行增株后单株木质部伤流液体积增大, 根系供应能力增强, 产量增加, 50 025株/hm²、67 500株/hm²下产量分别提高了6.76%和4.89%。不同时期0～60 cm土层内根重密度、根长密度和根表面积密度与产量呈正相关, 其中10叶展时各根系性状均与产量呈显著正相关。     

不同种植模式对玉米生长发育、产量及机械化收获效率的影响

以郑单958为供试品种,设55 cm、65 cm两个行距水平以及种肥侧向、正向两种施用方式,研究不同行距和施肥方式对玉米生长发育、产量及机械化收获效率的影响。结果表明,55 cm、65 cm行距对玉米株高、茎粗、穗位高、叶面积指数和干重等生长指标均无显著影响,两个行距配置下玉米产量基本相同;种肥施用方式对玉米前期生长影响较大,种肥侧施的肥效明显优于种肥正施。玉米三叶期至拔节期,种肥侧施的株高、叶面积指数、干重和根系数量较种肥正施均有不同程度的提高,但种肥正施和侧施对玉米产量及其构成因素无明显影响。因此,在玉米生产中可以根据农机具设计和生产需求,规范行距,统一收获机械规格,从而降低生产成本,推进玉米生产全程机械化进程。     

机插株距对优质食味水稻品种产量和群体质量的影响

目的 机插密度对水稻产量和品质有重要影响,但机插株距对优质食味水稻品种产量与群体质量的调控作用尚不清楚。明确优质食味水稻品种的适宜机插株距可为水稻机械化高产优质栽培提供理论与实践依据。方法 以南粳9108、南粳5055和南粳46三个江苏优质食味水稻品种为材料,在机插行距固定为30 cm的情况下,研究了10、12、14、16和18 cm五种株距对上述水稻品种产量和群体质量的影响。结果 南粳9108、南粳5055和南粳46三个水稻品种的茎蘖成穗率、高效叶面积指数、粒叶比(粒重/叶面积)、抽穗后群体冠层净光合速率和抽穗至成熟干物质积累量均在株距为12 cm时最大。上述水稻品种产量均随株距增加呈现先增加先减少的趋势,产量与株距呈二次曲线关系。依据曲线方程计算出两年中南粳9108、南粳5055和南粳46高产最适株距分别为11.6 cm,11.6~12.3 cm和10.8~11.4 cm。结论 机插秧行距固定为30 cm时,11~12 cm的株距有利于改善优质食味水稻的群体质量指标并提高其产量,可作为江苏省代表性优质食味水稻品种的适宜机插株距。     

Effects of vernalization on the subsequent rates of leaf extension and photosynthesis of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Temperature and daylength treatments have been used to investigate the apparent link between the potential for rapid leaf extension in spring and floral initiation and development in Lolium perenne (cv. Vigor). After growth at 5°C for 10 weeks (vernalization treatment) the leaves which developed at 15°C expanded significantly faster than non-vernalized controls under both long and short days. Under long days floral development was initiated in vernalized plants but under short days it was not. Specific leaf area was higher in vernalized than non-vernalized plants under long days.
The photosynthetic capacity of leaves which developed on plants which had been previously vernalized and then grown at 15°C under long days was higher than non-vernalized controls when expressed on a leaf area and dry weight basis, but not on the basis of chlorophyll content. Vernalization followed by short days resulted in a smaller and non-significant increase in the photosynthetic capacity of leaves.
Application of gibberellic acid (GA) as a spray to non-vernalized plants did not affect floral development but did increase the rate of leaf extension. The application of GA did not affect specific leaf area or photosynthetic capacity expressed on an area basis.     

