Response of Wheat to Tillage Plus Rice Residue and Nitrogen Management in Rice-Wheat System

Zero tillage with residues retention and optimizing nitrogen fertilization are important strategies to improve soil quality and wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） yield in rice （Oryza sativa L.）-wheat system. Field experiments were conducted on silty clay soil （Hyperthermic, and Typic Torrilfuvents） in D. I. Khan, Pakistan, to explore the impact of six tillage methods （zero tillage straw retained （ZTsr）, ZT straw burnt （ZTsb）, reduced tillage straw incorporated （RTsi, including tiller and rotavator）, RT straw burnt （RTsb）, conventional tillage straw incorporated （CTsi, including disc plow, tiller, rotavator, and leveling operations）, CT straw burnt （CTsb）） and ifve nitrogen rates, i.e., 0, 100, 150, 200, and 250 kg ha-1 on wheat yield. Mean values for N revealed that spikes m-2, grains/spike, 1 000-grain weight （g）, and grain yield （kg ha-1） were signiifcantly higher at 200 kg N ha-1 in both the years as well as mean over years than all other treatments. Mean values for tillage revealed that ZTsr produced highest number of spikes m-2 among tillage methods. However, grains/spike, 1 000-grain weight, and grain yield were higher in tillage methods with either straw retained/incorporated than tillage methods with straw burnt. Interaction effects were signiifcant in year 1 and in mean over years regarding spikes m-2, 1 000-grain weight, total soil organic matter （SOM）, and total soil N （TSN）. ZTsr produced the most spikes m-2 and 1 000-grain weight at 200 kg N ha-1. ZTsr also produced higher SOM and TSN at 200-250 kg N ha-1 at the end of 2 yr cropping. Thus ZTsr with 200 kg N ha-1 may be an optimum and sustainable approach to enhance wheat yield and soil quality in rice-wheat system.     

Short Response of Spring Wheat to Tillage,Residue Management and Split Nitrogen Application in a Rice-Wheat System

A ifeld experiment was conducted to study the impact of tillage, crop residue management and nitrogen （N） splitting on spring wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） yield over 2 yr （2010-2012） in a rice （Oryza sativa L.）-wheat system in northwestern Pakistan. The experiment was conducted as split plot arranged in randomized complete blocks design with three replications. Treatments comprised six tillage and residue managements：zero tillage straw retained （ZTsr）, zero tillage straw burnt （ZTsb）, reduced tillage straw incorporated （RTsi）, reduced tillage straw burnt （RTsb）, conventional tillage straw incorporated （CTsi）, and conventional tillage straw burnt （CTsb） as main plots and N （200 kg ha-1） was applied as split form viz., control （no nitrogen＆no splitting, N0S0）;2 splits of total N, half at sowing and half at the 1st irrigation （i.e., 20 d after sowing （DAS）） （NS1）;3 splits of total N, 1/3 at sowing, 1/3 at the 1st irrigation, and 1/3 at the 2nd irrigation （NS2）;4 splits of total N, 1/4 at sowing, 1/4 at the 1st irrigation, 1/4 at the 2nd irrigation （45 DAS）, and 1/4 at the 3rd irrigation （70 DAS） （NS3）;and 4 splits of total N, 1/4 at the 1st irrigation, 1/4 at the 2nd irrigation, 1/4 at the 3rd irrigation, and 1/4 at the 4th irrigation （95DAS） （NS4） as sub plots. The results showed that the most pikes m-2, grains/spike, 1 000-grain weight, grain yield, and N use efifciency （NUE） were obtained at zero tillage, straw retained and 4 splits application of total N （i.e., at sowing 20, 45 and 70 d after sowing）. The results indicated that ZTsr with application of 200 kg N ha-1 in 4 equal splits viz. at sowing 20, 45 and 70 d after sowing is an appropriate strategy that enhanced wheat yield （7 436-7 634 kg ha-1） and N efifciency （28.6-29.5 kg kg-1） in rice-wheat system.     

A SNP genetic linkage map based on the ‘Hamilton’ by ‘Spencer’ recombinant inbred line population identified QTL for seed isoflavone contents in soybean

Soybean is one of the most important crops worldwide for its protein and oil as well as the health beneficial phytoestrogens or isoflavone. This study reports a relatively dense single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)‐based genetic map based on ‘Hamilton’ by ‘Spencer’ recombinant inbred line population and quantitative trait loci (QTL) for seed isoflavone contents. The genetic map is composed of 1502 SNP markers and covers about 1423.72 cM of the soybean genome. Two QTL for seed isoflavone contents have been identified in this population. One major QTL that controlled both daidzein (qDZ1) and total isoflavone contents (qTI1) was found on LG C2 (Chr 6). And a second QTL for glycitein content (qGT1) was identified on the LG G (Chr 18). These two QTL in addition to others identified in soybean could be used in soybean breeding to optimize isoflavone content. This newly assembled soybean linkage map is a useful tool to identify and map QTL for important agronomic traits and enhance the identification of the genes involved in these traits.     

Co-inoculation integrated with P-enriched compost improved nodulation and growth of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under irrigated and rainfed farming systems

The present study was designed with the objective of improving the nodulation and growth of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) by integrating co-inoculation of Rhizobium sp. (Mesorhizobium ciceri) and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) carrying ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate) deaminase activity with P-enriched compost (PEC) under irrigated and rainfed farming systems. PEC was prepared from fruit and vegetable waste and enriched with single super phosphate. The results demonstrated that co-inoculation significantly (P?<?0.05) increased the number of nodules per plant, nodule dry weight, pods per plant, grain yield, protein content, and total chlorophyll content under irrigated and rainfed conditions compared to inoculation with rhizobium alone. Integrating PEC with co-inoculation showed an additive effect on the nodulation and growth of chickpea under both farming systems. Analysis of leaves showed a significantly (P?<?0.05) higher photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate in comparison with inoculation with Rhizobium. Compared to irrigated farming system, co-inoculation with PEC under rainfed conditions was more beneficial in improving growth and nodulation of chickpea. Post-harvest soil analysis revealed that the integrated use of bioresources and compost enhanced microbial biomass C, available N content, dehydrogenase, and phosphomonoesterase activities.     

Differential Utilization of Dissolved Organic and Inorganic Nitrogen by Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.)

A study was conducted under greenhouse conditions on wheat to investigate the utilization of dissolved organic nitrogen (N) in comparison with conventionally applied inorganic N sources (INS). Nitrogen was applied at a rate of 90 kg N ha^?1 in an inorganic form, an organic high molecular weight (MW) form (casein, haemoglobin, albumin), and an organic low MW amino acid form (glycine, alanine, valine). Inorganic N sources recorded the maximum response (126% to 150%) in total dry matter (DM) production while dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) sources showed 61% to 116% increase in comparison to the control treatment. Glycine gave the maximum DM production, which was comparable with both INS treatments. In hydroponics, greater utilization occurred and the shoots had a higher N content in comparison to those grown in soil. The concentration of DON and NO₃^? in soil after wheat harvest was similar in all the treatments.