The Effects of Adding Soluble Salts to the Casing Layer on The Yield and Size of Cultivated Mushrooms

The yield results of six field experiments with bulb onions are presented and it is concluded that : (1) The total yield of ripe bulbs increased with increasing number of plants per sq. ft. until an optimum was reached and thereafter the yield declined.

(2) At the optimum plant densities for total yield the bulbs were too small for normal market purposes but were of a suitable size for pickling whole.

(3) Some varieties of onion would not produce large bulbs even when grown at low plant densities; thus the choice of varieties for ware bulb production is of paramount importance.

(4) The fitting of a mathematic model to the density/yield data showed that if varieties were ranked for yield at anyone plant density this ranking would remain the same at all other plant densities. Absolute yield differences between varieties were, however, greatest at low plant densities.

(5) Decreasing the distance between rows at a given plant density increased the total yield of bulbs. At 7 plants per sq. ft., a density suitable for commercial dry bulb production, reducing the row spacing from 18 in. to 9-12 in. increased yield by 10 to 30%.

     

Effects of Spacing on Flower and Bulb Yield in the Narcissus

A study was made of the effects of plant density, plant arrangement and row orientation on the yield of bulbs and flowers from small offsets of narcissus var. King Alfred left in the ground for 2 years. Over the density range of 2–14 plants per sq. ft., flower number increased from 2 to 12 per sq. ft. and stem length increased from 29 to 35 cm. Total bulb yield per unit area increased with density from 171 to 696 gm. per sq. ft.; the weights in each of four commercial bulb grades also increased. When the ratio of the between-row distance to the within-row distance was increased, bulb yield declined in E-W rows, but not in the N-S rows.     

Effect of ethephon on bulbing,bull-necking,yield and sprouting during storage of two onion cultivars (Allium cepa L.)

Ethephon at 1 000 and 3 000 mg l^?1 applied either on one occasion or three times at weekly intervals to two onion cultivars reduced average bulb weight and total yield by 14% to 67%. In cv Hygro the percentage of bull-neck bulbs was reduced by ethephon but cv Cepavon was unaffected. The number of bulbs sprouting in store was reduced in both cultivars by all ethephon treatments except the single 1000 mg l^?1 application.     

Physiological response of onion plants to foliar application of putrescine and glutamine

Two field experiments were carried out in Egypt during two successive seasons (2007/2008 and 2008/2009). This study aimed to investigate the response of growth, yield quality and some metabolic constituents of onion (Allium cepa L. cv. ‘Giza 20’) to foliar application of putrescine (Put; 25, 50 and 100 mg L⁻¹) and glutamine (Glut; 50, 100 and 200 mg L⁻¹), the former a diamine and the latter an amino acid, either alone, or in combination. Foliar application of Put and Glut, either alone or in combination, significantly increased plant height, number of leaves, fresh weight of leaves/plant, fresh and dry weight/plant, leaf area, leaf area/plant, bulb length, bulb diameter and weight, as well as yield of onion and quality of bulbs. Total soluble sugars, sulfur compounds, total soluble phenols, total free amino acids and total photosynthetic pigment content in leaves were increased by increasing Put and/or Glut concentrations up to 100 and 200 mg L⁻¹, respectively. Generally, foliar application of Put at 100 mg L⁻¹ and Glut at 200 mg L⁻¹ singly, or combined, effectively increased bulb yield and quality. In conclusion, the yield-contributing characters and quality of onion could be improved by application of Put and/or Glut.     

马铃薯行株距比对光合特性及产量品质的影响

为了研究马铃薯在相同种植密度下高产优质最佳的行株距,采用37 500和60 000株 ? hm-2两种密度,通过扩大行距缩小株距,分别设置4个和7个行株距比处理,研究其对马铃薯茎叶干物质积累、光分布、光合特性、叶绿素荧光特性、产量及块茎淀粉、蛋白质、维生素C、还原糖含量的影响。结果表明：行株距比在低密度下为1.5、高密度下为2.5时,可提高茎叶干物质量、叶面积指数、叶绿素含量、净光合速率（Pn）、蒸腾速率（Tr）、气孔导度（Gs）、最大光能转化效率（Fv/Fm）、实际光化学量子效率（PSⅡ）、光化学猝灭系数（qP）、鲜薯产量及其淀粉、维生素C、可溶性蛋白含量,而胞间CO2浓度（Ci）、非光化学猝灭系数（NPQ）和还原糖含量的变化规律与之相反。‘青薯9号’高产优质的行距/株距在37 500和60 000株 ? hm-2种植密度下,分别为63.3 cm /42.2 cm和64.6 cm /25.8 cm。     