Sward characteristics important for intake in six Lolium perenne varieties

An experiment was conducted to determine the genetic variation among diploid perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) varieties for sward structural characteristics considered to be important for intake by cattle. Assessments were made between June and September in 2000 and 2001. Six varieties (Abergold, Respect, Agri, Herbie, Barezane and Barnhem) were subjected to a cutting experiment where swards were cut after 3 to 4 weeks of regrowth during the growing season. The variables, measured in three 2‐week periods, were herbage mass of dry matter (DM), sward surface height (SSH), bulk density, proportion of green leaf, tiller density, tiller weight, extended tiller height, length of sheath and length of leaf blade. Significant differences among varieties were found in both years for herbage mass of DM, SSH, bulk density, proportion of green leaf, tiller density, tiller weight and length of sheath. The results show that there is significant genetic variation among diploid perennial ryegrass varieties for sward characteristics important for intake during grazing.     

宽幅带播对大穗型冬小麦冠层特征及产量的影响

为了解宽幅带播在小麦种植上的应用效果,在大田条件下,以兰考矮早八为材料,研究了宽幅带播种植对大穗型冬小麦冠层特征及产量的影响.结果表明,与常规条播比较,宽幅带播的小麦群体叶面积指数、冠层光截获量和相对湿度较高,而冠层温度较低,穗数显著增加,产量提高0.47％～13.70％.宽幅带播下随着行距增大,叶面积指数、光截获量和湿度降低,而冠层温度升高,穗数和穗粒数减少,千粒重增加,最终产量降低.宽幅带播下15 cm行距可作为大穗型冬小麦品种的适宜行距配置.     

Field indicators of leaf nutritive value for perennial ryegrass and tall fescue pastures under different growing and management conditions

Field indicators of forage nutritive value could help farmers with rapid management decisions to optimize timing and intensity of grazing and meet objectives regarding animal nutrition. The objective of this research was to evaluate the likely relationships among leaf blade nutritive value, herbage mass and leaf stage of pasture regrowth under different growing seasons and residual sward heights. Experiments were performed on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) pastures during spring and summer of 2016. In both pastures, three residual sward height treatments (3, 6 and 12 cm) were imposed on plots arranged in a split plot design, replicated in three blocks. Sward plots were harvested 5–6 times at intervals spaced 7–10 days apart to measure herbage mass, plant morphology, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), and the 24-hr in vitro digestibility of NDF (NDFD) and dry matter (DMD) of leaf blades. Pastures showed strong (R²: .62 to .70), but variable, negative relationships between NDFD and herbage mass that varied with the rate at which pasture grew in each season of experimentation. Although there was a consistent NDFD decline as leaf stage of regrowth progressed (R²: .75 to .97), the NDFD also decreased as residual sward height increased, most notably in tall fescue. Additionally, findings indicate that the greater leaf length plasticity of tall fescue compared to residual sward heights may offer opportunities to manage both post- and pre-grazing targets to achieve tall fescue forages with a similar high nutritive value as perennial ryegrass. However, the evaluation of this hypothesis at the farm level and its impacts on animal intake and performance warrants further careful investigations.     

Effect of Potato Microtuber Size on the Growth and Yield Performance of Field Grown Plants

Abstract

To examine the effect of the size of the potato microtuber (MT) produced in vitro on the posterior field performance, we examined the growth and yield of the late maturity cultivar Norin 1 using four sizes of MT: 0.3–0.5 g, 0.5–1 g, 1–3 g and 3–5 g, and conventional seed tubers (CT) (approximately 50 g). The experiment was conducted at Hokkaido University, Sapporo Japan in 1998 and 1999. The tubers were planted in May of each year, in a randomized block design with three replications. Plants from MT lighter than 0.5 g showed a slower initial leaf and tuber growth than heavier MT, but around the full flowering stage there was no significant difference with the MT size in leaf or tuber growth. CT plants showed higher initial leaf and tuber growth compared with MT plants, especially in 1999. No differences in growing period, number of tubers, and tuber fresh and dry yield were observed with the MT size. However, in 1999, the growing period was longer and tuber fresh and dry yields at harvest were higher in CT plants. MT of all sizes used in the study can be used for direct field planting, but more studies are needed to increase the yield stability of MT plants.