Weeding techniques in transplanted and direct wet-seeded rice in Pakistan

Field studies were undertaken to explore the weed management strategies for transplanted and direct wet-seeded rice in the Dera Ismail Khan district of North-west Frontier Province, Pakistan. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a split plot arrangement. The main plots consisted of two planting techniques (transplantation and direct seeding), while weed control practises assigned to the subplots included the use of the granular herbicide Sunstar 15WG (ethoxy sulfuron), Machete 60EC (butachlor), conventional hand weeding, and the weedy check (untreated control). Data were recorded on weed dynamics and the agronomic parameters of the rice crop. Economic analyses on the data were also run. The weed density and biomass were lower in the transplantation plots than the direct-seeding plots. The herbicides ethoxy sulfuron and butachlor reduced the density over the weedy check, with a density comparable to hand weeding in 2002, but slightly higher in 2003. As a result of weed management by hand weeding and herbicides, the paddy yield and its components were significantly higher for the transplanted method compared to the direct-seeded method. The comparable yield of herbicides with hand weeding offers an option for the use of herbicides as an alternative management tool. In light of our findings, it is concluded that for good economic returns, rice crops may be transplanted rather than direct-seeded. The herbicides ethoxy sulfuron and butachlor offer a weed control cover comparable with hand weeding under the transplantation method, while butachlor is good for controlling weeds even under the direct-seeded conditions in the agroclimatic conditions of the area.     

Approach of allelopathy study with Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Hevnh. and Neurospora crassa

Allelopathy in Arabidopsis seeds was investigated in the present study because there are few available reports of allelopathy studies regarding the early development stage of the plant life cycle, and because Arabidopsis is widely used as a model plant for molecular biology. When cockscomb ( Celosia cristata ) was incubated together with Arabidopsis seeds, the growth of cockscomb was promoted by Arabidopsis seeds. Exudate of Arabidopsis seeds showed a promotive activity on the growth of cockscomb and Arabidopsis itself. A new method for studying allelopathic mechanisms involving the interaction of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Hevnh. and the fungus Neurospora crassa was suggested. Arabidopsis seed exudate and the water-soluble fraction of the exudate promoted Arabidopsis growth and reduced fungal germination, indicating that the seed exudate has a species-selective activity. Conversely, the ethylacetate-soluble fraction inhibited growth of all tested materials in the current study. These results demonstrate that the water-soluble substance(s) released from Arabidopsis seeds have species-selective activity on growth of both plants and microorganisms.     

Status and management of fish populations of Rawal Dam reservoir, Pakistan

Abstract Studies were conducted to determine the composition and relative abundance of commercially desirable and less desirable fish populations of Rawal Dam reservoir. Fifteen fish species belonging to 11 genera were identified. The less desirable species were abundant, constituting 62.3%, 84.8% and 78% of the total number of fish sampled on three occasions. Carnivores were represented by two species with very low percentage composition by number or weight. The ratio of total weight of forage fish to that of carnivorous fish indicated an unbalanced population in the lake. The proportion of the fish population at harvestable size suggests a balanced population, but this index may have been overestimated because of a minimum harvestable size.     

Control of weed barley species in winter wheat with sulfosulfuron at different rates and times of application

Field experiments were conducted at five locations in the major wheat production regions of Iran to evaluate the efficacy of sulfosulfuron in controlling weed barley species (including Hordeum spontaneum , Hordeum murinum , Hordeum distichon , and Hordeum vulgare ) in the 2004–2005 and 2005–2006 growing seasons. Sulfosulfuron was applied either postemergence (POST) or preplant-incorporated (PPI) at 0, 20.25, 30.75, 40.5, 51.0, 60.75 or 71.25 g ai ha⁻¹ to plots arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Sulfosulfuron at the recommended rate (20.25 g ai ha⁻¹) failed to provide acceptable control of the weed barley species. However, the level of control increased with the application rate, particularly at rates >51.0 g ai ha⁻¹. Generally, PPI-applied sulfosulfuron resulted in markedly greater control levels than those of a POST application and complete control of H. murinum and H. vulgare was achieved with PPI-applied sulfosulfuron at all rates >20.25 and 30.75 g ai ha⁻¹, respectively. In most cases, the wheat yield increased with the application rate without any crop injury. The highest yield increase (186%) was obtained with a PPI application of 71.25 g ai ha⁻¹.     