The growth and yield of virus-tested and visually healthy commercial Narcissus stocks from different localities

Summary

Virus-tested stocks of Narcissus pseudonarcissus cv. Carlton were compared in the field with commercial stocks which were at least 97% free from plants with visually obvious virus symptoms. Despite planting bulbs of similar weight and apparently uniform anatomical structure the number of growing points in the comparative stocks sometimes differed depending on the locality in which the bulbs were produced. Consequently, leaf number in year one, which is related to the number of growing points was used to adjust flower and bulb yield. After adjustment where necessary, the mean bulb yield of virus-tested stocks was 9-20% greater than that of commercial stocks. Increased bulb yield of virus-tested compared with visually healthy commercial stocks resulted from greater mean bulb weight. Virus infection apparently had no effect on bulb number. Virus-tested stocks flowered three to four days earlier than the commercial stocks but no clear differences in flower quality or number were detected.     

The impact of within-row spacing on the productivity of glasshouse roses grown in two planting systems

Summary

Stem yield and quality of roses for cut flower production were evaluated. The plants were grown in two planting systems as an alternative to the traditional ``vase-shaped'' system. In the trellised system, two cultivars of Rosa hybrida (cvs Gabrielle and Kardinal) were planted in a commercial glasshouse in 3.m sections of bed. Within-row spacing was varied to give 6–16 plants m<sup>–2</sup>. After a three-month establishment phase the basal shoots were bent to an angle of 308 above horizontal and restrained with a trellis wire. Flowering shoots sprouting from axillary buds along a basal shoot were harvested at their lowest node, minimizing branching. Compared with ``vase-shaped'' rose plants at the same density, trellised roses produced 24% more basal shoots, 46% more flowering shoots (cv. Gabrielle) and approximately 46% less blind shoots per plant over five months. Phenotypic variation was greater in cv. Gabrielle than in cv. Kardinal in response to within-row spacing, as indicated by the number of basal shoots formed. Within-row spacing, over the range explored, did not affect the number of flowering shoots per basal shoot. Trellising rose plants increased stem yield and quality, but production over the long-term requires further investigation. The single shoot planting system contained a mixed population of single-stemmed rose plants of Rosa hybrida (cvs Gabrielle and Gerdo). It was grown in a field over a range of within-row spacings to give 20–105 plants m^–2. Over three harvests, increasing the number of plants by 10 plants m^–2 reduced the proportion of flowering shoots by 4.4%. Expressed on a unit area basis, a five-fold increase in plants m^–2 produced a three-fold increase in stem production.     

An analysis of the growth of forced tulips. 1. Changes in plant fresh and dry weights during growth at two temperatures

Changes in the fresh and dry weights of the component parts of plants of tulip cv. ‘Apeldoorn’ were followed in bulbs kept at low and high temperatures (9 and 18°C respectively) from the time of completion of flower differentiation until anthesis.There were marked differences between shoot dry weights at the two temperatures. At 9°C the stem, leaves and flower grew exponentially throughout the whole period, but at 18°C the specific growth rate of the stem and leaves declined throughout the period of the experiment. At 9°C the proportion of total dry weight in shoots and daughter bulbs was higher than at 18°C, and the proportion in the mother bulb was correspondingly smaller.At both temperatures the $\text{fresh weight}\text{dry weight}$ ratios of the mother bulb, shoot and daughter bulbs declined during dry storage, the decline being greater at 9°C. After planting, the ratio for all plant parts increased at 9°C, but scarcely changed at 18°C.These results are discussed in relation to dormancy, to the low-temperature requirement for successful and rapid flowering and to flower quality.     

Morphology,yield and quality of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L. Dunal) roots and its cultivation economics as influenced by tillage depth and plant population density

Summary

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L. Dunal; Solanaceae) is being cultivated around the world mainly for its root which has rejuvenative properties. Field experiments during 1999–2001 under semi-arid tropical conditions of Hyderabad, India studied the effect of tillage depths (15 and 30 cm) and plant population densities (20, 40, 60 and 80 plants m^–2) on root morphology, yield and quality and cultivation economics of ashwagandha. Preparatory tillage to 30 cm depth in combination with a density of 60 plants m^–2 gave the highest root yield of 1.2 t ha^–1 which was 50% higher than that following 15 cm tillage depth and the same density. This is attributed to the favourable effect of the former treatment leading to 33, 37 and 21% increases in plant height, number of branches per plant and shoot biomass yield, respectively. Further, this treatment produced most (68%) best quality root pieces. Main root length, length of lateral roots and diameter of lateral roots were significantly increased, while the diameter of main root and the number of laterals decreased. Furthermore, increase in plant density from 20–80 plants m^–2 increased production of best quality roots from 42% to 59% under shallow tillage and from 53% to 71% of root yield under deep tillage. The implications of change in root morphology are discussed in the light of production of different grades of roots, their market preferences and economics. Deep tillage was equally advantageous for seed production, but plant population density for maximum seed yield (211 kg ha^–1) was lower at 40 than at 60 plants m^–2 for maximum root yield. Maximum gross and net returns and benefit-cost ratio occurred following the highest root yield.     

种植密度对机播条件下红玫瑰马铃薯结薯性状及产量的影响

为确定临沂市机播条件下红玫瑰彩色马铃薯的最佳播种密度,开展了机播马铃薯相同行距(90 cm)、不同株距(14、18、22、26 cm)的密度试验,分析了不同密度处理对红玫瑰马铃薯出苗期、现蕾期、开花期、成熟期、株高、茎粗、主茎数、马铃薯晚疫病发病情况、产量、商品薯率的影响。结果表明:随着播种密度的增加,红玫瑰物候期无明显变化,株高、马铃薯晚疫病株数呈升高趋势,茎粗和主茎数呈降低趋势,商品薯率和商品薯产量呈下降趋势。以行距90 cm、株距22 cm密度下商品薯667 m~2产量最高,为2 129.25 kg,并且马铃薯晚疫病未见发生。     

Effect of planting density on the number and weight of tulip daughter bulbs

The effects of planting densities on the development and yield of tulip bulbs were studied for the cultivar ‘Lustige Witwe’ (planting size 8–9 cm, type A) in two successive growing seasons. The total number of lifted bulbs decreased with increasing density due to shrivelling of certain buds. The shrivelling started at the time of anthesis, mainly in the buds in the axils of the outermost bulb scales.At densities between 5 × 5 and 12 × 12 cm plant^?1 the relative growth rate (R_w) decreased with increasing density. A difference in the R_w values between the two seasons was probably partly caused by differences in the stocks used for the experiments. The highest weight increase was found at a density of 214 bulbs m^?2 in 1969 and 229 bulbs m^?2 in 1970.     

Influence of soil hydrothermal environment,irrigation regime,and different mulches on the growth and fruit quality of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa L.) plants in a sub-temperate climate

Summary

The present study was undertaken over two consecutive years under sub-temperate climatic conditions in the mid-hill region of Himachal Pradesh (30°52'N, 77°11'E; 1,175 m asl) on loamy sand Inceptisols. The aim was to investigate the effects of irrigation and mulch material on the growth, flowering, fruiting behaviour, relative leaf water content (RLWC), yield, and quality of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa L. ‘Chandler’). The drip irrigation treatments included irrigation with 100, 80, or 60% (coded 1.0, 0.8, and 0.6 V) of the total water requirement. Both mulches increased the minimum soil temperature to a depth of 5 cm. The drip and surface irrigation treatments raised the minimum soil temperature by 3.0º – 5.4ºC, and lowered the maximum temperature by 2.2º – 5.8ºC compared to the rainfed control. Hay mulch was more effective in raising the minimum temperature and lowering the maximum soil temperature than black polyethylene mulch. Moisture conservation increased by 2.8 – 12.8% under the black polyethylene mulch compared to the no-mulch treatment. Drip and surface irrigation methods, as well as mulching, were found to be effective for enhancing the growth, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), fruit yield, and quality of strawberry plants. However, the number of crowns per plant, the percentage berry set, the RLWC, root length density (RLD), and fruit yield were highest under treatment M3I3 [i.e., black polyethylene mulch plus drip irrigation (1.0 V)] by 565.5%, 94.5%, 32.8%, 394.5%, and 549.6%,respectively, compared to the no mulch plus rainfed control. The maximum IWUE values for plant biomass [1.39 metric tonnes (MT) ha^–1 m^–1] and fruit yield (2.79 MT ha^–1 m^–1) were recorded under treatment M3I5 [i.e., black polyethylene mulch plus drip irrigation (0.6 V)]; whereas, the lowest values (0.39 and 0.68 MT ha^–1 m^–1, respectively) were observed using treatment M1I2 (i.e., without mulch, plus surface irrigation). Fruit size, weight, sugar content, and anthocyanin content increased significantly under treatment M2I3 [i.e., hay mulch, plus drip irrigation (1.0 V)] compared with all other treatments. Total soluble solids (TSS) contents and total acidity (TA) were highest under treatment M1I1 (i.e., no mulch, plus rainfed). A linear regression model could describe the variations in quality parameters of strawberry plants grown under sub-temperate climatic conditions. Root density was found to be the best indicator with which estimate fruit quality.     