运用简单线性水库模型计算Pothwar黄土平原（巴基斯坦）磷灰石损失情况

Apatite is the dominant phosphorus （P） mineral in early stages of soil development, and its redistribution as labile forms under pedogenesis controls terrestrial bioavailability. Quantitative distribution of labile forms of P and apatite-P was examined in Pothwar Loess Plain, Pakistan where the degree of pedogenesis varied with relief. Four soil types, Typic Ustorthents （Rajar）, Typic Calciustepts （Missa）, Udic Calciustepts （Basal）, and Udic Haplustalfs （Guliana）, were sampled from three replicated locations at genetic horizon level. With the exception of total P value at surface, the mean total and apatite-P decreased towards the surface in Udic Haplustalfs and Udic Calciustepts where dicalcium and octacalcium phosphate increased toward surface. Iron （oxides and oxyhydroxides） adsorbed and occluded P forms were also in greater quantities in Udic Haplustalfs and increased toward the surface, whereas they were lowest and uniform in the Typic Ustorthents. Aluminum- and organic P correlated with soil organic matter. Apatite-P decreased exponentially with an increase in the sum of iron adsorbed and occluded P fractions, and fitted the equation M（x） =M0[1 - exp（-wx）] with r^2=0.996, where M（x） is the mean apatite-P concentration in solum, M0 is the apatite-P content in the loess sediments, x is the cumulative iron adsorbed and occluded P, and w is an empirical factor indicating the change rate of apatite-P in the loess. From the calculated apatite-P of 740 mg kg^-1 at the time of deposition, mean apatite-P loss was 60% in Udic Haplustalfs, 33% in Udic Calciustepts, 23% in Typic Calciustepts, and 8% in Typic Ustorthents. The transformation of soil P to labile forms was faster and deeper in level or slight depressions followed by gently sloping areas in wide plains, and was the least in the gullied land.     

Effect of standing water and shoot removal plus standing water regimes on growth, regrowth and biomass production of torpedograss (Panicum repens L.)

The present study was undertaken from May 1996 to October 1997 in the glasshouse of the University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan to investigate standing water (12 cm deep) and shoot removal plus standing water regimes on morphological changes, growth, regrowth and biomass production of torpedograss ( Panicum repens L.). The stem internode was longer in standing-water-treated plants than that in untreated plants. The root-crown was developed from the submerged stem-node. Spike-like tillers and sheath-like leaf blades were observed in water-treated plants. Higher shoot biomass and lower rhizome biomass were obtained in standing-water-treated plants than that in untreated plants. Standing-water-treated plants attained higher total biomass than untreated plants. Standing-water stress was the factor that inhibited regrowth of torpedograss when the above-ground shoot was removed. Rhizomes without shoots of 6-month-old torpedograss did not survive in standing water for more than 6 months. The results indicate that torpedograss can survive in standing water if the shoots remain above the water surface. Shoot removal is one effective way to control torpedograss regrowth in standing water. The results of this study may be dependent on season, day length, water temperature, water pH, water depth and salt concentration in water.     

Confirmed resistance to aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicides in Phalaris minor populations in Iran

Phalaris minor (littleseed canary grass) is a major weed in wheat fields in some parts of Iran. Diclofop‐methyl, fenoxaprop‐P‐ethyl, and clodinafop‐propargyl are three acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase)‐inhibiting herbicides that are commonly used to control this grass in wheat fields. Thirty‐four P. minor populations with suspected resistance to ACCase‐inhibiting herbicides were sampled from wheat fields in the provinces of Fars and Golestan in Iran. The dose–response assays that were conducted under controlled greenhouse conditions indicated that 14 populations were resistant to fenoxaprop‐P‐ethyl, seven populations were resistant to both fenoxaprop‐P‐ethyl and diclofop‐methyl, and three populations were resistant to fenoxaprop‐P‐ethyl, diclofop‐methyl, and clodinafop‐propargyl. These populations showed different levels of resistance to the applied herbicides, compared to the susceptible population. These results suggest that different mechanisms of resistance could be involved. The enzyme assay revealed that the existence of modified ACCase in the three most‐resistant populations (AR, MR4, and SR3) is responsible for the resistance of these populations.     