脱毒对民乐紫皮大蒜农艺性状、产量及品质的影响

为了明确脱毒大蒜的田间农艺性状和提质增产效果，采用脱毒民乐紫皮大蒜为试验材料，与未脱毒常规大蒜进行田间比较试验，比较分析了大蒜的生育期、农艺性状与产量和品质。结果表明：与常规大蒜相比较，脱毒大蒜物候期提前3～12 d，生育期缩短了9 d，易形成壮苗；株高、株幅、假茎高、假茎粗、叶长、叶宽、蒜薹长、蒜薹粗、单薹质量等9个农艺数量性状指标增长极显著，增长率分别为19.28%、18.44%、17.77%、18.97%、22.42%、11.52%、33.80%、27.45%、77.90%，叶片数增长显著，增长率为8.80%。蒜薹、鳞茎增产率分别达到136.0%、55.5%，一级鳞茎直径和单鳞茎质量最高达91.21%和90.81%，叶绿素a、叶绿素b、叶绿素a+b分别增加19.05%、18.84%、18.99%，鳞茎总糖、可溶性蛋白、维生素C、大蒜素含量分别增加59.45%、19.86%、23.08%、49.41%，各指标均极显著增加。脱毒有利于提高大蒜生长势，增强农艺性状与单株产量间的相关性，提升商品率和品质，增产效果显著。     

胡萝卜品种郑参丰收红秋播密度试验

为完善胡萝卜优良品种郑参丰收红栽培技术,特进行了秋季单垄双行栽培密度试验。试验结果表明,随着密度的减小,产量有降低的趋势,而商品根率有增大趋势;最佳垄株距可选择50cm×10cm,60cm×10cm;种植密度为2．67万株／667m2时,产量最高,密度为1．28万-2．22万株／667m2时,既高产,商品根率又高。     

The response of onions to solar heating,agricultural practices and pink-root disease

Solar heating (solarisation) of the soil, by means of mulching with transparent polyethylene sheets in the hot season, is used for disease control. The effect of soil solarisation, under different agricultural practices, on incidence of pink-root disease caused by Pyrenochaeta terrestris, and on onion yield and quality was investigated. Onions were seeded in beds of non-infested, either non-solarised or solarised, soil and transplanted into growth containers filled with soil either non-infested or infested with the pink-root pathogen. Growth of plants pre-grown in solarised beds was improved as compared to plants originated from non-infested beds. Plants grown in the infested soil suffered considerably, as expressed in leaf number and length, root quantity and bulbing-process. In a field experiment, early sowing resulted in a higher disease incidence than later sowing. Soil solarisation controlled the disease, improved seedling survival and increased yield in most cases. Delay in harvest to 100% falling tops increased yields and reduced percentage of undersized bulbs. At high plant-population density (170 plants m^?2), percentage of small bulbs was higher and rates of double bulbs were lower than at low plant density (90 plants m^?2). Soil solarisation resulted in effective disease control and higher yields and facilitated accurate planning of plant population in the field, extension of the growing-season and higher yields of better quality.     

高海拔冷凉区西芹高效栽培技术研究

在甘肃河西走廊沿祁连山高海拔冷凉气候区开展西芹种植密度、节水灌溉及有机肥施用技术研究。结果表明:该区域西芹最佳种植密度为7 411株/667m2,垄植沟灌,垄面宽40cm、垄沟宽20cm、每垄种2行、株距30cm。应用隔沟交替灌溉(灌水量为正常灌水量的80%)对西芹的生长和产量无显著影响,水分利用率为75.1kg/m3,较对照增加16.0%。配施矿物质有机肥可以显著降低西芹硝酸盐含量,提高单重和产量,增加效益;在当地最佳施肥水平下减量10%并配施矿物质有机肥150kg/667m2与当地最佳施肥水平处理的西芹产量没有显著性差异。     

日光温室纸膜覆盖下不同种植模式对番茄产量及根系分布的影响

以番茄为试材,在日光温室越夏茬土壤起垄纸膜覆盖条件下,对番茄单双行种植和株行距参数结构进行了研究,分析了不同种植结构对番茄植株生长、产量、品质及根系空间分布特征的影响,以期探索日光温室纸膜覆盖下番茄适宜种植结构。结果表明:单行种植模式下,随着种植密度的降低,单果质量和单株产量显著增加,最低密度处理(3.00株·m^-2)产量最高。双行种植模式下,密度处理对单果质量和单株产量没有显著影响,因此最高密度处理(3.90株·m^-2)产量最高。在最高密度处理下,番茄在0~20 cm土层的根系占总根系量85%以上,双行模式的根系生物量显著高于单行种植模式,差异主要表现在0~10 cm土层内。单行低密度处理和双行高密度处理产量较高且相近,但双行低密度种植模式利用根系生物量积累,种苗成本低,利于管理,因此在宁夏日光温室番茄越夏南北垄向栽培中,推荐采用3.00株·m^-2密度、单行种植模式。     

Plant carbohydrate partitioning of Lachenalia cv. Ronina during bulb production

Carbohydrate partitioning was investigated in different plant organs of Lachenalia cv. Ronina during bulb production under a low temperature regime. At 4-week intervals, data were collected on bulb, roots, leaves, inflorescence and carbohydrate composition. The roots and especially the bulb were found to be the main starch sinks of the plant, whilst the leaves and the inflorescence were the main source for soluble sugars. Changes in the starch concentration closely followed dry weight changes in the bulb during the growing season. When bulbs were initially exposed to a low temperature, starch was converted to soluble sugars, but thereafter sugars were low, indicating continued export and conversion to starch. Low sugar levels in the leaves and high levels in the inflorescence, with continuous starch increase in the bulb and roots, probably indicate that the inflorescence, but especially the leaves, produced ample photosynthates during the growing season.     

The Effect of Cold Storage and Treatment with Gibberellic Acid on Flowering and Bulb Yields of Dutch Iris

Iris bulbs of the varieties Wedgewood and Prof. Blaauvv were injected with 50 or 500 μg. gibberellic acid (GA) before or after cold storage (10° C.) of 18 or 35 days. GA injection accelerated flowering by up to 19 days ; it had little or no effect on length of leaves or flower stem. It was most effective when applied at an early stage after flower initiation.

GA injection reduced bulb yield of Wedgiwood plants, and had no effect on, nor increased bulb yield of, Prof. Blaauw plants.

GA spraying (seven times at 10^-2M of GA) accelerated flowering and increased foliage growth in both varieties. It increased flower stem elongation and reduced bulb yield in Wedgfcwood plants.     

High-Temperature Treatment (Blindstoken) of Bulbs of Tulip cv Rose Copland for Flower Killing and Yield Improvement

A three-year experiment on the high-temperature treatment of tulip bulbs established that yield could be increased by between 8 and 31 % for bulb weight or between 14 and 29 % for numbers of large bulbs, depending upon season, associated with a near-complete flower kill. The optimum pre-treatment storage temperature was 17°C, and the best date (of the five tested) for starting blindstoken at 33°C for one week was 20th-21st September.

Yield increases were greater when the blindstoken treatment was applied to bulbs whose shoots were short; later treatment, or treatment after pre-treatments which allowed faster shoot growth, were less effective. For optimum flower kill and yield increase the shoot should be about 1 cm high at treatment. Bulb weight and large bulb number were correlated, suggesting that the treatment increases total bulb weight by increasing bulb size rather than by differentially affecting the growth of daughter bulbs.

No adverse effects of the treatments were observed when the bulbs were forced in a glasshouse the following season.