Introducing an abundance index for assessing weed flora in survey studies

This study was carried out to propose a simple abundance index (AI) of weed species, to describe the ranking of weeds in weed communities, and to evaluate weed flora. Based on a 4 year weed survey program conducted in Tehran province, the Thomas methodology for determining the relative abundance (RA) in weed communities was applied and a new, improved method (called the AI method) was introduced. Sixty-one irrigated wheat fields were selected using a stratified sampling procedure. The boundaries of each county in the province formed the strata. For the Thomas method, the data were summarized for each county using five quantitative measures for determining the RA of each species. For the AI method, three quantitative measures were used, including frequency, uniformity, and mean field density. In the Thomas method, the mean field density had a significant role in determining the RA of a species, while the frequency and uniformity had a less significant role. However, for determining the AI, the frequency and uniformity had a higher value than the mean field density. Higher values for these two parameters for a particular species indicates that this species was more compatible with the soil and climate conditions in which it was growing, while higher values for the mean field density for a particular species indicates that the species had a higher competitive or reproductive ability than other species. In the Thomas method, the weed species with a low mean density were less abundant and not a serious weed for agroecosysytems but, in the AI method, an invasive weed could be detected before the colonization stage.     

免耕条件下秸秆还田对冬小麦-夏玉米轮作系统土壤呼吸及土壤水热状况的影响

【目的】研究免耕条件下秸秆还田对旱地冬小麦-夏玉米轮作系统土壤呼吸及土壤水热状况的影响。【方法】2011年10月至2014年9月,在陕西杨凌设置秸秆全量还田+施肥（S1F1）、秸秆全量还田+不施肥（S1F0）、秸秆半量还田+施肥（S1/2F1）、秸秆半量还田+不施肥（S1/2F0）、秸秆不还田+施肥（S0F1）、秸秆不还田+不施肥（S0F0）6 种不同耕作处理的3年定位试验,测定并分析不同耕作处理下土壤呼吸、土壤水热状况、作物产量、土壤耕作层有机碳含量的差异。【结果】在冬小麦生育期内,各处理土壤呼吸速率均呈先下降后升高再下降的趋势;在夏玉米生育期内,各处理土壤呼吸速率均表现为先升高后下降的趋势。同一生育期内各处理土壤呼吸平均速率及呼吸总量依次为S1F1＞S1/2F1＞S1/2F0＞S0F1＞S1F0＞CK,同种作物不同生育期之间,各处理土壤生育期呼吸总量有逐年降低的趋势。整个研究周期内,土壤温度的变化趋势与每月平均气温的变化趋势相似,不同处理在同一生育期内的土壤温度变化趋势相近,且各处理生育期土壤平均温度均随土壤深度的增加而降低;不同秸秆还田处理冬季土壤温度均高于对照,但生育期土壤平均温度均低于对照。土壤含水量随土壤深度的增加而降低,但受降雨影响,不同轮作周期之间的土壤含水量波动较大,各处理同一生育期的土壤平均含水量均表现为S1F0＞S1F1＞S1/2F0＞S1/2F1＞CK＞S0F1,且不同秸秆还田处理的土壤含水量与对照间的差异均显著（P＜0.05）;土壤温度能够解释土壤呼吸速率变化的32.5%-60.4%,土壤含水量能够解释土壤呼吸速率变化的38.4%-82.5%,不同土层深度间,5 cm土层的温度与土壤呼吸的拟合度性最高,而10-20 cm土层的含水量与土壤呼吸的拟合度最高。相同年份内,不同处理冬小麦和夏玉米产量均表现为S1F1＞S1F0＞S1/2F1＞S0F1＞S1/2F0＞CK,这个研究周期内,冬小麦产量逐年增加,夏玉米在前两季表现为增产,但受极端炎热天气的影响,第三季的产量明显降低。单季作物收获后,各处理同一土层深度的有机碳含量均表现为S1F1＞S1/2F1＞S1F0＞S1/2F0＞S0F1＞CK。且不同秸秆还田处理的土壤有机碳含量逐年升高。【结论】长期免耕秸秆还田能够有效降低农田土壤碳排放、提高农田土壤水分利用率及冬季土壤温度、提高作物产量及土壤有机碳含量。不同秸秆还田处理间以S1F0处理的效果最优。